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2012 Louisville Cardinals Final 4 Handicapping Preview | Betting Lines

NCAA Final 4 Predictions – Louisville

Louisville Regular Season:  The Cardinals started red hot winning their first 12 games of the season including 5 against eventual tournament teams Ohio, Memphis, Vanderbilt, Western Kentucky and Long Beach State.

Louisville Cardinals Final Four Preview
Region:  West
Seed:  #4

R 64:  Louisville 69-Davidson 62
R 32:  Louisville 59 – New Mexico 56
R 16:  Louisville 57 – Michigan State 44
R 8:    Louisville 72 – Florida 68

 But they lost to Georgetown to open Big East play, followed that with a loss in their annual tussle with Kentucky, and more losses including a surprising blowout at Providence where they gave up a whopping 90 points.  They struggled with injuries throughout and hardly resembled the  team that dominated early on for stretches of the season.

Louisville Post Season:  They may be the lowest seed remaining but the Cardinals are the only one who won their conference tournament.  

Like Connecticut last year they have carried the momentum of winning the Big East this far and without any sort of flukey draw either.  They beat Seton Hall, Marquette, Notre Dame  and Cincinnati to earn the Big East’s AQ bid and have been using stifling defense to succeed in March Madness.  I still can’t believe they held the Spartans to just 44 points in the Sweet Sixteen.  

If any team is peaking at the right time it is Louisville.

Louisville Backcourt:  Any analysis of the Cardinals will tell you that point guard Peyton Siva is the heart of the team.  He is feisty and scrappy and when he plays smart the rest of the team seems to as well.  In the last few games he has been getting great support from sophomore guard Russ Smith who scored 19 points in just 22 minutes as the Cardinals beat Florida.  Kyle Kuric may not get a lot of style points but he is Louisville’s leading scorer and capable of hitting big shots.  

All of the Cardinals guards are committed to playing harassing defense. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Louisville Frontcourt:  Though freshman Chane Bahanan is emerging big time the Louisville Frontcourt is all about center Gorgui Dieng.  

The Tournament has brought focus on how big a disruptor the near 7 footer with the long wing span can be.  Also, when was the last time you saw a center play all 40 minutes like Dieng did against MSU.  All he did was send back 7 Spartan shots.  Bahanan is just a frosh but he has a next level physique and has turned up his game. In 4 tourney games he has scored 10 or more points and the Cardinals might not have gotten past Davidson without his double-double.  

Other forwards Rakeem Buckles and Jarrod Swopshire keep up the intensity when they enter the game.

Louisville Coach:  You can’t argue against the success of coach Rick Pitino.  

This was a hard season with the ups and downs and I think even he would have to admit this is not his most talented team.  Next up is Kentucky and no one will be more motivated to win than he is.  Of all the coaches left no one can match his experience and success.  

It might just be enough to overcome.

Odds to win it all:  The Cardinals are +1100 to win it all but that is primarily because they are facing Kentucky in the semis.  

I would easily take this team to beat Kansas if that matchup were offered and they might be able to wear out Ohio State.  

Getting past the Wildcats who beat them once already is a very steep test.  At least you are getting a good payoff.

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By The Wiesguy

The Wiesguy is a newcomer to the handicapping scene. Hailing from Toronto, Canada he is always sweet on the underdogs and you can often find his thoughts, musings and picks at moneydogs.blogspot.com.