On Sunday evening, the 4th ranked Louisville Cardinals (8-0) will return to action in the 13th Annual Billy Minardi Classic, which honors Rick Pitino’s late brother-in-law who died in the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. This year the Cards will face UNC Wilmington (3-2), who are coached by former UofL assistant Kevin Keatts. He was with UofL for 3 seasons.
Louisville enters the game as heavy favorites, I believe by around 28 points or so. But in just five games this season, the Seahawks of UNC Wilmington have scored over 100 points twice already. They beat VMI 110-93 and St. Andrews 105-47. Their last game was on December 3, so they have had 11 days to prepare for this game.
Five players for UNCW are averaging double-figures in scoring, led by senior guard Freddie Jackson at 18 points per game. In their last game against St. Andrews, Jackson scored 33 points on 14-16 shooting and was 5-6 from the three point line. He did this is just 27 minutes.
Louisville enters the game with an 8-0 record and are also lighting up the scoreboard. In 6 of the 8 games, the Cards have scored over 80 points. They are also second in the country with 47 rebounds per game. Four players average double figures, led by Montrezl Harrell with 16.8 points per game.
The game tips off at 6:00 pm and can be seen on ESPNU with Tom Hart and Brooke Weisbrod. On radio, it will be on 840 WHAS with Paul Rogers and Doug Ormay.
Player Stats
Louisville
| GAME STATISTICS | |||||||||||
| Player | GP | MIN | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TPG | FG% | FT% | 3P% |
| Montrezl Harrell | 8 | 31.0 | 16.8 | 9.6 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 2.3 | .641 | .574 | .214 |
| Terry Rozier | 8 | 29.5 | 14.6 | 5.8 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 2.1 | .455 | .643 | .357 |
| Chris Jones | 8 | 28.8 | 13.3 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 2.5 | .330 | .667 | .341 |
| Wayne Blackshear | 8 | 30.3 | 13.0 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 | .379 | .774 | .269 |
| Chinanu Onuaku | 8 | 18.0 | 5.4 | 6.6 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 1.8 | .720 | .538 | .000 |
| Anton Gill | 8 | 13.4 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 1.1 | .368 | .300 | .211 |
| Mangok Mathiang | 6 | 18.8 | 4.0 | 6.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1.0 | .450 | .353 | .000 |
| Jaylen Johnson | 6 | 6.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | .500 | .333 | 1.000 |
| Quentin Snider | 8 | 8.6 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | .462 | .500 | .286 |
| Trent Gilbert | 3 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | .400 | .000 | .400 |
| David Levitch | 7 | 6.7 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.6 | .143 | .667 | .200 |
| Matz Stockman | 3 | 5.0 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | .400 | .000 | .000 |
| Dillon Avare | 3 | 6.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | .250 | .500 | .000 |
| Anas Mahmoud | 7 | 9.1 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | .333 | .500 | .000 |
| Akoy Agau | 3 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Totals | 8 | — | 78 | 47 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 14 | .444 | .590 | .290 |
UNC Wilmington
| GAME STATISTICS | |||||||||||
| Player | GP | MIN | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TPG | FG% | FT% | 3P% |
| Freddie Jackson | 5 | 34.2 | 18.0 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 2.6 | .557 | .500 | .450 |
| Addison Spruill | 5 | 28.8 | 14.0 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.2 | .528 | .500 | .400 |
| Craig Ponder | 5 | 30.0 | 12.0 | 2.6 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 4.0 | .415 | .792 | .467 |
| Cedrick Williams | 5 | 28.0 | 11.4 | 8.8 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.4 | .558 | .533 | .200 |
| Dylan Sherwood | 3 | 19.7 | 10.0 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 1.3 | .667 | 1.000 | .667 |
| Malik Pugh | 5 | 16.2 | 6.2 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 1.2 | .600 | .250 | .000 |
| Jordan Talley | 5 | 16.0 | 5.4 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 2.0 | .296 | .769 | .250 |
| C.J. Gettys | 5 | 16.4 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | .556 | .333 | .000 |
| Nick Powell | 2 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .667 | .000 | .667 |
| Kevin Hickson | 5 | 8.6 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | .750 | .000 | .000 |
| Chuck Ogbodo | 5 | 9.0 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 1.2 | .600 | .000 | .000 |
| Totals | 5 | — | 81 | 38 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 16 | .523 | .600 | .432 |
