5 Critiques of Athlon Sports’ season preview for the Louisville Basketball team
By Derek Snyder
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?
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As usual, don’t be surprised when our questions are quickly answered by the fantastic coaching of Hall of Fame head coach Rick Pitino