Looking ahead to Louisville game

[LTMiner61]

Word is out that Louisville is down to basically 7 players and they were blown out last night by a good Ole Miss team. It gives me some hope that we'll keep it close (if not outright win) next week. I know I'll be there and hopefully it will be worth the trip.

GO MINERS!

 

[FiliUTEP]

Miners 65
Red Birds 60

 

[Rocketsr]

BPI has Louisville by 15.4 pts. I am interested to see if there is an adjustment.

Men's College Basketball Power Index (BPI) Predictions - ESPN

View Men's College Basketball Power Index Predictions for each NCAAM game day on ESPN. BPI represents how many points above or below average a team is.

www.espn.com

 

[BillyFlava08]

Why are we looking forward to this game when we might not even get past Seattle today especially with how inconsistent this team is?

 

[FiliUTEP]

Why are we looking forward to this game when we might not even get past Seattle today especially with how inconsistent this team is

Utep 70
Seattle 63

 

[FiliUTEP]

Louisville scheduled Utep between Duke and Kentucky. Maybe Louisville will look past Utep??

 

[Dmanminer]

Louisville scheduled Utep between Duke and Kentucky. Maybe Louisville will look past Utep??

Hope so.

 

[groundrounds]

Utep 70
Seattle 63

Which game did you watch? Score was 88-72. A dominating performance!

 

[MinerMambo]

Utep 79 - Redbirds 73

 

[FiliUTEP]

Which game did you watch? Score was 88-72. A dominating performance!

That was my opt score prediction.

 

[picks up]

Good win. Miners played well on both sides. Now let's shock the world for the next one. Go Miners.

 

[axingfools1]

Who was our last P5 win? Arizona State?

 

[STexMiner]

Who was our last P5 win? Arizona State?

California last year.

 

[MinerFan79]

Why are we looking forward to this game when we might not even get past Seattle today especially with how inconsistent this team is?

Waxed them easy in front of a good crowd. I like our chances against Louisville

 

[KaneFan29]

Waxed them easy in front of a good crowd. I like our chances against Louisville

“Good crowd”

 

[KaneFan29]

Louisville is beating #9 Duke at halftime

 

[picks up]

Louisville is beating #9 Duke at halftime

We got them right where we want them.

 

[MinerFan79]

We got them right where we want them.

Absolutely

 

[Rocketsr]

Louisville still only has 7 players.

I would think the game plan would be to go out of your way to draw fouls.

 

[STexMiner]

Word is out that Louisville is down to basically 7 players and they were blown out last night by a good Ole Miss team. It gives me some hope that we'll keep it close (if not outright win) next week. I know I'll be there and hopefully it will be worth the trip.

GO MINERS!

Stock up on bourbon. It's worth it.

 

[utep2step]

UTEP 70
Louisville 80

Golding loses a heartbreaking hard fought game after a 'cards battle royale with Duke nights earlier. Louisville rises up knowing this game will kill any NCAA hope if they lose.

Louisville basketball folds late to drop ACC opener to Duke • The Louisville Cardinal

The Louisville Cardinals gave it their all to topple the No. 9 Duke Blue Devils but fell just short after a late run.

www.louisvillecardinal.com

 

[MinerManiac]

Louisville is only 5-4 and is playing with only seven players. But their schedule is full of much better teams than we've been playing. Their beating Duke or not wouldn't have made any difference in this game, I just don't see us beating them. Our best shot will be to keep attacking inside and hope to put them in foul trouble, but it won't be enough.

Louisville 83
UTEP 69

 

[LTMiner61]

The pipe dream rests on our points off turnovers and them getting into foul trouble. I hope we bring a good amount of intensity and stifling D and us holding them to under 40% shooting (one can dream). All that to say, probably isn't going to happen, but I'll be there in my Miner orange!

Louisville 74
UTEP 60

 

[JCorona]

Anyone have any info on why Louisville is down to 7 players. Only thing I could find is this old article. Looks like the had the same problem last season.

Louisville down to 7 scholarship players

The coach is asking for walk-ons. Recruiting class rankings don't always materialize. https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/columnists/c-l-brown/2024/01/06/louisville-basketball-kenny-payne-injuries-recruiting-acc-standings/72060856007/

gopherhole.com

 

[picks up]

Louisville is only 5-4 and is playing with only seven players. But their schedule is full of much better teams than we've been playing. Their beating Duke or not wouldn't have made any difference in this game, I just don't see us beating them. Our best shot will be to keep attacking inside and hope to put them in foul trouble, but it won't be enough.

Louisville 83
UTEP 69

I respectfully disagree here. I think we need to turn it into a track meet and run if they only have 7 players.

 

[MinerManiac]

I respectfully disagree here. I think we need to turn it into a track meet and run if they only have 7 players.

I don't see how that's disagreeing with what I said, as "track meet" games usually involve taking the ball to the basket on the break. We also need to drive to the hoop when in the half court, and our bigs need to be as active as they were against Seattle. That said, Louisville isn't Seattle, and I don't see us leaving with a W. I hope I'm wrong

 

[JCorona]

I don't see how that's disagreeing with what I said, as "track meet" games usually involve taking the ball to the basket on the break. We also need to drive to the hoop when in the half court, and our bigs need to be as active as they were against Seattle. That said, Louisville isn't Seattle, and I don't see us leaving with a W. I hope I'm wrong

 

[picks up]

I don't see how that's disagreeing with what I said, as "track meet" games usually involve taking the ball to the basket on the break. We also need to drive to the hoop when in the half court, and our bigs need to be as active as they were against Seattle. That said, Louisville isn't Seattle, and I don't see us leaving with a W. I hope I'm wrong

I just don't think our bigs could get it done. When I said track meet, I meant that our guards need to run. However, if our bigs get involved we have a way better chance.

