CBS analyst Clark Kellogg breaks down Louisville and the challenges for Wichita State:
Q: What makes Louisville so tough to defend?
A: They've got all the ingredients. They've got experience; they've got tremendous talent; they've got outstanding guards; they've got depth; they've got hunger. I don't think there's a real weakness. Some might say they don't have a bunch of knockdown perimeter shooters, but they've got enough. Luke Hancock shoots it. Russ Smith and (Peyton) Siva are both making perimeter shots at a pretty good rate. (Wayne) Blackshear is capable from the 3-point line.
I think (Gorgui) Dieng has really improved offensively as a player. So I just don’t see any real weaknesses with this team, and they stay on you for 40 minutes. They never really let up. They’re in great shape, and they’re relentless in how they attack you.
Q: Duke couldn’t stop Louisville’s guard penetration, but if you’re Wichita State, how do you?
A: Ohio State does not have Russ Smith or Peyton Siva, but Aaron Craft is pretty good at driving to the goal, and I thought Wichita State's defensive approach with him was pretty good. They basically just went under the ball screens, daring him to shoot it and not giving him lanes to the goal. I think that's what you have to try to do with Louisville. You've got to just really exaggerate making them shoot jump shots, even if that means they make them.
If they make jumpers, that’s really one guy beating you, but if they penetrate, then they bring everybody into the fold. They bring their drives to the basket, (use) penetration and dump off and then they also bring offensive rebounding more into play. I think you really have to be — and I think Wichita State will be — physical. I think they’ve got enough athleticism. Based on the scheme they showed against Ohio State, I would anticipate something reasonably similar to that, where they’ll just try to drop off and go underneath screens and see if Smith and Siva can make a bunch of jump shots.
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