PREVIEW: UConn at Louisville (Friday, February 18 at 9 PM EST; TV: ESPN)
Connecticut guard Kemba Walker will face the dreaded 16th-ranked Louisville Cardinals' matchup zone on Friday, when the two Big East schools meet in a rematch at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville.
Walker, who is averaging 23.2 points-per-game and shooting 43 percent from the field on the season, was held to just 7-of-23 shooting when the two programs met on January 29 at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut, in a 79-78 Louisville victory that went to double overtime.
Louisville's matchup zone forced Connecticut to shoot three-pointers, and the Huskies struggled to make them, converting only 8-of-23.
Louisville gave us a great deal of problems with their matchup (zone), but they particularly gave us problems by spacing the floor exceptionally well, Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun said. So we've got a lot of work to do. Our job will be to solve their matchup a little better than we did the first time and secondly, take away their fast break and their perimeter shooting.
Louisville is led by senior guard Preston Knowles, who is averaging 14.9 points per game. The Cardinals are coming off a 63-54 loss at Cincinnati on Wednesday. Rick Pitino's club is currently in sixth place in the competitive Big East.
Connecticut is ranked 12th in the nation, and is currently in fourth place in the Big East. The Huskies are coming off a big home win over Georgetown.
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