It's been too long since I hit with a Quick Hit or two - my apologies on the delay. Let's get right to it.
- WTAO is the off-season training motto for Louisville Football. The Cardinals are training hard so they can get into the second half with an opponent and then "Wear Their Ass Out." They have WTAO t-shirts and the letters are posted in the weight room.
- We knew next to nothing about Cole Hikutini when he signed. I stood next to him at Pro Day and he LOOKS like a prospect. He's wider than me in shoulder width and is a good two inches taller. He has a solid frame.
- DeAsian Richardson is a monster. He is so big. I'm not sure how they have a helmet big enough for is head and all that hair.
- Sheldon Rankins was the big star of the testing Louisville Football is doing this week. He charted - meaning hit the leaderboard - in nearly every exercise. He had like a 4.8 40 yard dash which, for a 300-pound dude, is just pain stupid fast.
- Bobby Petrino and Bill Belichik talked for a long time at Pro Day. Wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall for that conversation? I asked a player what he thought they were talking about. "Who knows?" I replied, "Their favorite curse words?" He laughed and said "Probably."
- Bobby Petrino was responsible for the 6 guys drafted in the largest draft class in Louisville history. This year will obliterate that number. There could be as many as 12 drafted.
- John Miller could be a top 3 round pick. He just keeps rising with the more people who watch his film. I had a great quick convo with Coach Klenakis about John. I said "He'll make a camp." and Coach K said "For sure, he'll make a roster. He can be a starter." K said Miller has "HUGE shoes to fill."
- Louisville's offensive line really worries me. Klenakis is a really good line coach, but I'm not sure how much he has to work with right now. They'll be good later, but they are painfully young.
- Eli Rogers should be a late-round draft pick. he ran really well at Pro Day (in the mid-4.4s) and I got a chance to talk to him after. He was VERY pleased with his performance. He is such a good guy and I hope he is very successful. He's a worker.
- Vikings rep told me, "The last thing Teddy told me before I came down here was 'Go Get DeVante Parker'" Just sayin.
- Jamon Brown and Lorenzo Mauldin may slip a bit in the draft, but I definitely think both will be drafted. They have tremendous upside. The video won't be kind at times when the NFL breaks down every play, but their size and athleticism is very good.
- James Sample may be the second Louisville player drafted. He's that good. Pro scouts love his film and he added 10 good pounds to his frame.
- Gerald Christian doesn't have great film, but it is solid and he will get drafted. He doesn't have the height they look for, but he has big arms and big hands.
- Mike Dyer didn't participate in Louisville's Pro Day. Not surprising, but a little disappointing.
- Charles Gaines will get drafted and he will make a roster. He was geared up in NIKE gear the other day at Pro Day, meaning NIKE's guys think he will be in the league. That 40 at the combine was huge for him.
- Deiontrez Mount had a GREAT Pro Day. He went from a free agent signee to a likely draftee.
- Keep in mind, Brandon Dunn didn't get drafted last year and he made it. It is definitely possible, and very likely that there will be another free agent Louisvlle guys make a roster this year, too.
- Jamon Brown said they all used to make fun of DeVante Parker because when he got to campus he still sucked his thumb. To think that Parker could be a millionaire is pretty cool. Jamon lit up in a big smile when asked about how he and DeVante, local kids, are on the verge of going into the Draft.
- Louisville had 18 guys working out for pro scouts and a total of 80 NFL personnel on hand from all 32 teams. All of those are records. Credit to Charlie Strong's recruiting, Bobby's recruiting (Sample) and both coaches' development.
- Brian Brohm was solid in passing to all these wide receivers at Pro Day. The coaching staff was very complimentary of Brohm's decision to help these guys out by throwing. Brohm has a contract in the CFL with Winnipeg and said he trains in Louisville to prep for his season.
- Adidas is going to get wild with Louisville's uniforms for football. Bobby has given them the green light to make Louisville the flashiest team in college football.
- Speaking of adidas. Those cheetah cleats that the guys wore at the Combine and then at pro Days are really, really cool. They are as light as a piece of paper. It is weird to pick one up.
- Reggie Bonnafon has such a bright future. I'm honestly not sure where he will line up in the future, but he has incredible physical skills. A 38-inch vertical, a 10 foot broad jump, a 4.4 40-yard dash. Bobby will figure it out.
- Shawn Watson called Will Stein to Texas so the Cardinals will need to find another GA at the QB spot. That shouldn't be an issue considering how many dozens want the position to work with McGee and Petrino. Good luck to Will, though. He has a bright future as a coach. Justin Burke is down there at Texas, too.
- Griffin Uhl can either be a professional power lifter or a professional wrestler. He is a freak. A 715-pound squat?
