Counting down the best Louisville basketball teams of the last 12 years

#9: 2010-2011

“The ‘Miracle on Main’ Year”

It’s another “where were you” moment. It was the day the Cards stormed back from 18 down with a little over five minutes remaining in regulation to beat Marquette 71-70. Senior Preston Knowles couldn’t miss. The press was working. Traps were working. We experienced every high, low, and anxiety in the book that afternoon. So you wanna be a Louisville fan, huh? What a day.

In a season that was overshadowed by a stunning loss at the buzzer to Morehead State in the NCAA Tourney first round, the Cards scratched and clawed through the conference schedule that year. They went 25-10 (12-6 Big East). Let’s also not leave out that they were the Big East Tournament runner-up.

This particular team had the potential for a Final Four run. They replaced NBA-bound Samardo Samuels with incoming freshman Gorgui Dieng. They moved the ball well, they were quick as all get out with young guards Peyton Siva and Russ Smith, and they could really shoot the rock (although streaky). Knowles led the team in scoring (14.6). The team’s highest AP Poll ranking was 14th. The first year in the YUM! Center wasn’t half bad.

#8: 2016-17

“The year Q put Bam on skates”

T’was the year that Donovan Mitchell really began his ascent. He led the team in scoring (15.6 ppg), but he had help. Incoming freshman V.J. King was a five-star prospect coming out of high school. Three of Louisville’s starters averaged 12 or more points per game.

What a satisfying year, in terms of key wins. The Cards defeated five rivals (Kentucky, Duke, Notre Dame, Indiana, Purdue), but one game will be welded to our memories forever. That year, Louisville vs Kentucky was played at in the prime t.v. slot on a weeknight with the College Gameday crew in attendance. It was a close game, and Louisville pulled it out in the end, but the earth seemed to shake when Quentin Snider crossed up superstar Bam Adebayo late in the game. It was like watching a squirrel dig a trench around a sloth. We’ll never forget it.

This season the Cardinals finished 25-9 (12-6 ACC). They were ousted in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by Michigan in what became Rick Pitino’s final campaign at Louisville.

#7: 2015-2016

“I’ve got your back”

This season could’ve been referred to as “The Year of the Unknown”. In essence, it’s a huge question mark. With the additions of graduate transfers Damion Lee and Trey Lewis, along with an incredible #8 ranked incoming freshman class (Adel, Mitchell, Ray Spalding, Ryan MacMahon), the Cards were poised for a deep run in March.

I’m not here to talk about the strippers. That had absolutely zilch to do with this team. However, I should mention that those infractions had bearing on the season’s outcome. Louisville administration self-imposed a postseason ban that year, but we all felt in our hearts that this team had second weekend (at the minimum) written all over it.

Louisville finished the season 23-8 (12-6 ACC). The leading scorers were Lee (15.9) and Lewis (11.3). It was the final chance for each grad transfer to play in the Big Dance. On Senior Night, Coach Pitino presented both players with a commemorative ring that read “I’ve Got Your Back”.