Potential new starters
I think the two most obvious players who would go from coming off the bench to being inserted into the starting five are guard David Johnson and big man Malik Williams.
Over the last several games each of them has had a huge impact on the outcome due to their play on both sides of the floor and you can honestly say that without them, there would have never been a 10-game winning streak.
After starting the season with injuries that kept them out of the lineup, Williams and Johnson have developed into two of the team’s better players. Williams has become a defensive nightmare for opponents while improving his scoring around the rim, while Johnson has had flashes of being an elite playmaker.
David Johnson
Johnson has provided a huge lift as the team’s primary guard, bringing a ton of things to the court that Mack hasn’t had since becoming the head coach at Louisville. His ability to operate in the pick-in roll, to push tempo and score in transition, and find open teammates and hit them with incredible passes has changed the outlook of the season for Louisville.
However, he’s turned the ball over way too much. Freshmen are prone to making mistakes it’s been happening long before Johnson and will continue long after Johnson is gone. It’s part of the game, and while his turnovers are never opportune, you take the bad with the insane amount of good he brings to the offense.
Johnson completely changes what Louisville can do from an offensive standpoint due to his elite vision, ability to get into the lane, and his ability to make the other four guys around him considerably better.
Mack may have trepidations about bringing Johnson into the starting five due to his turnovers but when you look at the inconsistency struggles Darius Perry and Fresh Kimble have had and the ceiling of Louisville, the logical decision is to move Johnson into the starting five.
Malik Williams
It took a while to knock the rust off, but over the last three games Williams has really rounded a corner and one could make the argument he’s become Louisville basketball’s best big man.
While Steven Enoch has given Louisville good scoring around the rim, his inability to switch in the pick and roll (or even high-hedge), and lack of rim protection has made Chris Mack turn to Williams more and more; and it’s paid off.
Over Louisville’s last three games against Wake Forest, Virginia, and Georgia Tech, Williams has scored in double-figures all three times (11, 13, and 16) and has been one of, if not the main reason why the Cards have been in a position to win.
Williams has also provided a much-needed lift of energy, attacking the glass, diving for 50/50 balls, and making the right play the majority of the time.
It’s hard to replace Enoch from the starting five, considering he’s been there all year, but we saw how well he played off the bench at the end of last season when Mack decided to go with Williams in the first unit and I think it could work again. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Enoch is going to give you a lift scoring the ball around the rim as well as solid rebounding