- MY guess is the Cardinals get a 5 seed and are shipped out West, but that is just a guess at this point. Louisville doesn't have a bad loss, but two BIG wins is not enough to warrant a top 3 seed. I could see a 4 seed as well.
- Rick Pitino was very critical of Onuaku during a pregame talk with Paul Rogers. Pitino complimented both Anas and Matz and raved about Matz's future potential. He said they would both pass Onuaku this summer because Onuaku doesn't work as hard. Pitino said Onuaku is smart on the court, but he thinks he will get satisfied with a modicum of success in his freshman year and not work hard this summer. (This is clearly a message aimed at motivating Onuaku).
- I never could have predicted how bad Anton Gill has been for much of this season. Didn't see this coming, at all.
- I still think Terry Rozier goes pro, but a quick exit in the NCAA Tournament could change that. He still struggles with shot selection and accuracy, but he has an NBA ready body, great athleticism and he's got great work ethic. He'd still be a first round pick despite the recent struggles.
- Louisville Baseball had some early struggles, but they are going to be very, very good by seasons end. That said, this year will have more losses than any in Dan McDonnell's tenure because the competition is so much tougher.
- Jeff Walz just landed a top 10 center for the 2016 class named Kylie Shook. She set and then reset the Colorado state block record. She'll reset it again next season.
- A little self-promotion. We PACKED the recruiting edition with rankings, charts, graphs and profiles of top prospects. You should check it out. $5 at the Hall of Fame Cafe, Books a Million or Five-Star Food Marts.
- Rick Pitino was extremely angry with his team after the loss to North Carolina. It seems the main issue was an exit from strategy in the second half, and the terrible shooting to go with it.
- The loss to #19 North Carolina ended Wayne Blackshear's streak of 10 straight conference tournament wins. That's a pretty incredible streak especially considering two of those three years were in the toughest conference in basketball and the other one included a win over the eventual National Champion.
- Reading my Twitter responses, you'd think Rick Pitino lost control of the program and forgot how to coach after the loss to North Carolina. The over-reaction is pretty incredible.
- If this team makes another Sweet 16, I would be very pleased with the season. That would be four-straight Sweet 16s. And before you dismiss a Sweet 16 as "not the proper goal for a program of Louisville's caliber" I'd like you to note that Louisville Basketball has NEVER made four-straight Sweet 16s.
This post was edited on 3/13 2:21 PM by Howie Lindsey
This post was edited on 3/13 2:35 PM by Howie Lindsey
- WTAO is the off-season training motto for Louisville Football. The Cardinals are training hard so they can get into the second half with an opponent and then "Wear Their Ass Out." They have WTAO t-shirts and the letters are posted in the weight room.
- We knew next to nothing about Cole Hikutini when he signed. I stood next to him at Pro Day and he LOOKS like a prospect. He's wider than me in shoulder width and is a good two inches taller. He has a solid frame.
- DeAsian Richardson is a monster. He is so big. I'm not sure how they have a helmet big enough for is head and all that hair.
- Sheldon Rankins was the big star of the testing Louisville Football is doing this week. He charted - meaning hit the leaderboard - in nearly every exercise. He had like a 4.8 40 yard dash which, for a 300-pound dude, is just pain stupid fast.
- Bobby Petrino and Bill Belichik talked for a long time at Pro Day. Wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall for that conversation? I asked a player what he thought they were talking about. "Who knows?" I replied, "Their favorite curse words?" He laughed and said "Probably."
- Bobby Petrino was responsible for the 6 guys drafted in the largest draft class in Louisville history. This year will obliterate that number. There could be as many as 12 drafted.
- John Miller could be a top 3 round pick. He just keeps rising with the more people who watch his film. I had a great quick convo with Coach Klenakis about John. I said "He'll make a camp." and Coach K said "For sure, he'll make a roster. He can be a starter." K said Miller has "HUGE shoes to fill."
- Louisville's offensive line really worries me. Klenakis is a really good line coach, but I'm not sure how much he has to work with right now. They'll be good later, but they are painfully young.
- Eli Rogers should be a late-round draft pick. he ran really well at Pro Day (in the mid-4.4s) and I got a chance to talk to him after. He was VERY pleased with his performance. He is such a good guy and I hope he is very successful. He's a worker.
- Vikings rep told me, "The last thing Teddy told me before I came down here was 'Go Get DeVante Parker'" Just sayin.
- Jamon Brown and Lorenzo Mauldin may slip a bit in the draft, but I definitely think both will be drafted. They have tremendous upside. The video won't be kind at times when the NFL breaks down every play, but their size and athleticism is very good.
- James Sample may be the second Louisville player drafted. He's that good. Pro scouts love his film and he added 10 good pounds to his frame.
- Gerald Christian doesn't have great film, but it is solid and he will get drafted. He doesn't have the height they look for, but he has big arms and big hands.
