Big Red Louie
Fansided

5 Critiques of Athlon Sports’ season preview for the Louisville Basketball team

By Derek Snyder

Oct 3, 2015; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino talks to the media following a scrimmage at KFC YUM! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2015; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino talks to the media following a scrimmage at KFC YUM! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
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
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 Mathiang, 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.

Next: Front-Court, Part Two

Don’t be surprised if one of these guys shock everyone and become much better than they have been in the past.

Home/Louisville Basketball