The 2026 National Championship odds came out, and after the Cardinals' offseason, they currently have the third-best odds behind Duke and Houston. Louisville basketball is expected to have one of the best backcourts in the nation after securing commitments from Mikel Brown Jr., Adrian Wooley, Isaac McKneely, and Ryan Conwell.
The Cardinals' backcourt is going to be lethal from beyond the arc. All four players shot beyond the arc last season above 40 percent, and all have the skills to shoot off the dribble or off a pass. Pat Kelsey and his staff now need to shift their focus toward the forward and center positions.
The forward position is a little harder to figure out as the Cardinals are waiting to hear from 5-star recruit Nate Ament. Kelsey's offseason seems like a massive pitch for Ament to commit to the Cardinals. They are also waiting to hear if J'Vonne Hadley will return in his last year of eligibility or if he will look to play elsewhere.
As for the center position, the Cardinals have some options in Sananda Fru and James Scott, but those two are primary power forwards, and Louisville would rather have a stretch four who can space out the floor to help take some attention off their guards. They are still waiting to hear from Kaseasn Pryor, but Pryor is 6-foot-10, and Fru and Scott are around 6-foot-11. An area for improvement is the center position, and someone who can be an elite rim protector above 7 feet.
Well, a player recently entered the portal, and he is the Cardinals' missing piece in this National Championship quest.
The newest transfer portal entry is the Louisville Cardinals missing piece
It is no secret that Louisville's backcourt will be the Cardinals' strength next season. Brown, Wooley, Conwell, and McKneely will get a lot of attention, meaning Louisville forwards and centers need to take a big load on the defensive side. Fans are watching the National Tournament right now, and one player who is drawing their eyes is Khaman Maluach on the Duke Blue Devils.
Maluach hasn't entered the portal, but Louisville needs a player similar to his play style and height. The 7-foot-2, 250-pound center averaged 8.6 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 71.2 percent from the field last season. The Cardinals lack someone with this build, and they need a player who can be an elite rim protector, but also be reliable on the offensive side around the rim for easy buckets or offensive rebounds.
Well, the Cardinals are in luck, but they must act quickly as their diamond in the rough hit the transfer portal and he is the exact type of player fans are begging for.
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Gabe Dynes from Youngstown State is 7-foot-3, 225-pounds, and one of the best rim protectors in the nation. The massive center for the Penguins put up incredible numbers off the bench last year as he averaged 6.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 69.9 percent last season.
Dynes's 3.1 blocks per game led the nation. He also led college basketball in total blocks, securing 104 blocks in just a little below 22 minutes per game. The 7-foot-3 center blocked four or more shots in 14 games and six or more in five games. He also earned seven blocks in two games and nine blocks against Toledo.
The Cardinals are looking to try and make a title run next year, and an area they will need to improve in the transfer portal is their center position and defense. Dynes is a perfect option for this role, as he won't call for the ball on offense often, will secure offensive rebounds, and will be a force on the defensive side.
Dynes has shown interest in Notre Dame, Northwestern, USC, UCF, and Vanderbilt. The Cardinals must contact this 4-star center in the transfer portal, as his ability to block shots and his incredible height at 7-foot-3 is exactly what the fans are calling for.
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason, stay tuned.