- Paris Olympics takeaways: What did Team USA’s crunch-time lineup say about NBA’s hierarchy?Posted 4 months ago
- Zach Edey posted an easy double-double in Summer League debut. Here’s why he’ll succeed in NBAPosted 5 months ago
- What will we most remember these champion Boston Celtics for?Posted 5 months ago
- After long, seven-year road filled with excruciating losses, Celtics’ coast to NBA title felt ‘surreal’Posted 6 months ago
- South Florida men’s basketball is on an unbelievable heater– but also still on the bubblePosted 9 months ago
- Kobe Bufkin is balling out for Atlanta Hawks’ G League team. When will he be called up to NBA?Posted 10 months ago
- Former Knicks guards Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett may yet prove Raptors won the OG Anunoby tradePosted 11 months ago
- Rebounding savant Oscar Tshiebwe finally gets NBA chance he’s deserved for yearsPosted 12 months ago
- Is Tyrese Maxey vs. Tyrese Haliburton the next great NBA guard rivalry?Posted 1 year ago
- The Detroit Pistons are going to be a problem in a few yearsPosted 1 year ago
College Basketball Preseason Top 25: #2 Louisville
- Updated: September 30, 2013
2. Louisville Cardinals
We already told you why Louisville won’t repeat as NCAA champs, but hey, No. 2 in the nation ain’t bad. The Cardinals did lose heart-and-soul playmaker Peyton Siva (10.7 ppg, 5.7 apg, 2.3 spg), and stringy big man Gorgui Dieng (9.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.5 bpg), but there’s still plenty of talent for coach Rick Pitino to work with. In fact, Siva thinks the Cardinals will be even better this season.
Siva told ESPN that the 2014 Cards will be “more talented” than last year’s version. He expects JuCo transfer Chris Jones to fill his role at the point guard slot very well.
“People haven’t seen Chris and a lot of people don’t know who he is, but he can shoot, can really score and is as quick — if not quicker than Russ,” Siva told ESPN. “He’s got a bulldog mentality and loves to pick guys up full-court. He’s shorter than me, but he’s so strong and athletic and won’t be pushed around. He can go for 30 any night.”
Senior guard Russ Smith (18.7 ppg) is another guy who can go for 30 any night. He can also go 4-for-30 any night. Pitino expects his decision-making and shot selection to improve this year, and for most of the Russ-diculous plays to be of the positive variety. This team could go as Smith goes, and that’s a scary thought for both Louisville and opponents alike.
Also back is Final Four Most Outstanding Player Luke Hancock (8.1 ppg, 39% 3-point FG), who is a deadly shooter and could take on even more of a role in the offense this season. 6-5 junior guard Wayne Blackshear could be on the verge of a breakout season, as he averaged only 7.6 points per game last year but is talented and skilled enough to double that output. 6-6 junior forward Chane Behanan (9.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg) was a big-time recruit two years ago and could also become a star for Louisville. He’s got the talent to vie for Conference Player of the Year honors if he applies himself more. Sophomore forward Montrezl Harrell is in the same boat. He made great strides in the NCAA Tournament and might be counted on to become a major factor down low for the Cards.
The school has said that Kevin Ware will be ready to practice in mid-October, but don’t expect him to be ready to play early on. Pitino said that there is a chance Ware could still miss a large chunk of this season.
BOTTOM LINE: Louisville fans couldn’t have scripted last year any better. It’s almost debatable which they enjoyed more: the national title, or the fact that arch-nemesis Kentucky lost to Bobby Morris in the first round of the NIT. OK, so they probably enjoyed the ‘ship a little bit more. But still. The ‘Cards didn’t even give Kentucky a year to enjoy its national title before answering right back with one of their own. It was like “rebuttal” in beer pong, and Louisville sank both cups. This year may serve as the rubber match. Will John Calipari and his teenage Evil Empire strike back again, like Alabama did to Auburn by bookending the Tigers’ 2010 national title with three of their own? This rivalry has never been better.
Click here to see our Entire Top 25.
Pingback: College Basketball Preseason Top 25: #5 Michigan St
Pingback: College Basketball Preseason Top 25: #3 Kentucky
Pingback: College Basketball Preseason Top 25: 1. Kansas
Pingback: College Basketball Preseason Top 25: #1 Kansas
Pingback: College Basketball Season Preview: Top 25