I couldn’t make the scrimmage today. Would love some thoughts and analysis on the team, individual improvement or deficiencies, schemes, etc, etc...
Scrimmage
- Thread starter ShortCreek
- Start date
Count me as one that was disappointed... I didn’t go to 4th street Live so I was really looking forward to something special, especially with the recent commitment of Aidan. Now I certainly wasn’t expecting anything like a midnight madness but there was no special player introductions or video. Also unless I missed it earlier Mack came on to say that they were going to play a regular 20 minute half followed by a 15 minute halftime, followed by a 10 minute 2nd half with no clock stoppage. Yeah 10 minutes. I felt as though I was cheated after paying $15 per ticket and $10 for parking. The reason given was there are only 10 scholarship players and they didn’t want anybody hurt.
Now some positives, Nwora hit quite a few 3’s and VJ while starting slow ended up scoring quite a few points. I think Nwora had a double double. Really like Cunningham and I do think he will start with Perry. Perry really didn’t have a great game. Malik looked good and I liked what I saw from Enoch at times. We still don’t have bruisers inside. Will just say that McMahon had an off game but whoever he was defending got to the rim with ease.
The reason I say disappointed is because I really didn’t see any intensity. Not sure if there were anything at stake but it looked like a team of friends just decided to divide up and play a scrimmage. Only 1 or 2 dunks that I remember. One challenge block by Nwora when Perry tried to get to the rim.
Before I finished this post, I just realized this is going to be a different type of team than what I had gotten used to seeing. No full court pressure. I will need to be patient and see how it all develops.
Now some positives, Nwora hit quite a few 3’s and VJ while starting slow ended up scoring quite a few points. I think Nwora had a double double. Really like Cunningham and I do think he will start with Perry. Perry really didn’t have a great game. Malik looked good and I liked what I saw from Enoch at times. We still don’t have bruisers inside. Will just say that McMahon had an off game but whoever he was defending got to the rim with ease.
The reason I say disappointed is because I really didn’t see any intensity. Not sure if there were anything at stake but it looked like a team of friends just decided to divide up and play a scrimmage. Only 1 or 2 dunks that I remember. One challenge block by Nwora when Perry tried to get to the rim.
Before I finished this post, I just realized this is going to be a different type of team than what I had gotten used to seeing. No full court pressure. I will need to be patient and see how it all develops.
2018-19: FARRRRR CHRIS MACK AND HIS SKYLINE CHILI. NOODLES AIN'T CHILI!
2019-20: This is more like it
2020-21: Yeah baby
2021-22: That's what she said
2019-20: This is more like it
2020-21: Yeah baby
2021-22: That's what she said
CUNNINGHAM RUNS THE SHOW
Fifth-year graduate transfer Christen Cunningham posted a solid line score.
The point guard transfer from Samford hit 6 of 7 from the field and finished with 15 points, five rebounds four assists and a steal.
He commands respect when he's on the floor because of his leadership and his ability to run the team. I would be surprised if Cunningham is not the starting point guard for the game next week against Bellarmine and moving forward.
He scored more than 1,200 career points in three seasons and left as the school's all-time assists leader.
Cunningham will be a major contributor do the Cardinals.
THREE-POINT SHOOTING
Louisville has been inconsistent from long range in recent years.
But this team should be very good as a three-point shooting team and a bunch of guys are able to hit from outside.
V.J. King was 3 of 4 from three and Jordan Nwora hit 3 of 8 for the White team, while Ryan McMahon and Jacob Redding each hit a trey. McMahon is still the best shooter in the entire team and on the White team Steven Enoch even looked comfortable taking a three.
Malik Williams, Darius Perry and Dwayne Sutton all three hit one three-pointer for the Red team.
Mack has six or seven guys who can shoot it from downtown.
NWORA COULD BE 'THE' GUY FOR LOUISVILLE
As expected, Jordan Nwora looked like a guy who will greatly benefit from the coaching change.
Nwora had 18 points and 11 rebounds and at times looked like the best player on the floor. He hit three three-point field goals, scored a couple of buckets at the basket, hit a mid-ranged jumper and also scored from the free-throw line.
