Louisville Basketball: 3 keys to victory at Kentucky in rivalry matchup

The Louisville Cardinals are set to travel 78 miles east to take on the fifth-rated Kentucky Wildcats as part of the annual in-state rivalry on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 4:15 p.m. CT at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky on ESPN. Louisville, who trails the series 39-17, last beat Kentucky in 2021 and have lost two straight by double-digit points. But that can change Saturday. With new coaches roaming both sidelines, early bragging rights are up for grabs in a rivalry matchup that never fails to deliver.

With that being said, take a look at three keys for a resume-boosting Louisville victory on Saturday afternoon as they look to earn bragging rights over one of the top teams in NCAA basketball.

1. Limit over-reliance on three-pointers

In its loss to Oklahoma, 51% of its field goals came from three. It shot 22% from three. In its 86-63 loss to Ole Miss, 53% of its field goals came from three. The Cardinals shot just 16.7 percent. In its loss to Duke, 61% of its field goals came from three. Despite its red-hot start from the perimeter, the Cardinals couldn’t maintain its momentum as Duke adjusted defensively.

It’s not a question Louisville’s identity is a fast-paced, three-point friendly system. But The Cardinals don’t have enough legs to shoot lights out for 40 minutes. It must find other ways to score.

2. Chucky Hepburn’s tenacious defense 

Koby Brea is among the top three-point shooters in college basketball. As of Dec. 11, he is shooting an astonishing 55.1% from three off the bench. The best way to limit his impact? The answer lies within Chucky Hepburn, the top tenacious on-ball defender in NCAA Basketball. Hepburn, averaging 3.2 SPG, is a nightmare matchup for any opponent -- and that must stay the same if Louisville wants to give itself a chance to victory on Saturday. 

3. Limit foul trouble

Louisville is running a seven-man rotation as its season has been marred by the injury bug. There’s no question: Kentucky plays fast and is among the more efficient and high-scoring teams in transition. The last thing Louisville needs is an (even more) shortened bench because it doesn’t have the legs to keep up with Kentucky’s fast-paced system for 40 minutes.

Defensive pressure is a must. But staying out of foul trouble is even more of a must in light of its lack of depth.