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Three Reasons Louisville basketball could be final four bound in 2020

By Presley Meyer

LOUISVILLE, KY - DECEMBER 12: Darius Perry #2 of the Louisville Cardinals shoots the ball against the Lipscomb Bisons at KFC YUM! Center on December 12, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - DECEMBER 12: Darius Perry #2 of the Louisville Cardinals shoots the ball against the Lipscomb Bisons at KFC YUM! Center on December 12, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KY – DECEMBER 20: Ryan McMahon #30 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrates after making a three point shot late in the game against the Albany Great Danes at KFC YUM! Center on December 20, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky.Louisville won 70-68. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY – DECEMBER 20: Ryan McMahon #30 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrates after making a three point shot late in the game against the Albany Great Danes at KFC YUM! Center on December 20, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky.Louisville won 70-68. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Excellent Shooting

Aside from veteran leadership, what do this years final four teams have in common? They are excellent shooting teams- particularly from beyond the three point line.

Virginia is the 9th ranked three point shooting team in the country, and second only to elite eight counterpart Virginia Tech among power five teams beyond the arc. Auburn (5th) and Michigan State (6th) aren’t far behind in power five three point efficiency.

All of these teams are tremendous defensively, but in the age of the Warriors “death” line ups, and the increasing propensity to launch the three ball, it’s extremely important to shoot the ball well, and especially from mid-range and from deep.

Louisville shot more three point shots than twos in 3 out of 5 games during one stretch this season, yet the Cards were shockingly inefficient.

However, Louisville retains Ryan McMahon and Dwayne Sutton, along with Darius Perry- who are all proficient shooters. Couple that now with the possibility of a Nwora return and a recruiting class that shoots the lights out of the ball, and you have the possibility of one of the best shooting teams in school history.

Louisville loses Khwan Fore, Akoy Agau, and Christen Cunningham- three guys who didn’t search for three point shots. Meanwhile, they bring in Nickelberry and Williamson, who are three point specialists, and Igiehon, who is a blossoming shooter.

Regardless of who returns and who leaves, Louisville will never not have a player on the floor who cannot shoot the three ball and shoot it well. That plays a huge part in stretching the floor, and playing a four out, one in system that Chris Mack loves.

2019 didn’t end well for the Cards, but you can draw a lot of parallels between the 2020 Cards and the final teams standing this year.

If Louisville can bring back their core players from this season, there’s no reason that they can’t make a push towards a final four in a place that is familiar to most Cards fans- Atlanta.

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