Louisville Cardinals
ACC (20-13, 9-9)
It has been a tough season for Louisville both on and off the court. While the Cardinals have not lived up to their usual expectations, this group has picked up some big wins. More importantly, despite losing out on key incoming freshman Brian Bowen and their coach before the season, Louisville has hung in there and played tough basketball every night.
Big Wins: 1/10 at Florida State (73-69), 1/13 Virginia Tech (94-86), 2/24 at Virginia Tech (75-68)
Bad Losses: 2/3 Florida State (76-80), 2/5 Syracuse (73-78), 3/3 at NC State (69-76)
Coach: David Padgett (interim)
Why They Can Surprise:
This is a very big team with some impressive shot blockers. Anas Mahmoud is not a regular starter, but the seven-foot senior averages 3.0 blocks per game. Ray Spalding, a 6-10 junior, averages an additional 1.6 blocks per contest. Spalding also contributes 12.3 points and 8.6 rebounds. With 6-7, 200 pound junior Deng Adel also a major scoring threat inside and outside of the paint, the frontcourt is difficult to defend. And then there are 6-5 forward Dwayne Sutton and 6-6 forward V.J. King. Both are big wings who can attack the basket and occasionally be a threat to shoot from long range.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Despite all of that size in the lineup, Louisville is terrible in the rebounding department. That is mostly because Sutton, King and Adel are all big wings and Spalding must spend most of his playing time at the five spot, instead of his more natural four position. The more minutes Spalding and Mahmoud can play together the better, but those are the only two true big men in the regular rotation. The other result of all of those big wings is that this is not a good shooting team. Adel will knock down some three-pointers, but everything else is up to Quentin Snider. Snider is a superb lead guard though and an experienced senior who has done very well leading this group. If he is struggling with his shot, there are options down the bench, but not anybody who has proven to be a consistent scoring threat.
Probable Starters:
Quentin Snider, Senior, Guard, 12.2 ppg, 4.0 ppg
V.J. King, Sophomore, Forward, 8.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg
Dwayne Sutton, Sophomore, Forward, 4.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg
Deng Adel, Junior, Forward, 15.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.9 apg
Ray Spalding, Junior, Forward, 12.3 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.6 bpg
Key Role Players:
Anas Mahmoud, Senior, Forward, 7.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.0 bpg
Darius Perry, Freshman, Guard, 3.6 ppg, 1.5 apg
Malik Williams, Freshman, Forward, 4.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 76.6 (92nd in nation, 6th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 70.2 (118, 8)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.6 (135, 8)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.7 (20, 4)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.6 (172, 12)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 36.2 (115, 11)
Free-Throw Percentage: 73.8 (80, 4)
Rebound Margin: 0.1 (197, 13)
Assists Per Game: 13.6 (172, 9)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.1 (94, 5)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2017 NCAA Round of 64 win over Jacksonville State
2017 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Michigan
2015 NCAA Round of 64 win over UC Irvine
2015 NCAA Round of 32 win over Northern Iowa
2015 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over North Carolina State
2015 NCAA Regional Final loss to Michigan State
2014 NCAA Round of 64 win over Manhattan
2014 NCAA Round of 32 win over Saint Louis
2014 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Kentucky
2013 NCAA Round of 64 win over North Carolina A&T
2013 NCAA Round of 32 win over Colorado State
2013 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Oregon
2013 NCAA Regional Final win over Duke
2013 NCAA National Semifinal win over Wichita State
2013 NCAA National Final win over Michigan
2012 NCAA Round of 64 win over Davidson
2012 NCAA Round of 32 win over New Mexico
2012 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Michigan State
2012 NCAA Regional Final win over Florida
2012 NCAA National Semifinal loss to Kentucky
2011 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Morehead State
2010 NCAA Round of 64 loss to California
2009 NCAA Round of 64 win over Morehead State
2009 NCAA Round of 32 win over Siena
2009 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Arizona
2009 NCAA Regional Final loss to Michigan State
2008 NCAA Round of 64 win over Boise State
2008 NCAA Round of 32 win over Oklahoma
2008 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Tennessee
2008 NCAA Regional Final loss to Kansas
*all team stats through 3/4
