The pre-season talk, hype, scrimmages and exhibitions are over. Saturday will mark the 100th start of the regular season for Louisville Basketball. The Cards will open their 100th season at 1:00pm against The College of Charleston. The Cardinals have faced the Cougars three times on the basketball court and have won all three games. The last times these teams played was last year down in Charleston and the Cards dominated that game winning 80-38.
The Cougars were 24-11 last season, and they return four starters and a much deeper bench this year. Adjehi Baru (9.8 points, 8.3 rebounds last year), Anthony Stitt (11 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.3 assist last year), Anthony Thomas (8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds last year), and Willis Hall (7.7 points, 6.4 rebounds), each started at least 30 games for the Cougars a year ago. With veteran Nori Johnson (4.5 points, 1.9 rebounds last year) coming off the bench and the addition of redshirt freshman Canyon Barry (Rick Barry’s son), Tulsa transfer 7’2″ David Wishon and freshman point guard Joe Chealey (top 40 prospect in Florida), and the word is the Cougars might have their deepest roster in several years. This is going to be a great opening game for our Cardinals and we will get to see how they look against some pretty good size, talent and versatility.
There will be a lot of buzz surrounding the season opener for the Cards on Saturday. Starting the 100th season would be special just on its own, but the 2013 Championship banner along with a special banner celebrating Coach Pitino’s Hall of Fame induction will be revealed at 12:45 fifteen minutes before game time. There will be special videos before the reveal and before starting line-ups as well. The Basketball team will bring out the magic sleeved uniforms for this special day and Chane Behanan will make his first appearance on the bench of the season. So Saturday will indeed be a banner day for Cardinal Nation and the Louisville program. And with this much buzz and hype surrounding this game I don’t think it will be much fun for the cougars.
For the third straight season the Pikeville Bears will travel to Louisville for an exhibition on Wednesday night at 7pm. The game will be televised on WHAS 11. UPIKE is 0-2 in the young series losing 93-57 in 2012 and 74-55 in 2011. The Bears were ranked seventh in the NAIA Coaches’ Preseason Top-25 poll and chosen by the coaches to finish 2nd in the Mid-South Conference. They return just one starter from a 26-7 campaign and 15-5 mark in the MSC.
One guy who will be counted on heavily this year to run the Bears offense is a familiar face to Cardinal Nation. UPIKE senior Elisha Justice was held back last year due to a leg injury but emerged as a contributor late in the season, scoring a season-high 18 points in an MSC Tournament win over Georgetown.
We all know Elisha as “The Bullet” and he played two seasons for Louisville before transferring to Pikeville to play for the hometown Bears. He averaged 2.4 points and 1.1 assists per game as a freshman and 0.9 points for Louisville’s Final Four team in 2011-12. His most memorable games in Louisville are when he scored 12 points with six rebounds against Butler in his first game as a Cardinal and when he played 12 minutes against Marquette contributing two assists during the Cards’ 18-point comeback in the closing 5:44 in the miracle on main.
Elisha is a kid that was raised to always put god and family first. When his grandfather was diagnosed with cancer during his sophomore season at Louisville “The Bullet” decided to move back home to be with his family. He will always be the kid that brought some red into the part of Eastern Kentucky dominated by the blue. My wife was raised in Pikeville Kentucky and during our visits to her neck of the woods those University of Kentucky basketball billboards dominated our drive. But during “The Bullet’s” Louisville run I got to see some red on those billboards and it was glorious. My wife’s relatives know Elisha and his family and it was great to see them all excited about Louisville basketball. They had been all UK before. His pledge to Louisville really made an impact in that rural part of Kentucky. I’m certain that there will be others from that area that follow in the footsteps “The Bullet” laid for them.
It’s always great when one of our own comes home and on Wednesday night “The Bullet” will come back home. Let’s be sure to give him a nice reception. Louisville First, Cardinal Forever!
This game will serve as the final warm-up before things start to count for real on Saturday. This Pikeville group should be a little more challenging than KWC was. The Bears have some guys that could have, or have played D1 basketball. Coach Kelly Wells just won his 150th game as the Bears head coach and they are rolling into Louisville 2-0 on the season. They are a very well coached and competitive group. The Cardinal’s Beak will be covering this game from top to bottom and will have post game photos, videos and interviews. I’m looking forward to seeing the Cardinals progression since the last time out.
