5 Critiques of Athlon Sports' season preview for the Louisville Basketball team
We take a look at what Athlon Sports predicted for this Louisville basketball season and where they were right or wrong.
Well, it hasn’t been the most exciting couple of days around the Louisville basketball program as the NCAA’s allegations were announced on Thursday. The good news is that the penalties will probably not be as bad as everyone was worrying about going into the season.
SEE ALSO: Midseason report card for the Louisville football team
While the questions about the 2013 National Championship is still unknown, it sounds as though the school is confident that will not become a target for the NCAA to go after since Louisville has been cooperative with the investigations.
In just a few weeks, Louisville can silence all of the nonsense and start playing basketball again. It should be another exciting season around the Ville’ with a large part last year’s team returning.
We all wish that Damion Lee and Trey Lewis could have just one more go around in the Cardinals uniform, but unfortunately that is not going to happen. The good news is that the Cards have two very solid players coming into the program with V.J. King and Tony Hicks. Both players will have huge expectations on their shoulders throughout the 2016-2017 season.
Athlon Sports just released their season preview for the Louisville Basketball team, therefore we take a look a five critiques of their predictions and reviews.
Nov 28, 2015; Brooklyn , NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino congratulates tournament MVP Louisville Cardinals center Mangok Mathiang (12) at Barclays Center. The Cardinals won, 77-57. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Louisville’s Front-Court, Part One:
This is what Athlon Sports had to say about Louisville’s Front-Court:
“Pitino maintains that Louisville will be fine without center Chinanu Onuaku, who jumped to the NBA after his sophomore season. Not everybody is as certain, considering Onuaku was the team’s top rebounder (8.5 rpg), third-leading scorer (9.9 ppg) and best interior defender. His replacements come with questions. Senior Mangok Mathiang missed the end of 2016 as well as summer drills with a foot injury. Anas Mahmoud is 7’0″ and 210 pounds; he hoped to bulk up to 225 pounds but actually lost some weight during the summer. Matz Stockman, another 7-footer, has a nice left-handed hook but has footwork issues. Look for Pitino to play the hot and healthy hand.”
I think this is a concern for the Louisville basketball team because they don’t have an elite big-man like they did with Onuaku last season. He always gave the Cards a solid rebounder and presence inside. That may be something Louisville will mis throughout this season.
While I do like the experience of Mathian, Mahmoud, and Stockman, I am not sure that they are on the same level that Onuaku has been for Louisville. However, if anyone can get a player to rise above their ceiling, it’s Pitino.
Don’t be surprised if one of these guys shock everyone and become much better than they have been in the past.
Feb 24, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers forward Jamel Artis (1) shoots a three point shot over Louisville Cardinals forward Jaylen Johnson (10) during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Louisville’s Front-Court, Part Two:
This is what Athlon Sports had to say about Louisville’s front court:
“The Cardinals are considerably stronger at forward. Deng Adel, a sophomore, struggled with injuries last season, but Pitino says he believes Adel has the talent to become the Cardinals’ best player. Adel, 6’7″, is a powerful slasher who must improve his 3-point shot after hitting only seven (in 20 attempts) last season.
Raymond Spalding, a sophomore, and Jaylen Johnson, a junior, provide options at power forward. Spalding is a better defender, with the quickness and wingspan to defend away from the basket. He averaged a modest 5.6 points per game last season but hit 56.0 percent from the field. Johnson is stronger and plays with more grit. He’s likely to become Louisville’s best low-post scorer, but he scored in double figures only one time against an ACC opponent last season.”
There are many people around the Louisville basketball program who absolutely love the player that Deng Adel is maturing into. He should have more opportunities to play and grow this year, which will have huge implications for the Cards in the future.
Spalding and Johnson are also guys who have been able to play a lot over the past year. Johnson and Spalding have had their flashes of greatness and moments of poor basketball. However, if they both can be more conisistent then the Cards could have a very good season.
