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As a substitute of our conventional opponent preview, we’ll preview the two-day 2023 Empire Basic starting Sunday at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Indiana begins play within the occasion at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday in opposition to UConn on ESPN.
The 2-day Empire Basic options 4 packages with loads of custom.
Indiana, UConn, Louisville and Texas make up the sphere for this yr’s Empire Basic, which takes place every year in New York.
The occasion will start with the Hoosiers taking over the Huskies, adopted by the Cardinals and Longhorns within the second matchup. The losers on Sunday will play Monday at 4:30 p.m. ET, adopted by the winners’ assembly at 7 p.m. ET.
Indiana’s probabilities to achieve success in New York rely largely on the standing of Xavier Johnson, who suffered a foot harm in Thursday’s win in opposition to Wright State. This system has not supplied an official replace on the standing of Johnson prematurely of Sunday’s sport in opposition to UConn.
A take a look at the competitors
UConn Huskies
UConn, Indiana’s Sunday opponent, is the standout group on this yr’s Empire Basic.
The Huskies received the 2023 nationwide championship and are off to a 3-0 begin this season. The Huskies are presently fourth within the KenPom scores, simply the very best of the 4 groups taking part in in New York.
UConn has received its first three video games by 34 or extra factors, however none of its opponents have been formidable. UConn’s wins have come in opposition to Northern Arizona, Stonehill and Mississippi Valley State.
By way of three video games, UConn has 5 gamers averaging in double figures.
Alex Karaban averages a team-best 17 factors and is third on the group in rebounding at 6.3 per sport. The 6-foot-8 Karaban is 5-for-13 on 3s and 12-for-14 from the free throw line.
Guard Tristen Newton, who’s 6-foot-5, is second for the Huskies in scoring at 15.3 factors per sport. He’s 5-for-14 on 3s, 15-for-16 from the free throw line and has a team-high seven steals.
Donovan Clingan, one of many nation’s prime frontcourt gamers, is 7-foot-2, weighs 280 kilos, and can current a major take a look at for Kel’el Ware. Clingan has 10 offensive rebounds in three video games and eight blocked pictures. He’s averaging 15 factors and 6.7 rebounds in 18 minutes per contest.
Rutgers switch Cam Spencer is a high-volume 3-point shooter (11-for-24 in three video games) who performed nicely in opposition to Indiana final season. Spencer can be averaging 15 factors per sport. Freshman Stephon Fortress, a highschool teammate of Jakai Newton, averages 14.5 factors however is out indefinitely with a knee harm.
The KenPom profile for UConn exhibits that the Huskies are a high-volume 3-point capturing group (fortieth nationally in 3PFGA/FGA) and have the nation’s finest 2-point discipline purpose share at 73.2.
Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns are a heavy favourite in opposition to Louisville, in keeping with KenPom. His scores give Texas a 91 p.c likelihood to advance to Monday’s championship sport of the Empire Basic.
Texas, led by coach Rodney Terry, has been led by the guard trio of Max Abmas, Ithiel Horton, and Tyrese Hunter by three video games.
Abmas, a switch from Oral Roberts, and Horton are each averaging 14.7 factors whereas Hunter is simply behind at 14 factors per sport. The trio has been red-hot from the perimeter. Abmas is 9-for-18 from distance, Horton is 9-for-15 and Hunter is 6-for-13.
The Longhorns even have succesful items within the frontcourt with Virginia switch Kadin Shedrick, sophomore Dillon Mitchell, senior Brock Cunningham and fourth-year junior Ze’Rik Onyema, a switch from UTEP.
Texas has been stingy on protection by three video games and has the nation’s Thirteenth-best adjusted defensive effectivity.
Louisville Cardinals
Barring an upset on Sunday, Indiana is more likely to face Louisville on Monday afternoon. KenPom provides UConn an 85 p.c likelihood of beating Indiana and Texas a 91 p.c likelihood of defeating the Cardinals.
Louisville’s program is coming off a traditionally dangerous 2022-23 marketing campaign wherein it completed 4-28.
Second-year coach Kenny Payne is feeling the warmth from the fanbase to make main strides this season. The Cardinals narrowly survived UMBC 94-93 within the season opener earlier than falling to Chattanooga by 11 at residence on Nov. 10. Most not too long ago, Louisville beat Coppin State 61-41 on Wednesday.
The Cardinals are led by sophomore Mike James, who’s averaging a team-high 18 factors by three video games. James is 5-for-13 on 3s, 17-for-20 from the free throw line and is capturing 51.6 p.c from the sphere.
The remainder of the Louisville roster has been inconsistent and inefficient by three video games.
USC switch Tre White was anticipated to be a major addition, however is capturing a dismal 34.4 p.c from the sphere. Illinois switch Skyy Clark is capturing 35.1 p.c from the sphere and is 0-for-8 on 3s.
Brandon Huntley-Hatfield was a five-star recruit out of highschool who spent his first season at Tennessee earlier than transferring to Louisville earlier than final season. The 6-foot-10 Huntley-Hatfield has been an elite rebounder this season – 10.3 rebounds per sport – however has solely taken 17 discipline purpose makes an attempt.
Louisville has been wonderful on the offensive glass this season – nineteenth in offensive rebounding share – however has poor capturing numbers. The Cardinals are solely making 26.4 p.c of their 3s, 48.9 p.c of their 2s and 65.8 p.c of their free throws.
Filed to: 2023 Empire Classic, Connecticut Huskies, Louisville Cardinals, Texas Longhorns
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