The last time we watched our Cardinal basketball team play someone other than themselves was back in April when they beat Michigan for the National Title. Tonight the Cards take the floor for the unofficial start of their title defense and the 2013-14 basketball season. They will take on Kentucky Wesleyan in a exhibition. Tip is set for 7 p.m. in the KFC Yum Center with TV coverage by WHAS 11 in Louisville. The last time the two teams met was in 2010, when Louisville posted a 96-54 exhibition victory on Nov. 11.
Louisville’s likely starting lineup for tonight’s Kentucky Wesleyan game will be Chris Jones, Russ Smith, Stephan Van Treese, Montrezl Harrell, and Wayne Blackshear. Luke Hancock and Kevin Ware won’t be playing in this first exhibition of the season but Pitino said yesterday “Kevin Ware and Luke Hancock will likely practice by the end of this week. Ware went through individual instructions last two days,” and told reporters in regards to Ware, “his leg is better than yours or mine.” Also the status on Chane Behanan is looking very promising. Pitino raved about his efforts to rejoin the team yesterday saying “I have no idea when he’s coming. But I’m very pleased because he’s incorporating a lot of changes in his life.” The team captains for this year will be Russ Smith, Luke Hancock and Montrezl Harrell.
Kentucky Wesleyan, which registered a 20-8 record last year returns seven letterwinners, including four starters along with three redshirts, from the 2012-13 team. The Panthers’ roster also includes four other Division I transfers. First year Kentucky Wesleyan coach Happy Osborne and coach Pitino exchanged pleasantries last Thursday when Rick was in Owensboro for a book signing. Happy joked that he told his team if they beat Louisville that he’d get a Panther tattooed on his face. Don’t think there’s any danger in that, but Osborne is a great coach and his teams are always very competitive. He came in with some of his Georgetown College teams and gave the Cardinals all they wanted.
I’m looking forward to seeing our guys take the floor against other players tonight. I will be watching the new guys to see how they are fitting into the offense and defense. I am also watching to see if Wayne Blackshear appears ready to take on a bigger work load this season and can’t wait to see “The Beast” Montrezl Harrell. This will also be the night we’ll see the improved Russ 2.0 for the first time running this team. Coach Pitino said yesterday this team is a little high maintenance because “they are just over the top competitive.” Can’t wait to see how that competitiveness carries over to real competition tonight. It’s gonna be another great year of Cardinal Basketball folks.
I felt a little blue today when I got up and that’s not a good thing for a Cardinal fan for several reasons. They always say that the sun will be shining in the morning when you wake up, but that wasn’t the case either today. All was not lost though as I attended the final Red and White Scrimmage. Nothing takes the blues away like watching our defending National Champions and they also unveiled the center court of the championship floor. It looks great hanging above the terrifying escalators of the Yum Center. The guys came out with a lot of energy today and both teams went at it hard. But it was too much Russ for the Red team to overcome and the White team got the victory 71 to 52.
The first scrimmage was about the offense, the second scrimmage was about the new guys and today it was all about Russ Smith as he poured in on the Red group going for 11 straight during one stretch of the game. He was hitting shots from all over the floor and finished with a game high 21 points. The guy Rick Pitino calls “the best walk-on in college basketball” Tim “Hendo” Henderson also put on a show of his own today in a losing effort for the Red team and scored 17 points. Other stand-outs for me today were Stephan “Big Country” Van Treese with a double-double 11 boards with 10 points, and Mangok “The Mango” Mathiang with a double-double 10 boards with 12 points. Both of these guys became much more important for this team this week with the suspension of Chane Behanan. We are gonna need these guys to step up and fill the rebounding gap lost. Montrezl “The Beast” Harrell will also play a role in this effort but more from an offensive standpoint. Today the big guy had 16 points with 8 boards. Among the new Cardinals the guy that stood out to me today was Anton Gill and his 3-point shooting. He went 4 for 7 from deep and this kid has a beautiful stroke.
