Louisville basketball reverted back to their winning ways this past Saturday, when the Cardinals took down the SMU Mustangs 88-74 to end the month of January. The win started slowly, with the Cardinals entering halftime down by three points, 47-44. The second half showcased exactly how most Cardinals fans envisioned the team would play most of the season, as the Cardinals raced ahead of the Mustangs and never looked back as they cruised to their 15th victory on the season.
The game was positive all around for the Cardinals, especially for players who had been absent in recent weeks due to illness and injury. Mikel Brown Jr. had a masterclass performance after struggling earlier in the week, finishing with 20 points and shooting 50% from the field. Khani Rooths also had a fantastic showing in his first game back, as he posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Both were pieces that Pat Kelsey desperately missed during the Cardinals' recent rocky outings while they were out.
Louisville has had a string of recent slow starts, putting them behind the 8-ball early and forcing the Cardinals to work from behind most of the game. This begs the question of whether Louisville is putting the optimal lineup on the floor to start the game, or whether the starting lineup could be improved with a minor adjustment.
Louisville should make this change to their starting lineup immediately
Mikel Brown Jr. will return to the starting lineup after coming off the bench this past Saturday; that is a given. However, Khani Rooths made it clear that he needs more minutes and to be a major contributor to this team as they enter the home stretch of the season. It only makes sense that Rooths should step into the starting role at the “4” for Pat Kelsey and command most of the minutes for the Cardinals at that position.
With Brown Jr. and Rooths as needed starters, the other three starters should be the three most consistent players the Cardinals have had all season. Ryan Conwell is a lock to start at the shooting guard position. His scoring and playmaking ability need to be on full display as much as possible. Sananda Fru is still the more consistent and physical option for the “5” when compared to Aly Khalifa and should retain his spot at the center.
The “3” is the most difficult position to pinpoint, and there's debate over who should start and get a good portion of the minutes. It seems the most consistent option for this role should go to J’Vonne Hadley, the senior leader, and the most consistent scoring reverting back to playing his true position. Hadley is a great defender and can score both inside and outside on any given possession, and is a more versatile player than the likes of McKneely and Wooley at the current moment.
Having the starting lineup of Brown, Conwell, Hadley, Rooths, and Fru should be a lineup Kelsey should think about immediatley. Rooths provides energy, athleticism, and a huge spark for the Cardinals' frontcourt. It also puts Hadley at the small forward position, which is a much better fit than at power forward.
Now that Louisville is in the final stretch of the season, the starting lineup and minutes distribution are key to getting the most consistent, highest-producing players on the court. The players and lineup listed above appear to fit the bill, give Louisville the best chance to continue their winning ways, and set the Cardinals up to make a run at the ACC title and a deep March run.