Louisville basketball: Three options for final 2020-21 scholarship

Sit this year, play next

Well, it’s one that typically Chris Mack has avoided.

Sit-out transfers.

As a program, Louisville is no stranger to adding players from other programs who transfer in and have to sit out a year before joining for at least two or more seasons. In fact, recently Louisville’s had a ton of success with players like Steven Enoch, Dwayne Sutton, and Luke Hancock. However, during his time at Xavier, Chris Mack’s rosters rarely ever included players from other programs.

There are a few exceptions, like former Louisville guard Remy Abel who started his career at Indiana before transferring into Xavier and playing a major role on several tournament teams – but for the most part Mack stayed the course with four-year players and graduate transfers.

It makes sense as to why he’d do that. It’s obvious by the classification, that sit-out transfers must.. sit out.

That can be frustrating for a coach who wants to add players who can contribute right away, even in smaller roles, and are capable of suiting up for games instead of being limited to only practicing. Sure, having a body on the bench and in practice is nice (as well as knowing what the future will look like) but when putting together a team I think most coaches would tell you they want everyone available for when it matters most; real games.

While that was the case for the majority of Mack’s career it seems the impending transfer rule changes could change things.

The NCAA has still yet to approve or deny the proposed new transfer rule for college basketball that would allow a one-time move without restriction or sitting out. That vote is currently set for later this summer, and while it is likely to go into effect in 2021-22, it still could allow transfers this year to suit up right away.

However, even if the new resolution gets passed this year (or next), adding a player to the roster for future purposes may be the best possible move for the reasons I argued before. Louisville could find themselves in a really difficult spot next offseason needing to add a total of seven new players (assuming there are NBA deflections) with punishment pending or still hanging over their heads only adding more challenges to recruiting.

Taking a player in this class with the open scholarship who would have to sit out would broaden the horizons for Chris Mack and allow him to tackle a need for the following season all while his younger players develop without worry of a transfer dipping into the pool of minutes.

Whether it be adding a big man to replace Malik Williams, landing an impact point guard to playing alongside or in place of David Johnson, or even a wing who can fill the minutes left behind by graduate transfers Charles Minlend Jr. and Carlik Jones, all would be options that Chris Mack could pursue.

We’ve already seen the Cardinals staff reach out to a few sit-out transfers this offseason, including Virginia Tech wing Landers Nolley II, Rhode Island guard Tyrese Martin, and even more recently, Wake Forest wing Chaundee Brown, showing they aren’t afraid to explore the option.

The options are limited at this point, as the majority of impact players who have announced their intent to transfer have chosen destinations, but as noted, the portal will continue to add quality players throughout the remaining offseason.

It may not be the route that Mack has traditionally perferred, but adding a player who can benefit from sitting out a season and getting familar with the program while adding to his game and helping the recruiting efforts and roster outlook for 2021-22 is the best way to spend the scholarship.