Cincinnati vs. Louisville: Cardinals Who Must Shine to Finish Big East Title Run

Well, this isn't the matchup most people were expecting. Cincinnati upset powerhouse Syracuse and Louisville managed to keep its dream run alive by blowing out Notre Dame. Now the Bearcats and Cardinals will battle for Big East supremacy.

Here are three Louisville players who can't afford an off night if their team is going to cut down the Madison Square Garden nets.

Peyton Siva

When Siva is playing well it seems to provide a jolt of energy to his teammates. The dynamic junior guard flirted with a triple-double against the Fighting Irish, falling just two rebounds and one assist short of the accomplishment.

Siva needs to bring the same game to the table on Saturday night. He needs to be in all-out attack mode right from the opening tip to put Cincinnati's defense on its heels, which will open up more clean looks for the team's shooters.

He's done it for all three tournament games so far, so there's no reason he can't do it again. The only factor to keep an eye on would be fatigue, but all the players are running on adrenaline by now.

Gorgui Dieng

Dieng is the Cardinals' unsung hero. He gets overshadowed by players like Kyle Kuric and Siva, but is just as important to the team's success. The 6'11'' sophomore made all eight of his shot attempts against Notre Dame.

He's also a force on the defensive end. He averages more than three blocks per game, and alters a bunch more using his size and athleticism. Since no bucket comes easy in the paint when he's on the floor, running an offense becomes a lot more difficult for the opponent.

His job tonight will be to keep Yancy Gates in check. Gates is Cincinnati's only major threat in the post, so if Dieng can slow him down, the Cardinals will be in great shape.

Chris Smith

Even though Smith was able to chip in nine points yesterday, he made just one three-point shot on five attempts. He's the Cardinals' biggest threat from beyond the arc and will need to improve his efficiency in the championship game.

Cincinnati knocked down 10 threes against the Orange. Louisville can't afford be outscored from deep by too much without dig themselves a huge hole. Not only will Smith be called upon to make shots, but to defend the perimeter as well.

Louisville has reached this point because everybody has played their roles perfectly. One more night of strong team play should lead to a Big East title.