Louisville basketball is taking on the Miami Hurricanes in a massive showdown this weekend. The Cardinals will travel to Miami, where ESPN Analytics currently gives Louisville the edge over Miami, despite the Cardinals' struggles on the road and against ranked teams.
The Hurricanes enter this matchup 24-6 on the season with a 15-2 record at home, while Louisville is 21-9 and 3-7 on the road. As we get closer to this thrilling matchup in Miami, many Cardinals and Hurricanes fans are trying to figure out whether Mikel Brown Jr. is available, as it is still unclear whether the 5-star freshman will play Saturday afternoon.
As of today, no decision has been made, but from our end and what it sounds like, Pat Kelsey’s end, the decision is quite simple on whether Brown should play Saturday or not.
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The decision should be quite simple if Brown should play or not. If he is 100 percent and can play his normal minutes, play him; if the 5-star freshman is anything less than 100 percent, he shouldn’t play. There should be no rush to limit his minutes or have him come off the bench as they did against Clemson if he isn't 100 percent. The Cardinals have a lot more at stake than their showdown against Miami, as the ACC Tournament starts on March 10, and the NCAA Tournament starts on March 19.
The Cardinals are either getting the 6-seed, 7-seed, or 8-seed, and while no one wants the 8-seed, it seems very unlikely to happen. If Louisville beats Miami or North Carolina State loses to Stanford, then the Cardinals are the 6-seed. If Louisville loses, NC State wins, and Florida State loses to SMU, then the Cards are the 7-seed. If Louisville loses, NC State wins, and Florida State beats SMU, then Louisville is the 8-seed.
The last thing Louisville wants is to rush Brown back to the court and to make anything worse. We get it, Louisville wants to earn its first road win over a ranked team, and to build its resume, but the Cardinals truly believe this team can make a run, and the only way they can make a run is with Brown in the lineup.
With Brown's history of missing eight games earlier this season with a similar back pain, there should be no rush to get Brown back on the floor. Kelsey stated multiple times during his press conference after the game on Tuesday that they want him 100 percent and need him 100 percent.
The ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament are just around the corner, and if Louisville wants to return to the ACC Championship game and earn its first win in March Madness since 2017, then if Brown is 100 percent ready and can start and play his normal 30 minutes then play him, but if he is anything less than 100 percent, and they are debating bringing him off the bench or limiting him like they did against Clemson, then just sit him this Saturday against Miami.