Coach Pitino after the third Red and White Scrimmage:
(Video courtesy Jody Demling)
One thing really stands out after watching these guys scrimmage three times over the past several weeks. They are a group of some of the best shooters that Coach Pitino has had in a long time. These guys can really lite it up in the short game, mid range and from deep. Granted the defense still needs some fine tuning but shots were still contested. Through 3 games the Cards were 170-379 for 49% in field goals, and 38-117 for 32% in 3 pointers. And while those statistics don’t reflect great shooting those numbers can be deceiving because everybody was chucking up shots in these scrimmages. As we get into real action with more designed plays and organized offense the great shooting will become more obvious percentage wise. Right now I’d say the best shooters on this team are Terry Rozier, Anton Gill, Chris Jones, and Luke Hancock. Wayne Blackshear can be streaky, but if he uses his pump fake and drives to the basket for a closer shot he can become a more effective shooter. He has shown some of that in the last 3 weeks. Russ Smith could also be much more effective by making good decisions with the ball and taking the best shot not forcing it. He has also shown the ability to do just that in the past 3 weeks. I’ve got to also give a honorable mention to Tim Henderson. We might just see the “Hendo” play more minutes this season and he can shoot the ball, especially if he shoots in stride. When Coach Pitino has this much offense to work with it will spell trouble for our opponents this year. Especially when he finds the right chemistry with this bunch.
Final Four Court in KFC Yum! Center Unveiled:
(Video courtesy @TheCrunchZone)
I’m very optimistic about the potential of this group and can see them making another run at a Final Four. If the 2013-14 version of the Louisville Cardinals can find their chemistry and bond together sky is the limit. And I’m not going to act like the absence of Chane Behanan isn’t going to hurt because it does. If Chane can come back 100% committed to the team and Kevin Ware can come back 100% healthy then that will be huge. Only time will tell I guess and right now it’s looking like both might be with the team in December. Ware is expected earlier but I think it will take a few months for him to feel truly comfortable. Now it’s on to the pre-season part of the schedule and time to see what these guys do against someone other than themselves.
Chane Behanan is a self taught basketball player with the physical gifts and athletic ability that most would die for. His problems on and off the court have always been very well documented. Chane grew up in the rough inner city of Cincinnati and was able to avoid any kind of real trouble while living there, but still was surrounded by drug, gangs and other dysfunction. Most thought that when Chane got away from that environment and got with a Coach that would challenge him to be better that he would flourish. Coach Pitino has pushed back and has always challenged Chane to overcome his defense mechanisms learned through that early dysfunction. Today Coach Pitino and Athletic Director Tom Jurich perhaps made one last attempt to get Chane Behanan to see the error of his ways by suspending him indefinitely from the Louisville basketball program. Chane apparently violated a “University Policy” and it is unknown at this time what that might be.
Chane has not lived in the players dorm or practiced with the team for the last four days according to coach Pitino. Maybe this time away from the program and this push back by Pitino and Jurich will force Chane to take an objective look at his life and what it is he wants to do with it. Coach Pitino has been down this road before with players most recently with Derrick Caracter. He does know how to deal with them and ultimately is a coach that will cut a kid loose if he thinks it will help him get his act together. I don’t know if that needs to happen in this case and I don’t think Coach Pitino has made his mind up about this yet either. I don’t think Chane has lost his way. He is just a kid that doesn’t have any healthy coping skills, problem solving skills or decision making ability. I know that most wouldn’t consider a 21 year old guy a kid but growing up with as much dysfunction that Chane did it slows the developmental stage drastically. I speak on this matter with a professional opinion and have been a Crisis Counselor for the last 21 years with 13 of those dedicated to trouble youth. I saw a tweet today that said “you can take the kid out of Cincy, but you can’t take the Cincy out of the kid” and while not the best way to describe this ordeal with Behanan it is a valid point. It is very difficult to erase years of damage created by rough environments. It takes a person to decide that they want to change their past and create a better future for themselves. Chane has said many times that he wants to be the one person in his family that does succeed and in the video below talks about wanting to be “Cincinnati’s Finest”. This very good short documentary by WDRB Sports reporter Pat Doney has the story of how leaving the city he loves may have saved Chane’s life and really brings to light what is going on with him right now.
I think this development today could be a big turning point in the story of this guys life. I still have confidence that he will get it together and wake up before its too late and he misses this great opportunity he’s been given in life. I do expect to see Chane Behanan back on the court in late December. I just interviewed Chane a few weeks ago after the Red and White scrimmage and he didn’t sound like a player that was ready to turn it in. It was exactly the opposite, and Chance talked about how he had finally realized he needs to work harder and has tried to correct his off the court stuff.