 

[Rocketsr]

Louisville only down to 14.3pt favorites in the BPI from 15.7. Not much of a drop considering they only have 7 players.

There is no line on the game yet.

Only way UTEP wins is if they can get 3 players to foul out.

 

[MinerManiac]

I just don't think our bigs could get it done. When I said track meet, I meant that our guards need to run. However, if our bigs get involved we have a way better chance.

I don't either, but they both played surprisingly well against Seattle. If they could play that way against Louisville it would help us a ton. Unfortunately Louisville is not Seattle.

 

[Lil_Train]

I don't either, but they both played surprisingly well against Seattle. If they could play that way against Louisville it would help us a ton. Unfortunately Louisville is not Seattle.

I caught the second half of the Duke game, and I thought Louisville wore down in the second half due to the short bench. The guys they do have available are obviously talented. I think rebounding will be an issue. Defending their bigs will be a big challenge, but I think we should be able to generate some turnovers on the perimeter. We would need to play two complete halves like we did the first half against Seattle to have a chance. Problem is, it is a lot harder to make shots on the road, and Louisville has the length to cause problems on defense.

 

[BillyFlava08]

There’s no way they’ll get into foul trouble on their home court against a mid major. They’ll beat us with their remaining athletes and we have to hope to shoot over 40% overall and not turn it over more than 15 times.

 

[UTEPfan1966]

Utep 80
Louisville 75

 

[nattybry]

Utep 68
Super Seven 77

 

[JCorona]

Anyone have any info on why Louisville is down to 7 players. Only thing I could find is this old article. Looks like the had the same problem last season.

Louisville down to 7 scholarship players

The coach is asking for walk-ons. Recruiting class rankings don't always materialize. https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/columnists/c-l-brown/2024/01/06/louisville-basketball-kenny-payne-injuries-recruiting-acc-standings/72060856007/

gopherhole.com

Found it! They’re down to 8 scholarship players.

Pat Kelsey Not Using Mounting Injuries as Excuse for Louisville's Losing Skid

The Cardinals, who are have lost three in a row, only have eight healthy scholarship players available.

www.si.com

 

[utep2step]

Golding is in a literal no win situation. Just play the game coach, get the check and forget about it.

-If UTEP beats them, it was because "they were depleted".
-If UTEP loses, it will be "Golding, how the heck can you not beat a team down to seven scholi players?!".
-If UTEP wins, God willing makes a great CUSA run (I said "God willing"), no way in hell the committee gives UTEP any credit due to Louisville's situation. For mid major bubbles it would be considered, "well UTEP, it was a game you were expected to win. You had a full bench, they didn't". (I know, the Utah Valley game killed any hope).

 

[KaneFan29]

Golding is in a literal no win situation. Just play the game coach, get the check and forget about it.

-If UTEP beats them, it was because "they were depleted".
-If UTEP loses, it will be "Golding, how the heck can you not beat a team down to seven scholi players?!".
-If UTEP wins, God willing makes a great CUSA run (I said "God willing"), no way in hell the committee gives UTEP any credit due to Louisville's situation. For mid major bubbles it would be considered, "well UTEP, it was a game you were expected to win. You had a full bench, they didn't". (I know, the Utah Valley game killed any hope).

When the schedule came out, 99% of UTEP fans expected to lose this game, so if they lose, no big deal, since we expected it.

Even if they only have “7 players”, those 7 are probably better than our top 7.

 

[MineroFanatico]

Golding is in a literal no win situation. Just play the game coach, get the check and forget about it.

-If UTEP beats them, it was because "they were depleted".
-If UTEP loses, it will be "Golding, how the heck can you not beat a team down to seven scholi players?!".
-If UTEP wins, God willing makes a great CUSA run (I said "God willing"), no way in hell the committee gives UTEP any credit due to Louisville's situation. For mid major bubbles it would be considered, "well UTEP, it was a game you were expected to win. You had a full bench, they didn't". (I know, the Utah Valley game killed any hope).

I would disagree and credit the Miners with a good win. It's on the road. It's against a big basketball name. It's against a power conference team with a NET ranking in the low 60s. Good win....if it happens.

 

[picks up]

Golding is in a literal no win situation. Just play the game coach, get the check and forget about it.

-If UTEP beats them, it was because "they were depleted".
-If UTEP loses, it will be "Golding, how the heck can you not beat a team down to seven scholi players?!".
-If UTEP wins, God willing makes a great CUSA run (I said "God willing"), no way in hell the committee gives UTEP any credit due to Louisville's situation. For mid major bubbles it would be considered, "well UTEP, it was a game you were expected to win. You had a full bench, they didn't". (I know, the Utah Valley game killed any hope).

I think he's on a can't lose situation. Most people aren't going to look into their 7 player team. If we lose then it was expected. If we win, we beat a P6 team.

NMSU played with Louisville last year. It was a close game. I don't know if we win but I think we can cover.

 

[Rocketsr]

Let's look at it from all angles:

Louisville just played Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Duke. Before that they beat West Virginia and Indiana. Their strength of schedule is in the Top 20. We know who we have played as it is in the 190's.

UTEP is a very perimeter heavy team without a real dominant post player. Kalu is just 6'9" and he gets 5.1 pts a game. Louisville has a 6'11 center and overall has a size advantage.

But the real key is Louisville's defense as they are ranked 29th in defensive efficiency and the Miners are 209th.

I just remember playing Depaul who was a mediocre team in 2022. We were 6-2 going in and were run off the court. This just seems even harder as Louisville is a very good team, as they have played extremely tough opposition.

I would be happy if UTEP can just hold their own and be within 10. My guess is the spread is going to be more than 10 as it is not posted yet.