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Louisville vs. Kentucky: 5 Ways Cardinals Can Pull Off the Upset

Louisville vs. Kentucky: 5 Ways Cardinals Can Pull Off the Upset

Rick Pitino
Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports

The matchup between the Louisville Cardinals and Kentucky Wildcats is being heralded as the biggest game of the 2014-15 college basketball season for good reason. Both Kentucky and Louisville are more than capable of winning the National Championship. Here are five ways the Cardinals can pull off the upset.

5. Rebounding

Louisville
Getty Images

5. Rebounding

Louisville
Getty Images

Louisville is one of the best rebounding teams in college basketball, averaging a No. 3 ranked 44.8 rebounds per game. Kentucky is equally excellent at rebounding. However, if Louisville can keep the Wildcats from getting offensive boards, the Cardinals will be a step closer to beating the No. 1 team in the country.

4. Avoiding Turnovers

UL Basketball
Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports

4. Avoiding Turnovers

UL Basketball
Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports

This is a given, but the Wildcats are extremely efficient on the offensive end. Controlling the ball and the clock will be key to a Louisville upset.

3. Montrezl Harrell

Montrezl Harrell
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

3. Montrezl Harrell

montrezl Harrell
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Fresh off his one-game “suspension,” Harrell should be more than ready to show off his skills in this matchup. However, he has to come up as big as he did against Minnesota; there is no room for error in this one.

2. Force Kentucky To Take Perimeter Shots

Tyler Ulis
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

2. Force Kentucky To Take Perimeter Shots

Tyler Ulis
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Only two players who contribute significant minutes for the Wildcats shoot more than 30 percent from behind the three-point arc. Louisville must shut Devin Booker and Tyler Ulis down, while encouraging less effective three-point shooters to shoot from outside.

1. Terry Rozier and Wayne Blackshear Must Produce

Wayne Blackshear Terry Rozier
Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports

1. Terry Rozier and Wayne Blackshear Must Produce

Wayne Blackshear Terry Rozier
Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports

Rozier and Blackshear are the two other highest scorers behind Harrell on this Cardinals team, meaning that they have to both score at least 15 points if Louisville is to pull off the win in this defensive affair.

Taylor Sturm is a Featured Basketball Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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