Louisville basketball had a pretty predictable showing in the ACC Tournament last week. They were able to outlast SMU on Wednesday afternoon, 62–58, but then fell short to Miami, 78–73, on Thursday. The absence of Mikel Brown Jr. was definitely felt in both games, but against the Hurricanes, it was just too much to overcome. The five-point loss ended Louisville’s chances of making back-to-back ACC Tournament championship games and gives them at least a week off before their Round of 64 matchup next week.
Pat Kelsey's Mikel Brown Jr. injury update is exactly what Louisville fans want to hear
With that extra time off, head coach Pat Kelsey has plenty of time to give his players rest, recovery, and hopefully a solid game plan. This Cardinals team has had a disappointing season in many eyes, but a second weekend in March could really change the narrative. The hope is that with Brown Jr. having two and a half weeks off, he will be ready to lead the team.
Having Brown Jr. return to the lineup will certainly be a positive, but it will also require some adjustments for players who have been major contributors over the last four games. While Ryan Conwell has helped carry this team, Kelsey needs to closely evaluate the rest of the roster to determine what the roster should look like for the NCAA Tournament.
Here are two players who deserve more minutes, and one who should see their minutes reduced enteri