In the first Red and White Scrimmage the offense was the highlight of the day and it was obvious after watching this group for the first time that scoring points wasn’t going to be an issue during 2013-14 season. After watching the second scrimmage today it is obvious that the young guys on this team are going to be really special. It was the Red team that was victorious over the White squad today 70-65 in a scrimmage that came down to the wire.
-RED TEAM
In the last scrimmage Chris Jones looked as though he was battling nerves and didn’t look very comfortable under the lights of the Yum Center. Today it was a different Chris Jones. Today we got to see the Chris Jones that was touted as the best Juco player in the country. He looked very comfortable leading the Red team to victory scoring a game high 24 points. He really showcased his skills today. He is a guard that can hit from deep, has that sweet stop and pop, great at the drive/dish, aggressive rebounder and he took over the game today in the final ten minutes of play. Welcome to the Ville Mr. jones…
Terry Rozier wasn’t shy in his debut last weekend and today he showed out again scoring 14 points to help lead the Red team over the White. There’s not going to be another first year player have as big a impact on his team this year than Terry. This kid can flat out get it done. I am in my zone when I’m on the couch at home watching sports. Rozier is in his zone when he has a basketball in his hands and is on a basketball court. He does it all. Rebounds, passes, plays defense, and is clutch. He had a steal and a dunk in the closing seconds today to seal his team the victory that would have been on Sportscenter had it been a real game. I have a video of the play below:
“The Mango” came out today and played a hard and aggressive game. He was able to score 9 points and had 7 boards in his teams winning effort. He has some pretty big shoes to fill replacing Gorgui, but I am very confident in what I have seen of his game so far.
The new and improved Wayne Blackshear came out hungry and energetic again this afternoon scoring 14 points in his teams winning effort. He was going all out again on both ends of the floor. I just love seeing this guy come into his own. Wayne is going to be really fun to watch all year.
Stephan Van Treese is a work horse plain and simple. He had another blue collar performance today as he grabbed a team high and game high 11 rebounds.
-WHITE TEAM
Russ Smith went head to head with Chris Jones today in what was a great battle between a duo that is gonna cause college basketball to have a lot of headaches this season. They really needed shoulder pads and a helmet the way they were going at it down the stretch. Russ had a good effort with 22 points and more importantly for him had a team high and game high 8 assist. We are really seeing a different Russ so far.
Chane Behanan was playing some inspired basketball again today and had the second highest rebound total with 9. He looks very good early on and seems like he is gonna be ready to go when the season officially starts.
“The Beast” Montrezl Harrell had somewhat of a quite day for him and didn’t stand out as much as he did in the first scrimmage. But he still had 14 points.
Anton Gill was on this team of veterans and he hit some clutch three point shots down the stretch of this game to help bring the White team within one point in the closing minutes. He has a beautiful shooting stroke and even manages to keep his form when his legs get tired at the end of the game. He’s one of the best shooters on this team. He was 2-5 from three point land with 8 points.
The nations number one role player Tim “Hendo” Henderson played another good game and had 8 points. Tim seems to have a little extra moxy about him this season.
Some good quotes from Coach Pitino today during the scrimmage saying before the scrimmage how he felt like this team was “going to be really special” and again talking about how well his young guards rebound the ball. He seems really excited about that as he mentioned it last week in his press conference after the game. He also mentioned how he thought there were going to be a lot of hand check fouls called early this season by the officials. Says that it will make the team better and that they will have to learn how to play defense more effectively.
Another good scrimmage and a lot of things starting to shape up with this group. They are going to be special. I can’t think of the last time I was this excited about the young guys. They are going to have an immediate impact. They really impressed me today with how they took it to the veteran white group. It’s gonna be another fun one Cardinal fans.
With the upcoming season looming the Cards have started to practice. This past weekend they had their first Red and White scrimmage. After watching some of the new guys and getting a look at this year’s team for the first time I can say that I am very optimistic about the season. The 2013-14 Louisville Basketball team will be defending a National Title this season and have the opportunity to make history by getting to the Final Four for three consecutive years and possibly winning back to back championships. If they are able to defend the title they will have to live up to the great defensive legacy left behind by the previous teams.
