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Louisville basketball: Post NBA Draft deadline ACC power rankings

By Jacob Lane

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - FEBRUARY 12: Darius Perry #2 and Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrate at the end of the first half against the Duke Blue Devils at KFC YUM! Center on February 12, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - FEBRUARY 12: Darius Perry #2 and Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrate at the end of the first half against the Duke Blue Devils at KFC YUM! Center on February 12, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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2. Louisville

Departing: Christen Cunningham, Khwan Fore, Akoy Agau, VJ King (NBA Draft)

Notable returnees: Jordan Nwora, Steven Enoch, Malik Williams, Dwayne Sutton

Newcomers: Samuell Williamson, Fresh Kimble (Grad transfer – St. Joe’s), Aidan Igiehon, David Johnson, Josh Nickelberry, Jaelyn Withers, Quinn Slazinski

Finally, we can say it, Jordan Nwora is back. Now Chris Mack in just his second season has a real chance to make a run at the ACC Championship and a deep run in the 2020 NCAA Tournament. Getting back Nwora, gives the Cards six out of the top eight scorers back from a 20+ win team in 2018-19, and mixed with a top 12 recruiting class and battle-tested graduate transfer, Fresh Kimbell, Louisville looks like the real deal and a legitimate contender to take reigns of the ACC.

Mack in his second season will go through some real turnover in terms of the roster, bringing in seven new players, but he’ll get a chance to put a firm imprint on a team with his own hand-selected players, which should bode well mixed with the experienced returning roster.

Louisville should be a team that thrives in every facet of the game. Whether it’s scoring, behind Nwora and incoming freshman Samuell Williamson, defense with Dwayne Sutton, rebounding with one of the most dynamic frontcourts that includes recent returnee Steven Enoch, as well as depth in freshmen Aidan Igiehon and Jaelyn Withers that will finally be able to go through practices and get better as the season goes on.

Returning to Atlanta, site of the 2013 National Championship and 2020 Final Four, could be in the Cards come 2020.

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