Predicting the 8 biggest games for Louisville basketball in 2019-20

@ Miami

November 5th

The dreaded season-opening ACC road clash against the Miami Hurricanes, a program that always seems to give the Cards a run for their money.

This will be a big test for Louisville in a variety of ways. It’ll test the squad’s grit as they head into what should be a solid environment in Coral Gables. We know that Louisville will likely be ranked inside the top ten in the preseason polls, and it’ll be interesting to see if they overlook opponents early on and let this ranking get to their head.

Based on comments from Chris Mack and Jordan Nwora at ACC Media Day, the team is doing their best to block out all the noise. Miami is in a completely different spot, as they scuffled to a 14-18 season in which they only won five ACC games. The Hurricanes are losing three double-digit scorers in center Ebuka Izundu, guard Zach Johnson, and guard Anthony Lawrence.

Izundu and Lawrence were also their best rebounders last season, so the losses of these guys hurt in more areas than one.

There are some positives for Miami however as coach Jim Larranaga brings back his leading scorer in Chris Lykes, who gives off a Russ Smith type vibe with his speed and smaller frame.  The Canes also added guard Kameron McGusty, who transferred in from Oklahoma and scored eight points a game last year for the Sooners and 6’8 forward Keith Stone, who comes in from Florida after averaging 6.1 points for the Gators last season.

They also brought in a solid recruiting class, headlined by two top 100 guys in guards Harlond Beverly and Isaiah Wong, but both may be limited in playing time behind Lykes and McGusty.

Prediction: Louisville struggles early but gets rolling late in the first half and dominates in the second half to a season-opening W. Louisville over Miami, 71-54.