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Louisville basketball: 3 reasons why Chris Mack struggled on 2020 recruiting trail

By Jacob Lane

DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 21: Head coach Chris Mack of the Louisville basketball program looks on during their game in the First Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Wells Fargo Arena on March 21, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 21: Head coach Chris Mack of the Louisville basketball program looks on during their game in the First Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Wells Fargo Arena on March 21, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – FEBRUARY 08: The Louisville Cardinals bench reacts to their team scoring against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on February 08, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – FEBRUARY 08: The Louisville Cardinals bench reacts to their team scoring against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on February 08, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /

Depth & opportunity

Say this is an excuse but it’s hard to bring in six new players in one recruiting class and turn around and land another crop of top-rated players who want to spend one year in college (maybe two) before going pro.

You might say to your self “well, Kentucky and Duke seem to be able to reload at that level each year, why can’t we?”

To which I would respond, they can, but not in a year where six new players come in and zero leave for the NBA. Sure, the Cards will be losing a ton of other players including Jordan Nwora, Steven Enoch, and Fresh Kimble at the end of the season, but the new freshmen were brought in to be the guys who stepped into those roles.

We’ve all been 18 years old before and understand that impulsivity is a real thing – especially for kids who believe they just need one year of being a star before heading off to the league as a high draft selection. For a player who knows he’s good enough to start and be the star on a team right away, do you really think he’s going to want to come in and play behind or split time with other players? NO.

Many of the players who said no to Louisville and yes to a bigger name program felt like they were going to be able to get more time, quicker, all without learning the pack line defense and riding the pine as it got figured out.

We saw this season (and throughout Mack’s entire career) that he prefers upperclassmen to freshmen due to his defensive schemes, which is why it’s taken longer for David Johnson and Samuell Williamson to come on strong.

The players added in the class of 2019 presented too big of a risk, and I think it led to those big-name players looking elsewhere. The opportunity at guard and in the post was always going to be limited due to the style of play (4-out-1-in) due to four-star big man Aidan Igiehon and guard David Johnson, it just is what it is.

Not every class is meant to be filled with five-star players (contrary to what you believe) and for Mack, landing the right guys to plug into the open holes on the roster will be a bigger win long-term than landing players who want in right away, potentially alienating the others on the roster.

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