Defense has become the name of the game for the Louisville basketball program. Our Cards have made it to back to back Final Fours and claimed a National Championship with great defense. During last season Louisville averaged 22.6 points off turnovers, the most among teams from big six conferences. The Cardinals recorded a steal on 16.1 percentages of their opponents’ possessions, which ranked tops in the nation. Louisville finished last season with an 83.1 Adjusted Defensive Efficiency according to Kenpom.com and that was #1 in the nation and also the lowest in Kenpom history.
So the question is can the 2013-14 Cardinal Basketball team keep this great defensive legacy rolling along? With several new pieces in place that is one that many folks are asking. I’m confident in the guys we have returning that the defensive will be just as good as the past two seasons. There is a slight learning curve with a Rick Pitino taught defense so having a lot veterans back is a big plus. We will miss Gorgui’s shot blocking as far as interior defense is concerned and Peyton’s speed and defensive prowess up front. But we do have Russ Smith back and he was the most active Louisville defender, with a team-leading 38 deflections and 13 steals in the tournament. With the athleticism, agility and speed that I witnessed on Sunday this group shouldn’t have any problems playing defense.
Seth Greenberg and the ESPN Insiders ranked who they think will have the Top 5 defenses for the 2013-14 basketball season and our Cards made it on the top of the list. Here’s what they had to say:
The 2013-14 Cardinal Basketball season is officially under way and it all got started at the first Red & White Scrimmage today. For the first time in a long time I walked away from this first scrimmage thinking to myself that this team has a lot of offensive weapons. For the last few seasons we have had teams that have struggled at times to get baskets. If the performance today is any indication of the season ahead then I don’t see offensive production being a problem for this group of Cards. Granted the defense wasn’t the best it could be and some of the shots were uncontested. But from a fundamental standpoint you could just tell that these guys are scorers. I think it’s a statement with all of this great offense today while the best scorer on the team was sitting on the bench in street clothes. To say I’m excited after seeing this group for the first time is an understatement, and I think they are going to mold into a great team over the next six months.
The Veterans:
Russ Smith has become a more mature and responsible player on the court and it’s obvious after seeing him in action for the first time today that he understands what his role on this team should be and what he needs to do to get to the next level. Coach Pitino said in his post-game comments that if Russ plays like he did today and continues to make good decisions that the sky is the limit for him. He was the second leading scorer of the scrimmage with 24 points but more importantly had 5 rebounds and 8 assist. I’m so happy that I get to watch this kid play again for another year in the red and black. He’s going to be special this season.
Chane Behanan has been known for his lethargic starts to new seasons and for his lack of preparation in the summer. In the locker room today he admitted that in previous years he hadn’t got the message from coach Pitino and that he hadn’t done what he needed to do in the summer to prepare for the upcoming season. But Chane said that he finally got that message this summer and had been in the gym working out and working on his shot. Today that preparation showed on the court and he was the leading scorer of the scrimmage with 25 points. He was also cleaning the backboard and grabbed a game high 13 rebounds. When was the last time you seen Chane have an effort like this in a game of non-importance. With this type of head start from a physical and fundamental standpoint Chane Behanan will be a first round draft pick in the NBA Draft next year. Remember you heard it here first. It’s going to be fun watching him be all he can be from beginning to end this year.
Wayne Blackshear is one of the most anticipated players to ever lace em up in a Cardinal uniform. I still remember the roar when he stepped on the floor for the first time. But since that first time seeing action Cardinal nation has been waiting on Wayne to live up to his hype. Well,.. Wait no more Cardinal fans because Wayne Blackshear has arrived. This was the first summer he actually got to go through all of his workouts without being held back by injuries and it shows. Coach Pitino said in his post-game that when Wayne improves his ball handling he will be the player he was in high school. (The Chicago Player of the Year) Wayne was one of the most active players on the court today and you could see a dramatic improvement in his confidence. He is about to have a breakout season folks and it couldn’t be at a better time. He had 20 points, 9 rebounds with 4 assist and was all over the place.
