Louisville-Indiana preview: Cards and Hoosiers clash in Indianapolis

NO. 6 LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (11-2, 0-1) vs. NO. 16 INDIANA HOOSIERS (10-3, 0-1)

Countdown Classic

Game Time: 12:38 p.m.

Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse: Indianapolis, Ind.

Television: CBS

Announcers: Spero Dedes (play-by-play) and Bill Raftery (analyst)

Favorite: Louisville by 2.5

All-Time Series: Indiana leads 10-7

Last Meeting: Louisville won 94-74 on Dec. 9, 2014 in Madison Square Garden in New York

Series History:

Probable Starting Lineups:

Statistics:

Relevant Videos:

About Indiana:

The Hoosiers have one of the more bizarre resumes in college basketball, owning wins over North Carolina and Kansas, but also losses to Fort Wayne and Nebraska (at home).

One of the more gifted offensive teams in the country, the Hoosies are second in the nation in rebounding margin (+14.0), eighth nationally in field goal percentage (.512), ninth in scoring margin (+20.8), 18th in three-point field goal percentage defense (.285), 11th in scoring offense (88.4 ppg), and 38th field goal percentage defense (.388). They are led by James Blackmon's 17.9 ppg, but its the frontcourt duo of Thomas Bryant and OG Anunoby that really has the attention of NBA scouts and executives.

They also turn the ball over way too much and once again aren't the biggest fans of playing defense. Also Tom Crean is still super, super weird.

Notable:

--This is the first game of a three-year contract between these two national powers. The teams will meet next season on Dec. 9, 2017 at the KFC Yum Center in Louisville, and then again on Dec. 8, 2018 at Assembly Hall in Bloomington.

--Louisville is in the midst of a stretch of four consecutive games against Top 25 Associated Press ranked opponents for the first time ever in the regular season. The Cardinals defeated then-No. 6 Kentucky last week, but lost to No. 12 Virginia on Wednesday. U of L will play at No. 24 Notre Dame next week.

--Indiana currently ranks 2nd in the nation in rebound margin, 5th in rebounding, 8th in field goal percentage, 9th in scoring margin, 11th in in scoring and 15th in blocked shots.

--Louisville has a 31-5 record during the month of December over the last four years, winning 19 of its last 23 in the month.

--In neutral site games, Louisville has a 34-7 record over the last five years (.829) and a 44-14 neutral site record over the last eight years (.759). The Cardinals have a collective 12-7 record in neutral site games played in Indianapolis.

--Since 2011-12, IU has had the most potent offense in the Big Ten, leading in points scored (78.5), field goal percentage (48.1), and 3-point field goal percentage (40.2). The Hoosiers lead all major conference schools in field goal percentage and 3-point percentage during that same time frame.

--Louisville is 11-8 all-time in games against Tom Crean, and has won four straight against the former Marquette head coach.

--In its last five games, Indiana is averaging 92.8 points and shooting 54.1% from the field and 43.7% from long distance. The Hoosiers are out-rebounding opponents 41.8 to 29.2.

--This will be Louisville's final non-conference game of the 2016-17 season before (presumably) participating in the NCAA Tournament.

--Louisville's non-conference schedule is currently rated as the toughest in the ACC and the 11th-toughest in the country, according to the RPI.

--Louisville will wear special black "Iced Out" adidas uniforms for this game.

--Louisville has yet to surrender more than 71 points in a game this season.

--Louisville has won at least 11 of its first 13 games for a seventh straight season.

Ken Pomeroy Prediction: Louisville 74, Indiana 71