Bobcats come calling on seventh-ranked Cardinals

Nov 25, 2011 - 4:12 PM Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - The seventh-ranked Louisville Cardinals continue their season-opening homestand as they close out play in the Global Sports Invitational at the KFC Yum! Center against Ohio University.

The Bobcats have yet to lose on the year, posting wins over Tennessee-Martin, Lamar and most recently, Arkansas State (69-54).

Rick Pitino's Cardinals are also undefeated thus far. Louisville has posted four straight routs, including a 54-27 beating of Arkansas State on Tuesday. Pitino is seeking his 250th victory with the Cardinals in this contest.

Louisville holds a 9-3 edge in the all-time series with Ohio. The Bobcats' last win over the Cardinals came in the 1964 NCAA Tournament.

The Bobcats have shown some offensive punch this season. Despite shooting a rather bland 40.8 percent from the floor, the team is putting up 76.0 ppg. Ohio enjoys scoring depth with a quartet of double-digit performers. D.J. Cooper leads the way with 15.3 ppg. Walter Offutt is next at 14.0 ppg. Reggie Keely and Ivo Baltic add 12.3 and 10.0 ppg respectively. In the 15-point win over Arkansas State, five Bobcats scored in double figures. Cooper, Keely and Nick Kellogg scored 13 point apiece. Offutt added 12, while Baltic chipped in with 10.

The Cardinals held the Red Wolves to a mere 27 points, the first time an opponent failed to reach 30 points against Louisville since 1947. The Cardinals didn't exactly light up the scoreboard either with just 54 points, but they didn't have to, forcing ASU into 22 turnovers. Kyle Kuric led the way at the offensive end with 12 points. Gorgui Dieng added 10, with Russ Smith chipped in with nine. The Cardinals have been fueled by strong defensive play, limiting foes to just 44.0 ppg, allowing just 28.6 percent shooting efficiency, including a mere .215 from behind the arc. Kuric is the team's top offensive threat at just 12.3 ppg.