I'd expect Nwora will be the leading scorer on the team this season. He's really a talented player and has improved his all-around game.
V.J. KING BEING AGGRESSIVE
V.J. King had a great shooting game in the scrimmage, hitting 7 of 11 from the field.
Sure, that's a great sign. But maybe even better was the way he was so aggressive, taking the ball to the basket.
I've heard a lot of it with King has to do with confidence. He's had it in some games but has been inconsistent so far for his career and I think the switch to Mack could benefit him more than anyone else on the roster because it was a start over.
With fresh start on Sunday, King looked like the player we've expected him to be for two years. He's bigger, stronger, more confident and that adds up to a really good player.
WELL, HELLO MALIK WILLIAMS
I've heard Malik Williams hasn't been great in practice recently.
But on Sunday, Williams put it all together. Mack said the sophomore "told on himself a little" because of his solid play.
Williams can shoot it from outside, but showed he's improved his interior play. He made some nice moves against Steven Enoch and showed that he's also added some strength to his game. I expect his game to blossom this season.
Mack added: "He was a lot more assertive and more aggressive" than he has been in practice.
FORE CAN GET AFTER IT
Richmond transfer Khwan Fore didn't come to Louisville with a lot of hype.
But the 6-foot guard can get after it. He's very athletic, will come out and guard you on the perimeter and showed he can pass it.
Fore had just two points on 1 of 2 shooting but had five assists and three rebounds. He also had four fouls in 39 minutes.
I'd say he gives the Cardinals about what a guy like Tony Hicks did a couple of years ago.
MR. EVERYTHING
Yup, that's going to be Dwayne Sutton.
Every team needs a Sutton. He can do a little bit of everything for you on the floor.
He guarded King and Nwora and even one time tried his hand at Enoch. He's versatile and he's solid.
Sutton finished with seven points, five rebounds, two steals and two assists.
POST PLAY IS SOLID FOR CARDS
Malik Williams on the Red team and Steven Enoch on the White team, both played well.
There's not a ton of depth in the post, which is a concern, but it appears the guys they have are making improvements. Williams played the four spot when Akoy Agau was in the game for the Red team.
Enoch, had 10 points, eight rebounds and one steal and played 40 minutes with just one foul.
Agau played 25 minutes and had three points and two rebounds.
A BIT OF TOUGHNESS
It was just one scrimmage, but the team started to show some toughness.
And that's what Mack's teams at Xavier showed all the time. They were not always the most talented, but they were not going to quit.
These guys won't back down from competition and are all stronger than they were last season.
The toughness will be a key down the road.
Fifth-year graduate transfer Christen Cunningham posted a solid line score.
The point guard transfer from Samford hit 6 of 7 from the field and finished with 15 points, five rebounds four assists and a steal.
He commands respect when he's on the floor because of his leadership and his ability to run the team. I would be surprised if Cunningham is not the starting point guard for the game next week against Bellarmine and moving forward.
He scored more than 1,200 career points in three seasons and left as the school's all-time assists leader.
Cunningham will be a major contributor do the Cardinals.
THREE-POINT SHOOTING
Louisville has been inconsistent from long range in recent years.
But this team should be very good as a three-point shooting team and a bunch of guys are able to hit from outside.
V.J. King was 3 of 4 from three and Jordan Nwora hit 3 of 8 for the White team, while Ryan McMahon and Jacob Redding each hit a trey. McMahon is still the best shooter in the entire team and on the White team Steven Enoch even looked comfortable taking a three.
Malik Williams, Darius Perry and Dwayne Sutton all three hit one three-pointer for the Red team.
Mack has six or seven guys who can shoot it from downtown.
NWORA COULD BE 'THE' GUY FOR LOUISVILLE
As expected, Jordan Nwora looked like a guy who will greatly benefit from the coaching change.
Nwora had 18 points and 11 rebounds and at times looked like the best player on the floor. He hit three three-point field goals, scored a couple of buckets at the basket, hit a mid-ranged jumper and also scored from the free-throw line.