Montrezl Harrell was a big reason the Cardinals won their third championship last season. He is one of the most inspired basketball players you will see on a basketball court. The guy plays hard on both ends of the floor and makes the players around him better. He’s got all the gifts of a high level hoopster at 6’8 with a 7 foot wing span but most importantly he has heart, drive and determination. Enjoy him this season Cardinal fans because NBA scouts will be foaming at the mouth every time they see him play. He is a very special player and person. I’m thankful he is a Cardinal. If this team plays their final game in Dallas this season it will be in large part to Montrezl. He went down with a cramp today and you could hear a pin drop in the Yum Center. Then you could hear everyone exhale in unison when he got up. Coach Pitino grabbed the mic and addressed the crowd “I wasn’t worried”. This is a very deep team but the one guy that this team couldn’t afford to lose is Harrell. He had 23 points with 10 rebounds and loved every minute of it.
Stephan Van Treese has always been a guy that utilizes his skills to the max and is going to give it all he has when he gets his minutes. Rick Pitino said earlier this week that Stephan would be the starter if the season started now. I don’t see that happening with the players around but I do see him being a guy who provides steady production throughout the season. He’s always going to give the team a 100% when he’s on the court and that is why he’s so important. He’s a work horse and a great example of that is his stat line for this scrimmage. He didn’t have any points but did have 9 rebounds and a steal. He isn’t the most important player on this team but is the type of player every coach wants on their team.
Tim Henderson was one of the most valuable players in the Final Four last season. I have said before that if my son were old enough to attend the games with me that I would point to Tim as an example of a hard worker on the court. He quietly does his job and works on his game. He has accepted his role and will always be ready when his number is called upon. I love this kid. Today Tim quietly had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.
The New Cardinals:
Chris Jones was the number one Juco player in the nation last year and is known for his ability to run an offense. He has great handles and a soft shooting touch. He will be a great point man for this team. He plays his game under control and has good court awareness. I think it will take him some time to adjust to the speed of the game at this level but once that happens he will be the real deal. He had 21 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assist and played under control. This guy will also be great on defense when he learns Coach Pitino’s system.
Anton Gill is a player that I had pegged as a guy that would be brought along slowly. I didn’t expect him to see much court time this season. I could be very…. very… wrong. This kid turned more than a few heads today with his offensive prowess. This kid is a pure shooter and has an eye for the basket. He has a very fundamentally sound shot and great shot selection. If today is any indication of what is to come there’s no way he doesn’t make it into the rotation. He was 5-10 from long range and had 17 points in his impressive debut.
Terry Rozier wasn’t going to surprise me today. As a matter of fact I have been singing this kids praises all summer and have said all along that he was just as good as any player in the 2013 class. This kid is the real deal and if you weren’t there to see it today then you will see it soon. He has a Dwayne Wade look about him on the court and is big time basketball ready. This kid is a well-rounded basketball player in all aspects of the game. He was the second leading re-bounder today with 11 and Coach Pitino said after the game that he had never seen a guy rebound like Rozier does from the guard spot. And went on to say that was his biggest attribute. He was 3 assist away from having a triple-double in his Cardinal debut with 18 points and 7 assist. Terry Rozier made me look like I know what I’m talking about today. I can’t wait to see him flourish under the Rick Pitino system.
Mangok Mathiang was touted by Coach Pitino as one of the quickest guys on the team. And he does get up and down the floor very effectively. With the loss of Gorgui this team was in desperate need of someone to step up and provide the interior defense needed for the guys up front in the Pitino defense to take chances. “The Mango” just might be our huckleberry… Not only did he lead the game with 6 rebounds he was the only player to record a blocked shot on the roster. He is very athletic for his size and has great timing on defense. I think he will fill the void in the middle this season especially once he learns the system better. And he isn’t that far behind because even though he couldn’t play last he was around and did go through practices. He also had 8 points with 10 rebounds today. I’m very excited about the potential of “The Mango”.
Akoy Agau is a guy who came to campus in need of some Pitino magic. He has already cut his weight significantly but is still a long way from being in D1 basketball shape. At times today he was gasping for air as he lumbered up and down the floor. He was visibly the most out of shape guy on the team. But I do like this kid and like the qualities he has to offer not only on the court but off. He’s a great person and you need great people on a team. I do think he will be a solid contributor but not this season.
David Levitch has the best 3 point percentage in North Oldham’s history. He is a kid that grew up watching the Cardinals and has come to games since he was an infant. This kid is honored to play for the team he grew up admiring. I see him as a potential candidate to take over the “Hendo” role someday. I see some big shots in this kid’s future.
