Louisville Basketball: Mack Expects To Have Tournament Team Year One
First year Louisville basketball head coach Chris Mack thinks that his team is primed for a run to the NCAA tournament in 2019.
Louisville basketball had a 2017-18 season that was a rarity in this day and age.
The Cards lost Rick Pitino after 16 years at the helm, and associate head coach David Padgett did an admirable job. The Cards fell just short of the NCAA tournament, and lost in the quarterfinals of the NIT tournament.
Now, in the first year of the Chris Mack era, the 48-year old head coach is confident that the Cards will return to form this season and make the NCAA tournament.
Mack said he “absolutely” believes that the Cards can make the NCAA tournament when he joined College Hoops Today with Jon Rothstein this week. “Obviously we have enough talent,” Mack continued, “but talent doesn’t make the team. Hardwork, togetherness, and guys’ ability to sacrifice for one another make or break your team.”
Mack isn’t wrong. The talent is certainly there.
Louisville loses Deng Adel and Ray Spalding to the pros, and their leader and point guard in Quentin Snider to seniority. However, the Cards return a solid core of talent.
Jordan Nwora has made a huge splash in the offseason, tearing it up for the Nigerian national team. Former McDonald’s All-American VJ King seems to have a new mindset coming into the season, one that has really caught the attention of Chris Mack. While speaking with Jon Rothstein Mack threw out a lofty comparison for Jordan Nwora, saying that he reminds him a lot of former Xavier star, and now New Orleans Pelican, Trevon Blueitt.
Nwora, who averaged just under six points per game during his freshman season, is a guy that many believe could have a big year as a sophomore. Mack said he believes though that Nwora could be an “All-ACC type of talent.” Those are large expectations, but after what we saw from the sophomore wing this summer playing with Nigeria during the African games, it may not be as a far fetched as you might think.
But that’s not it talent wise. Darius Perry, Dwayne Sutton, Ryan McMahon, and Malik Williams all made serious contributions last season, and look to play a bigger role.
The Cards also supplement what they have coming back with two Grad Transfers in team co-captain Christen Cunningham, and Kwan Fore. The Cards bring in former Cardinal (and Georgetown Hoya) (AND former SMU Mustang) Akoy Agau who figures to be a great team leader and additional big body. Transfer Steven Enoch- who Mack called a “high-level talent” that is “as competitive of a player as I’ve ever coached- rounds out the line up.
“If you ask me if we are gonna be in the NCAA tournament, I would be disappointed if we weren’t there.” Mack told Rothstein. “But we are gonna have to earn it just like every other team. There’s a lot of work to be done between now and then, but I’m looking forward to it, and I think our guys are as well.”
Next. Ranking Louisville's non-conference schedule. dark
The Cards begin work in 16 days when practice officially gets under way.
The road to the tournament will be a brutal one. The Cards face Tennessee, Kentucky, and possibly Kansas- who will all begin the season in the top 5. They also square off against Michigan State, Seton Hall, and Indiana before squaring off against an ACC slate that figures to be the toughest in the country.