Louisville Basketball Preview: #27

Joel Welser — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:27:59 -0700

Overall Rank: #27

Conference Rank: #5 Big East Conference

2008-09: 31-6, 16-2

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Rick Pitino (200-73 at Louisville, 552-197 overall)

Earl Clark and Terrence Williams were really the heart and soul of Louisville during the 2008-2009 campaign. Not only did those two led the team in scoring, rebounding and assists, but they also combined to average 3.3 steals and 2.2 blocks per contest. Coach Rick Pitino may have a lot of talent on the roster, but this team will not be the same without Clark and Williams.

Key Losses: F Earl Clark, G Andre McGee, F Terrence Williams

Key Newcomers:

Rakeem Buckles and Stephan Van Treese are both versatile forwards who will attempt to help replace Clark and Williams. Buckles is 6-8 and 215 pounds and great in transition. Like his predecessors, Buckles can make plays off the dribble and get up and down the floor in a hurry for a big man. However, the best newcomers may be in the backcourt where sharpshooter Mike Marra and Peyton Siva hope to make an impact. It is Siva who is expected to be a major contributor as a freshman. The Cardinals lack a pure point guard and Siva is the answer for the future and the present.

Backcourt:

Edgar Sosa could handle the point guard duties after dishing out 2.4 assists per game last year, but Siva should be able to bring a steady hand to the position. Meanwhile Sosa and Jerry Smith can score from the wings. Smith is the better outside shooter of the two, but Sosa is a pretty smart player who will take what the defense gives him. Those two will be seeing a lot more minutes this season and they both have to be more consistent with their scoring output. Preston Knowles was a pretty good sixth man last year and should be again this season. Most of his shots will come from beyond the arc and he connected on 43.2 percent of his attempts.

Frontcourt:

Without Clark and Williams, a lot of pressure will be put on sophomore Samardo Samuels. He was quite impressive as a freshman, averaging 11.8 pionts, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per contest. While he may not have to score too much more, he will need to be the defensive presence under the basket and do a better job on the glass. The only other returning forward who averaged over ten minutes per game last season was Terrence Jennings. The 6-10 sophomore was very productive when he was given the opportunity to play and if he can be just as productive while playing more minutes, the Louisville frontcourt is in good hands.

Who to Watch:

What this team needs is depth. Reginald Delk, Jared Swopshire and George Goode all averaged six minutes or less per game last year, but they will have to compete with the newcomers for important minutes off the bench. Swopshire and Goode, both 6-8 forwards, were just freshmen last year and should be able to carry a bigger load this season. If not, the Cardinals will have to rely heavily on unproven freshmen to provide depth in the frontcourt.

Final Projection:

Having a true point guard in Siva is a very good thing for Louisville, but he is a freshman who may need some time to adjust to playing in a tough conference like the Big East. If Siva lives up to his lofty expectations, the Cardinals could compete with anybody in the conference. If not, Coach Pitino will have to try and hold this young team together with the help of seniors Sosa and Smith.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Peyton Siva, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Edgar Sosa, Senior, Guard, 7.3 points per game

Jerry Smith, Senior, Guard, 7.8 points per game

Terrence Jennings, Sophomore, Forward, 4.2 points per game

Samardo Samuels, Sophomore, Forward, 11.8 points per game

Next Top 144 Teams
28		29		30		31

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Samardo Samuels Shines in Louisville Exhibition

Press Release — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 10:02:44 -0800

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Freshman Samardo Samuels and Jared Swopshire combined for 36 points to lead the University of Louisville to a 74-67 win over Georgetown College on Saturday at Freedom Hall in front of 17,521.

Samuels led all scorers with 20 points on 14-of-21 shooting from the line, while Swopshire recorded a double-double of 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Andre McGee and Earl Clark added 10 and seven points, respectively, to go along with five boards apiece.

"This was an excellent exhibition for us, it told us exactly where we are and what we need to work on," said U of L head coach Rick Pitino. "Georgetown deserves a great deal of credit."

McGee buried a shot from half court as time expired in the first half to give the Cardinals a 35-30 lead heading into the break. The Tigers used a 24-15 rebounding advantage in the half to stay within reach.

"We just kept giving them second shots," said Pitino. "Then we were out of position because we were giving second shots."

Georgetown would battle back to make things interesting in a game that featured 11 ties and 10 lead changes, before a pair of free-throws from Swopshire, who finished eight-of-eight at the line, would cap a 9-0 run by the Cards that put them up 59-51 with 7:29 left in the game. U of L went up 11 points, their largest lead of the game, on a three-pointer from Preston Knowles with just under five minutes to go. The Tigers would chip away at the lead and eventually trimmed it to two, 69-67, on a David Graham free-throw with 41 seconds remaining, however; Louisville would convert key free throws down the stretch to clinch the game. Vincent Crutcher paced Georgetown with 18 points, while Graham and Cheyenne Moore added 16 and 12 points, respectively. Demetrius Guions grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds as The Tigers starting backcourt had 18 in the game.

"Tonight we did some better things, but what we didn't do is get them to shoot a low percentage, stop them and give them a second shot," said Pitino. "Their starting back court had 18 rebounds in the game and our back court didn't."

The game saw 61 total fouls called in which Georgetown committed 36 to Louisville's 25. U of L shot better from the field, 39.1-34.5 percent and three-point range, 35.7-20.8 percent, while forcing five more turnovers, 23-18. Both teams finished with 22 points in the paint.

"You have to give Georgetown a world of credit," said Pitino. "They're more advanced but we have much more talent then they do. They are much more advanced then us from an execution stand point because we've have to spend so much time developing these freshman because they have to play a lot."

The Cards conclude their exhibition schedule on Nov. 8 with a game against Northern Kentucky.

Louisville tips off the regular season campaign at home on Saturday, Nov. 22 against Morehead State in the first of two games of the Billy Minardi Classic. The game time will be announced at a later date pending the kick off time for U of L's home football game against West Virginia.

NOTE: X-rays taken at Jewish Hospital on the right leg and ankle of freshman Kyle Kuric were negative. Kuric has a mild high ankle sprain and a bruised right leg. He took a hard fall after being fouled on a dunk with 8:17 remaining in the second half. His status for a return to action will be evaluated day-to-day.

samardo samuels

Louisville Basketball Preview: #27

Samardo Samuels Shines in Louisville Exhibition