THE RUNDOWN
Few freshmen would've handled things at the end of the 2014-15 season the way Snider did. With point guard Chris Jones dismissed or suspended from the team for 10 of U of L's final 11 games, Snider was pushed into a starting role at a time when most teams have already established their rotations.
He averaged 35.2 minutes, 9.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.7 turnovers over those 10 games. He didn't shoot great -- 37.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range -- but the 6-foot-1 Snider was a consistent scoring threat and did a solid job of spacing the floor and running Louisville's offense.
THE GOOD
When Snider is at his best, he is using his craft and guile to get into the lane and either score or set up easy baskets for his teammates. On defense, he can be deceiving as a help defender, with his understanding of the game helping him make up for some defensive shortcomings.
His NCAA tournament games against NC State (14 points, three rebounds, three assists) and UC-Irvine (16 points, five rebounds) were perfect examples of how effective he can be. Snider wasn't fazed by NC State's talented backcourt, and his two free throws in the final 10 seconds against UC-Irvine helped Louisville advance to the round of 32.
THE BAD
While he certainly has improved in both his on-ball defense and his shooting, there's still room for more development. Snider was 36 of 95 from the field and 14 of 42 from 3-point range in his 10 starts to close out the season. He also had problems keeping his man in front of him on the perimeter.
But Pitino and Snider have both said in recent weeks that Snider is catching up in both of those areas. He dropped nine pounds, to 173 1/2, and is down to 7 percent body fat. Snider has worked on putting more loft on his jumpers, and Pitino has noticed a difference there, too.
FINAL WORD
One of the most intriguing story lines heading into the 2015-16 season is how Snider and graduate transfer Trey Lewis break up the point guard role. In a recent interview with The Courier-Journal, Snider said Lewis deferred to him as the point man in pickup games, but it's unclear if that'll carry over to U of L's actual strategy.
That said, there's a reason so many U of L fans point to Snider's return as a big factor in keeping the Cardinals in the hunt for an NCAA tournament berth and more. He showed why he was a highly rated prospect, and Kentucky's Mr. Basketball, in those 10 late-season starts, and there's no reason to think he won't improve as a sophomore.
Few freshmen would've handled things at the end of the 2014-15 season the way Snider did. With point guard Chris Jones dismissed or suspended from the team for 10 of U of L's final 11 games, Snider was pushed into a starting role at a time when most teams have already established their rotations.
He averaged 35.2 minutes, 9.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.7 turnovers over those 10 games. He didn't shoot great -- 37.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range -- but the 6-foot-1 Snider was a consistent scoring threat and did a solid job of spacing the floor and running Louisville's offense.
THE GOOD
When Snider is at his best, he is using his craft and guile to get into the lane and either score or set up easy baskets for his teammates. On defense, he can be deceiving as a help defender, with his understanding of the game helping him make up for some defensive shortcomings.
His NCAA tournament games against NC State (14 points, three rebounds, three assists) and UC-Irvine (16 points, five rebounds) were perfect examples of how effective he can be. Snider wasn't fazed by NC State's talented backcourt, and his two free throws in the final 10 seconds against UC-Irvine helped Louisville advance to the round of 32.
THE BAD
While he certainly has improved in both his on-ball defense and his shooting, there's still room for more development. Snider was 36 of 95 from the field and 14 of 42 from 3-point range in his 10 starts to close out the season. He also had problems keeping his man in front of him on the perimeter.
But Pitino and Snider have both said in recent weeks that Snider is catching up in both of those areas. He dropped nine pounds, to 173 1/2, and is down to 7 percent body fat. Snider has worked on putting more loft on his jumpers, and Pitino has noticed a difference there, too.
FINAL WORD
One of the most intriguing story lines heading into the 2015-16 season is how Snider and graduate transfer Trey Lewis break up the point guard role. In a recent interview with The Courier-Journal, Snider said Lewis deferred to him as the point man in pickup games, but it's unclear if that'll carry over to U of L's actual strategy.
That said, there's a reason so many U of L fans point to Snider's return as a big factor in keeping the Cardinals in the hunt for an NCAA tournament berth and more. He showed why he was a highly rated prospect, and Kentucky's Mr. Basketball, in those 10 late-season starts, and there's no reason to think he won't improve as a sophomore.