- Mike Dyer didn't participate in Louisville's Pro Day. Not surprising, but a little disappointing.
- Charles Gaines will get drafted and he will make a roster. He was geared up in NIKE gear the other day at Pro Day, meaning NIKE's guys think he will be in the league. That 40 at the combine was huge for him.
- Deiontrez Mount had a GREAT Pro Day. He went from a free agent signee to a likely draftee.
- Keep in mind, Brandon Dunn didn't get drafted last year and he made it. It is definitely possible, and very likely that there will be another free agent Louisvlle guys make a roster this year, too.
- Jamon Brown said they all used to make fun of DeVante Parker because when he got to campus he still sucked his thumb. To think that Parker could be a millionaire is pretty cool. Jamon lit up in a big smile when asked about how he and DeVante, local kids, are on the verge of going into the Draft.
- Louisville had 18 guys working out for pro scouts and a total of 80 NFL personnel on hand from all 32 teams. All of those are records. Credit to Charlie Strong's recruiting, Bobby's recruiting (Sample) and both coaches' development.
- Brian Brohm was solid in passing to all these wide receivers at Pro Day. The coaching staff was very complimentary of Brohm's decision to help these guys out by throwing. Brohm has a contract in the CFL with Winnipeg and said he trains in Louisville to prep for his season.
- Adidas is going to get wild with Louisville's uniforms for football. Bobby has given them the green light to make Louisville the flashiest team in college football.
- Speaking of adidas. Those cheetah cleats that the guys wore at the Combine and then at pro Days are really, really cool. They are as light as a piece of paper. It is weird to pick one up.
- Reggie Bonnafon has such a bright future. I'm honestly not sure where he will line up in the future, but he has incredible physical skills. A 38-inch vertical, a 10 foot broad jump, a 4.4 40-yard dash. Bobby will figure it out.
- Shawn Watson called Will Stein to Texas so the Cardinals will need to find another GA at the QB spot. That shouldn't be an issue considering how many dozens want the position to work with McGee and Petrino. Good luck to Will, though. He has a bright future as a coach. Justin Burke is down there at Texas, too.
- Griffin Uhl can either be a professional power lifter or a professional wrestler. He is a freak. A 715-pound squat?
- MY guess is the Cardinals get a 5 seed and are shipped out West, but that is just a guess at this point. Louisville doesn't have a bad loss, but two BIG wins is not enough to warrant a top 3 seed. I could see a 4 seed as well.
- Rick Pitino was very critical of Onuaku during a pregame talk with Paul Rogers. Pitino complimented both Anas and Matz and raved about Matz's future potential. He said they would both pass Onuaku this summer because Onuaku doesn't work as hard. Pitino said Onuaku is smart on the court, but he thinks he will get satisfied with a modicum of success in his freshman year and not work hard this summer. (This is clearly a message aimed at motivating Onuaku).
- I never could have predicted how bad Anton Gill has been for much of this season. Didn't see this coming, at all.
- I still think Terry Rozier goes pro, but a quick exit in the NCAA Tournament could change that. He still struggles with shot selection and accuracy, but he has an NBA ready body, great athleticism and he's got great work ethic. He'd still be a first round pick despite the recent struggles.
- Louisville Baseball had some early struggles, but they are going to be very, very good by seasons end. That said, this year will have more losses than any in Dan McDonnell's tenure because the competition is so much tougher.
- Jeff Walz just landed a top 10 center for the 2016 class named Kylie Shook. She set and then reset the Colorado state block record. She'll reset it again next season.
- A little self-promotion. We PACKED the recruiting edition with rankings, charts, graphs and profiles of top prospects. You should check it out. $5 at the Hall of Fame Cafe, Books a Million or Five-Star Food Marts.
- Rick Pitino was extremely angry with his team after the loss to North Carolina. It seems the main issue was an exit from strategy in the second half, and the terrible shooting to go with it.
- The loss to #19 North Carolina ended Wayne Blackshear's streak of 10 straight conference tournament wins. That's a pretty incredible streak especially considering two of those three years were in the toughest conference in basketball and the other one included a win over the eventual National Champion.
- Reading my Twitter responses, you'd think Rick Pitino lost control of the program and forgot how to coach after the loss to North Carolina. The over-reaction is pretty incredible.
- If this team makes another Sweet 16, I would be very pleased with the season. That would be four-straight Sweet 16s. And before you dismiss a Sweet 16 as "not the proper goal for a program of Louisville's caliber" I'd like you to note that Louisville Basketball has NEVER made four-straight Sweet 16s.
This post was edited on 3/13 2:21 PM by Howie Lindsey
This post was edited on 3/13 2:35 PM by Howie Lindsey
