Louisville vs. Kentucky: How they match up

Louisville starters

Pos., Player, Ht., Wt., Stats

G Chris Smith, 6-2, 195, 9.7 ppg

G Peyton Siva, 6-0, 1809.1 ppg

C Gorgui Dieng, 6-11, 235, 9.0 rpg

F Chane Behanan, 6-6, 250, 9.5 ppg

G Kyle Kuric, 6-4, 195, 12.7 ppg

Louisville reserves

Russ Smith, 6-0, 160, 11.6 ppg

Jared Swopshire, 6-8, 200, 3.4 ppg

Kentucky starers

Pos., Player, Ht., Wt., Stats

G Doron Lamb, 6-4, 210, 13.6 ppg

G Marquis Teague,6-2, 189, 4.8 apg

C Anthony Davis, 6-10, 220, 14.3 ppg

F Terrence Jones, 6-9, 252, 12.6 ppg

F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, 6-7, 232, 7.6 rpg

Kentucky reserves

G Darius Miller, 6-8, 235, 10.0 ppg

F Kyle Wiltjer, 6-9, 239, 5.1 ppg

SCOUTING REPORT: Kentucky’s size, speed and scoring ability from anywhere on the court presents nightmarish problems for most opponents. The Wildcats are the best transition team in the country and also hold opponents to nation-best 37.5% shooting. Terrence Jones is a streaky player, but when he’s playing well Kentucky is all but unbeatable. Davis, of course, is a shot-blocking fiend with his 7-foot-5 wingspan but has improved offensively during the course of the season. Louisville has trouble generating points but has won of late with a stingy 2-3 zone defense that likes to funnel traffic inside toward center Gorgui Dieng, who averages more than three blocks a game.

KEY TO THE GAME: Both teams need to keep their big men out of foul trouble. Dieng averages 32 minutes a game but needs to play close to 40 for Louisville to stay in the game. He has fouled out of five games this year. Louisville point guard Peyton Siva is fast — Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo called him “out of control in control” — but Louisville can’t win a track meet so Siva must control the game’s pace. Louisville wants to grind out the game and force Kentucky to make three-pointers.