New Mexico vs. Louisville: Game Time, TV Schedule, Spread Info and Predictions
One of the most underrated third-round matchups will take place between two conference tournament champions in the Louisville Cardinals and New Mexico Lobos.
The No. 4 seeded Louisville held off pesky Davidson in its opening matchup with a 69-62 victory. After losing in the first round the last two seasons, getting this far has got to be a weight off Rick Pitino's back.
New Mexico had to deal with popular upset pick No. 12 seed Long Beach State. However, the Lobos were able to take care of business with high-percentage shots and solid defense.
Where: Rose Garden, Portland, OR
When: Saturday, March 17 at 9:40 PM
Watch: TBS
Live Stream: CBSSports.com
Spread: Louisville -1.5 (via Vegas Insider)
What They Are Saying
Andy Bottoms of Midwest Sports Fans breaks down the sabermetrics of the matchup between Louisville's offense and New Mexico's defense:
"New Mexico appears to have a clear advantage when Louisville has the ball. The Cardinals’ offense has struggled throughout the season and ranks outside of the Top 200 in effective field goal percentage and turnover rate. They also don’t get to the line much, and the one area where they excel is on the offensive glass. However, thanks in large part to the efforts of Gordon, the Lobos rank 24th in defensive rebounding percentage. In all, New Mexico finished 13th in adjusted defensive efficiency.
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Most Important Player to Watch: Louisville PG Peyton Siva
When Peyton Siva is playing well, Louisville is one of the best teams in the country.
The junior has been inconsistent this season, but has scored double-digits in each of the five games since the regular season ended.
The result—a Big East Tournament Championship and a first-round victory over Davidson.
Siva is incredibly fast with the ball in his hands and a great facilitator, but he needs to focus on his decision-making against New Mexico.
Key Matchup: Drew Gordon vs. Gorgui Dieng
New Mexico would not be where it is today without its senior leader Drew Gordon.
Gordon averages a double-double and is a big defensive force for the Lobos.
Gorgui Dieng is not the biggest offensive threat for Louisville, but he will be an important factor is this Round of 32 battle.
The sophomore needs to use his 6'11" frame to keep Gordon away from the basket and make sure his team secures rebounds. Otherwise it could be a long day for the Cardinals.
Prediction
Over the past two weeks, Louisville has been much more aggressive with the basketball, and so far it has worked out well.
Rick Pitino is utilizing his team speed and making teams run with them.
For New Mexico to win, the team needs to control the pace and make sure they win the battle for rebounds. Kendall Williams is a good ball-handler, but the speed of the game might be too much for the Lobos to handle.
Louisville 76, New Mexico 71
