No. 1 Louisville basketball looks to put on show in the Big Apple
C Steven Enoch, Louisville
Texas Tech has one player on their roster that is listed as taller than 6-8. That certainly bodes well for both of the Louisville big men, but I’m going to focus on Steven Enoch. This is a perfect opportunity for Enoch to impress NBA scouts, and he should be able to take advantage of the size mismatch against Tech. Even if Chris Beard decides to up the minutes for his seven-foot freshman Russel Tchewa, Enoch should be mentally prepared to abuse him in the paint. If Louisville feeds Enoch as they should, he could have a career night at the Garden.
The senior center has had a terrific start to his final season of college hoops, and he’s been one of the keys to the early success of the Cardinals. Averaging just under 11 points and 8 rebounds, Enoch makes an impact on both ends of the floor. He can use his strength to body opponents down low, and he’s developed a post-game that he’s still getting better at. Enoch will put all of his tools on display, and he could be a huge help for the Cards if he can take some of the scoring load off of Jordan Nwora.
F T.J. Holyfield, Texas Tech
When Chris Beard was reloading for this season, he needed experienced players. That’s exactly what he got in forward T.J. Holyfield. A 1,000 point scorer at Stephen F. Austin, Holyfield can score in a variety of ways and he’s been a solid pickup for the Red Raiders. He also fits the mold of a terrific defender that we all know Beard loves. Holyfield was one of the more coveted graduate transfers this past spring, and he’s shown why in just eight games in Lubbock.
Averaging 10.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and nearly a steal and a block per game, Holyfield has made an impact and taken on a big role for TTU. He’s an efficient scorer, and while he’s better inside the three-point line, he is certainly capable of stepping out and knocking down the long ball. Louisville will need to force Holyfield into tough shots and they could benefit from getting him into foul trouble, which is something he’s struggled with in his entire career. Holyfield has a tough matchup on his hands as well, as he looks like the guy who will be tasked with guarding Steven Enoch.
F Samuell Williamson, Louisville
This game will mean a lot to Samuell Williamson, and it’s a game that I’m sure he’d love to do some damage in. You might not remember this, but Williamson committed to Louisville over Texas Tech. Chris Beard really wanted the McDonald’s All-American in Lubbock but Coach Mack was able to pry the Texas native to the Ville. The five-star forward will be eager to show Beard what he missed out on, and he’s looking due for a big scoring night.
Williamson is capable of knocking down the three, the mid-range jumper, and beating his defender off the dribble. You can expect to see all of those tools on display as he gets some shine under the bright lights of MSG. He matches up well with the Red Raiders, and I can certainly see him having a big night here. If he can force Texas Tech to respect his perimeter game, Williamson could have a field day attacking the basket against the Red Raiders defenders.