Nov 13, 2015; Louisville, KY, USA; Samford Bulldogs guard Darius Jones-Gibson (15) moves against Louisville Cardinals guard Quentin Snider (2) during the first half at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Louisville’s Back-Court, Part One:
Here is what Athlon Sports had to say about Louisville’s upcoming season:
“The battle for playing time will be intense with Quentin Snider (junior), Donovan Mitchell (sophomore), Tony Hicks (grad transfer) and V.J. King (freshman) giving Pitino the option of a three-guard attack.
Snider, the top returning scorer at 9.4 points per game, will serve as a co-captain with Mathiang. He is the only returning player who made more than 18 3-pointers last season, but his job will be to initiate the offense and direct the Cardinals’ match-up zone defense. His finishing needs work. Snider made 40.4 percent of his 3-point attempts but only 40.1 of his 2-pointers.”
Believe me when I say that there aren’t going to be many guys that are going to “push” Snider for playing time this season. He has clearly going to be the key leader of Louisville offensive attack this season. There isn’t another player on the roster who can distribute the basketball and shoot as well as Quentin Snider.
Everyone remembers how key Peyton Siva was in the 2013 National Championship season. Louisville didn’t need him to average ten points per game, but they did rely on him being great at passing the basketball and finding open guys.
When Siva was at his best, the Cards were at their best. The same goes for Quentin Snider.
Dec 16, 2015; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell (45) dunks against Kennesaw State Owls guard Yonel Brown (4) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Kennesaw State 94-57. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Louisville’s Back-Court, Part Two:
Here is what Athlon Sports had to say about Louisville’s upcoming season:
“As much as Pitino likes Adel, many believe Mitchell will develop into the Cardinals’ signature player. He’s a muscular high-flier who plays in the old Doctors of Dunk style. Defenders will continue to give Mitchell open perimeter shots until he can improve his 25.0 percent 3-point stroke.
King, a McDonald’s All-American, is Louisville’s most acclaimed recruit since Chane Behanan and Wayne Blackshear. He’s a mature swingman who figures to earn an opportunity at off guard as well as small forward.
Hicks is the X-factor. After leading Penn in scoring as a sophomore and junior, he did not play for the Quakers last season following the departure of coach Jerome Allen. Hicks is the latest graduate transfer to play for Pitino, who had success with both Damion Lee and Trey Lewis last season.”
It will be interesting to see how much Mitchell has improved as a shooter this season. There are clearly zero questions about his athleticism or ability to play, but he wasn’t able to consistency shoot the basketball last season. While he may be the most-talented Cardinal, we still may not see the full picture until next season.
Hicks and King are going to be the wild-cards for the Cardinals this season. No one really knows what their contributions will look like, but Pitino and his staff. If they can come in and be factors, then Louisville will hang around the top ten all season long.
March 22, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Louisville Cardinals /head coach Rick Pitino and the bench react against Northern Iowa Panthers during the first half in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at KeyArena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Expectations for Louisville’s 2017-2017 season:
Here is what Athlon Sports had to say about Louisville’s upcoming season:
“Louisville is eager to make a major splash. The Cardinals have the talent to deliver, but this team has some issues.
Snider is a poised and savvy leader who is comfortable sharing the basketball. Adel and Mitchell have the ability and confidence to make the jump from freshman role players to sophomore stars. Pitino needs Hicks, King and Adel to develop as 3-point shooting threats and for Mahmoud to increase his strength and intensity in the middle. Johnson has the upper-body strength and touch to develop into the most consistent low-post threat.
It’s a top-25 team with the potential to become a top-10 squad and legitimate contender in the ACC if all of that happens.”
I will say that Athlon Sports is dead on in there assessment of Louisville going into this season. Fans should have legitimate concerns over who the three point shooting threat will be and if that person can stay consistent all year long. Also, can they have multiple guys that can fulfill that role?
If not, then great coaches will be able to slow down Louisville’s offense like we have seen in the past.
Louisville will also need to prove that they have a solid big man inside. If any team has a guy who can dominate the interior, then the Cardinals are going to be in major trouble. Mathiang is a great communicator on defense and can get the Cards set, but what happens when an opposing team has a guy that can keep pounding the basketball inside?
As usual, don’t be surprised when our questions are quickly answered by the fantastic coaching of Hall of Fame head coach Rick Pitino
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