Louisville Basketball: Biggest keys to upsetting Virginia in ACC battle
By Brian Rauf
2) Bounce back game from Jordan Nwora
Perhaps the biggest thing Louisville needs to happen offensively is for Jordan Nwora to have a good game and play like the All-ACC player he’s going to be at the end of the year.
He averages 17.3 points per game on the season and every other player on the roster averages fewer than 11, showing just how much their offense relies on him. Part of Louisville’s recent struggles is that his production has seen a major drop off, averaging just 14.0 during this stretch.
That number is inflated, too, by his 23-point, 12-rebound performance against Duke. He has scored 15 points or fewer in the other five games during his slide, failing to shoot above 35.3 percent from the floor in any of those five games.
Simply put, those are far from star-level numbers.
It would be great if someone else would step up for the Cardinals, but there is no guarantee that happens – a second option hasn’t consistently stepped up for them all year. So, once again, Louisville’s offensive success rests on Nwora’s shoulders
Points will be at a premium anytime you play Virginia given the sheer amount of possessions, or lack thereof, there are going to be in a game. Nwora is going to get his shots and Mack will keep running plays to get him the ball, but he has to be efficient with those touches and his shots.