Kentucky vs Louisville: 5 storylines for 2020-21 rivalry matchup

Both teams need to hit from deep

Tied up into each team’s struggle to find an identity on offense in order to find a regular scoring source, is their inability to hit from beyond the arc. Combined, these two teams make fewer than ten three-point shots per game, ranking them at No.327 and No.303 in Division I Basketball. Their three-point defense is just as stingy as Louisville allows just over seven and Kentucky gives up under six per game.

Louisville, the better of the two, have just two players who connect on more than one three-pointer per game, one being guard Carlik Jones who made a season-high eight three-pointers versus Western Kentucky in a twenty-one point victory.

The Wildcats have just David Mintz who is successful on more than one three-point attempt per game. With a team shooting percentage of just 24 percent from the arc they average just 17 attempts per game.

The most discussed shooting performances, aside from their 0-10 in a loss to Richmond, was their 5-23 in a one-point loss to Notre Dame and their 3-21 in a three-point loss to Kansas.  It seems the old adage resonates true for the Wildcats that ‘they are open for a reason.”

A three-point attempt will always be available regardless of the time left on the shot-clock, both these teams need the right player taking the right shot. If one team is able to make their three-pointers they will have a clear advantage, but the storyline that should be followed, can they, or will they even try and find a higher percentage shot before settling for the three-pointer?