It was a great day in the KFC Yum Center and you can feel that Cardinal Nation is ready for some hoops. There wasn’t much defense played today but that is to be expected in the early season. I know that with the athleticism, speed and skill that I saw on the court today that this team will live up to the great defensive legacy left behind by the past two teams. It’s just going to take some time and they won’t really be able to start that process until the first exhibitions. It’s going to be another exciting year Cardinal Fans. Please be sure to follow my website on the journey and I will try to keep you as informed and entertained as I can. GO CARDS!
As has been expected for weeks Chinanu Onuaku made his verbal commitment to the Louisville Cardinals and Rick Pitino today. I think this is a great pick-up for our 2014 class. This kid is young and has a huge upside. I don’t think he’s even scratched the surface when it comes to his offensive potential. He will fit great into the Rick Pitino system. He loves the game, works hard, and he’s a great passer which will be great for our offensive scheme. He Runs the floor well and blocks shots something we can use to help us with pressure defense. While raw offensively, we have lots of scoring options and wouldn’t need him to do much early on. He’s also mobile enough to play 5/4.
(ESPN)
Center of attention
Chinanu Onuaku (Upper Marlboro, Md./Riverdale Baptist)
2014, C, 6-10, 250
“Onuaku is an intriguing 5-man with great length. His offensive game is raw other than an occasional drop-step move in the paint, but he plays with great energy and affects the game with his shot blocking and rebounding.”
Louisville has become a program where players like Onuaku can come and develop their full potential without being rushed into things too early. This has payed off big for other players and I think it will for this kid. I’m really glad we got this kid on board and can’t wait to see all the creative ways the UofL student section finds to root for Nanu. They should have a field day.
This Friday college basketball season will officially begin as teams all across the country will be allowed to start practice. Our National Champion Louisville Cardinal basketball team will begin practicing Saturday for their upcoming title defense. College basketball moved up the start date for practice by 2 weeks this year. During the next six weeks Coach Pitino will be allowed to have 30 practices including scrimmages and exhibition games. The fans first chance to see the defending champs will be during a Red and White scrimmage on October 5th at 4:00pm in the KFC Yum Center.
This season the Cards will have some new faces on the team and will have some new talent to blend with the returning veterans. I am most excited to see Chris Jones and Terry Rozier. These guys have the opportunity to have a big impact on this season. Both had to wait it out to get their chance to play big time college basketball. Chris in Junior College and Terry in Prep School. These guys are going to be hungry and ready to prove they belong. I also think Agau and Gill could see their opportunities but do think these guys will be developed at a slower pace.
This season will also be first chance for “The Mango” to get his opportunity to see the floor in competition. Mangok has already been heralded by Coach Pitino as one of the fastest guys on the team for his ability to get up and down the floor.
This could be the season when Wayne Blackshear finally puts up the numbers Cardinal fans have expected since he walked on the court. This was the first summer that Wayne has been completely healthy and not held back in workouts by his shoulders. The same could be said for Luke Hancock. We got a glimpse of what he is capable of during his magical Final Four run. He was also able to have a productive summer free of injury and that is bad news for the Louisville opponents.
Montrezl Harrell had everyone talking after his summer performances winning a gold medal at the FIBA U19 World Championship in Prague. He might be the key to another trip to the Final Four.
I will be anxious to see if “Big Game” Behanan is ready to take his play to the next level and bring it every week regardless of the situation or opponent.
All of Cardinal Nation will be waiting for that moment when Kevin Ware checks into his first game of the season.
Last but definitely not least is the guy who decided to come back for his senior season to give Cardinal fans one last “Russdiculous” year Russ Smith. When Slam magazine ask Russ about his nickname in an interview this summer he had this to say: Smith told SLAM. “Sometimes it brings a negative perception, but I just play basketball and I’m a winner. At the end of the day there are guys with names like Mr. Fundamental, but they don’t have two straight Final Fours and a national championship. I have rings, man.” I think that pretty much sums up the most charismatic player to ever wear the Cardinal gear. He is a winner and I hope he adds to that ring collection this year.
So much anticipation and excitement surrounding this 2013-14 Cardinal basketball team. They will head into this season with all the momentum in the world and in my opinion playing with house money. Back to back Final Fours, a National Championship and haven’t felt defeat since February 9th last year. The hard work starts Friday and the journey to what could be another very special season will begin.
