Louisville-Memphis Preview

LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (13-2, 2-0) vs. MEMPHIS TIGERS (10-3, 1-1)

Game Time: 7:02 p.m.

Location: KFC Yum Center: Louisville, Ky.

Television: ESPN

Announcers: Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Dick Vitale (analyst) and Jeff Goodman (reporter)

Favorite: Louisville by 10

Officials: Doug Sirmons Don Daily and Roger Ayers

All-Time Series: Louisville leads 53-34

Last Meeting: Louisville won 87-78 last season in Memphis

Series History:

Probable Starting Lineups:

Statistics:

Relevant Videos:

About Memphis:

The Tigers (10-3, 1-1 AAC), ranked 24th in the AP poll and 22nd in the USA Today poll, fell 69-53 to Cincinnati in a home game on Jan. 4 as the Tigers shot just 24.3 percent in the second half and posted its lowest scoring total of the season in the loss. Memphis had won 27 consecutive conference games before falling to Cincinnati.

Guard Joe Jackson (15.0 ppg) leads the Tigers, which have forced at least 12 turnovers in each of their 13 games this season. Memphis leads the AAC in steals (10.2; fifth nationally) and is second in scoring (80.5). The Tigers are seeking their 1,500th all-time victory, currently with a 1,499 total. UM was 16-0 in Conference USA last season.

Notable:

--Tonight's game has been deemed a "white out," meaning all attending fans are encouraged to wear white.

--Memphis is Louisville's second-most played rival, trailing only Cincinnati.

--Louisville has won the last four games in this series.

--Louisville is 9-0 at home this season, while Memphis is 1-1 in true road games.

--This will be the first time the two rivals have met with both teams ranked since 2004. Louisville is 9-3 against Memphis in games where both teams are ranked.

--Louisville point guard Chris Jones and Memphis point guard Joe Jackson had quite the rivalry in high school.

--Louisville is second in the nation in turnover margin (+7.8) and is 17th in fewest turnovers per game (10.1). U of L has committed 10 or fewer turnovers in 11 of its last 18 games dating back to last year. The Cardinals are generating an average of 22.5 points per game off turnovers.

--U of L enters tonight ranking seventh in the nation in steals.

--A win by Louisville tonight would give Memphis a losing record in conference play for the first time since 2004.

--Louisville is 31-11 against Memphis at home.

--The Cards are 6-4 against Memphis under the direction of Rick Pitino.

--Louisville's margin of victory through 15 games is 22.5 ppg, which is 0.2 ppg more than the 2nd highest season at the 15-game mark (2004, 22.3 ppg).

--Louisville is 19-0 at home when ranked No. 12 in the AP poll.

--Louisville won the 2013 Division-I men's basketball national championship.

Ken Pom Prediction: Louisville 82, Memphis 71