Point guard

Peyton Siva

6-0 185 Sr.

Malcolm Armstead

6-0 205 Sr.

How Armstead manages the game for Wichita State will be crucial if the Shockers want to contend with Louisville. Twenty pounds heavier than Siva, Armstead will need to keep up with UofL’s floor general and limit turnovers against the Cardinals’ full-court pressure.

 

Shooting guard

Russ Smith

6-0 165 Jr.

Tekele Cotton

6-2 202 Sr.

Cotton has been shooting efficiently for Wichita State in the Tournament, but his biggest responsibility will be defending Smith. Although he misfired on his four 3-point attempts against Duke, Smith is a dangerous scoring threat and is averaging 26 points per game in the Tournament.

 

Small forward

Wayne Blackshear

6-5 230 So.

Ron Baker

6-3 218 R-Fr

Blackshear figures to see an increase in playing time after Kevin Ware suffered his horrific leg injury against Duke. Baker missed the three field goals he attempted against Ohio State but was superb from the free-throw line, making all nine of his attempts.

 

Power forward

Chane Behanan

6-6 250 So

Cleanthony Early

6-8 215 Jr

Early is the Shockers’ biggest threat offensively and averages 14.3 points per game in the Tournament. Behanan will have his hands full with a power forward who has a 2-inch advantage on him.

 

Center

Gorgui Dieng

6-11 245 Jr

Carl Hall

6-8 238 Sr

One of the premier shot-blockers in the country, Dieng is coming off of a double-double against Duke. The big man shouldn’t have many problems against Wichita State’s relatively small starting lineup.

 

Coaches

Rick Pitino

660-235

27 seasons

Gregg Marshall

333-125

15 seasons

Marshall’s done an excellent job leading No. 9-seed Wichita State on a Cinderella run to the Final Four, but Pitino has the experience, the national title pedigree, and the full-court press that made Louisville the No. 1-overall seed.

 

Free throw

In addition to garnering an Associated Press All-American honorable mention honor, Louisville point guard Peyton Siva was also named an Academic All-American and Senior All-American.

 

Stat to know

Louisville power forward Chane Behanan hasn’t scored in double figures since a 10-point outing against DePaul on Feb. 27.

 

Big number

26

Points per game averaged by Louisville guard Russ Smith during the postseason, the most of any player still standing in the NCAA Tournament.

 

Beat writer predictions

Michael Cohen

Louisville 77, Wichita State 61

“Pick a score.”

 

Ryne Gery

Louisville 82, Wichita State 62

Redbirds roll.

 

Chris Iseman

Louisville 68, Wichita State 62

Win for Ware.

Published on April 6, 2013 at 3:42 pm