I'd expect Nwora will be the leading scorer on the team this season. He's really a talented player and has improved his all-around game.
V.J. KING BEING AGGRESSIVE
V.J. King had a great shooting game in the scrimmage, hitting 7 of 11 from the field.
Sure, that's a great sign. But maybe even better was the way he was so aggressive, taking the ball to the basket.
I've heard a lot of it with King has to do with confidence. He's had it in some games but has been inconsistent so far for his career and I think the switch to Mack could benefit him more than anyone else on the roster because it was a start over.
With fresh start on Sunday, King looked like the player we've expected him to be for two years. He's bigger, stronger, more confident and that adds up to a really good player.
WELL, HELLO MALIK WILLIAMS
I've heard Malik Williams hasn't been great in practice recently.
But on Sunday, Williams put it all together. Mack said the sophomore "told on himself a little" because of his solid play.
Williams can shoot it from outside, but showed he's improved his interior play. He made some nice moves against Steven Enoch and showed that he's also added some strength to his game. I expect his game to blossom this season.
Mack added: "He was a lot more assertive and more aggressive" than he has been in practice.
FORE CAN GET AFTER IT
Richmond transfer Khwan Fore didn't come to Louisville with a lot of hype.
But the 6-foot guard can get after it. He's very athletic, will come out and guard you on the perimeter and showed he can pass it.
Fore had just two points on 1 of 2 shooting but had five assists and three rebounds. He also had four fouls in 39 minutes.
I'd say he gives the Cardinals about what a guy like Tony Hicks did a couple of years ago.
MR. EVERYTHING
Yup, that's going to be Dwayne Sutton.
Every team needs a Sutton. He can do a little bit of everything for you on the floor.
He guarded King and Nwora and even one time tried his hand at Enoch. He's versatile and he's solid.
Sutton finished with seven points, five rebounds, two steals and two assists.
POST PLAY IS SOLID FOR CARDS
Malik Williams on the Red team and Steven Enoch on the White team, both played well.
There's not a ton of depth in the post, which is a concern, but it appears the guys they have are making improvements. Williams played the four spot when Akoy Agau was in the game for the Red team.
Enoch, had 10 points, eight rebounds and one steal and played 40 minutes with just one foul.
Agau played 25 minutes and had three points and two rebounds.
A BIT OF TOUGHNESS
It was just one scrimmage, but the team started to show some toughness.
And that's what Mack's teams at Xavier showed all the time. They were not always the most talented, but they were not going to quit.
These guys won't back down from competition and are all stronger than they were last season.
The toughness will be a key down the road.
I wasn’t disappointed at all as I think we got exactly what we paid for - a practice scrimmage. If you thought we were going to see “schemes” you were wrong as it is very rare for any coaching staff to “show” what they are going to do during the upcoming season.
GO CARDS - BEAT EVERYBODY!!! God Bless America!!!
GO CARDS - BEAT EVERYBODY!!! God Bless America!!!
Maybe not but I wanted to see guys get after it. Dunks, blocked shots, steals. Everything 86 posted above was right on because there was no defense played. One contested drive by Perry with a block by Nwora. There was no electricity or excitement in the arena. Even the announcer had to urge half the crowd to cheer on the red and the other half for the white. I guess I just expected something different.
You’re probably right but in all honesty I didn’t see any. But those sneaky b@$*^%#$ would sink so far as to dress in red.
GO CARDS - BEAT EVERYBODY!!! God Bless America!!!
Gotta be careful trying to present a rational view of basketball at the moment. Maybe football too...
With this schedule it will be a challenge to make the tournament. With a new staff it will be a difficult year, but should be fun to watch. The good news is they will get plenty of opportunities to get big wins.
Like football preseason expectations no one knows what will happen. We have 2 years of watching VJ King be average, he has to be really good for them to do anything. That is a leap maybe it happens but his actual performance tells you it won't. The starting point guard is from a small school and has never played at this level. To expect him to be really good is optimistic again maybe he will maybe he won't.
My expectations are they are going to really struggle because that is what their performances in the past have shown me. They may do great, but nothing tells me that is going to happen. Next year will be different because I know the staff is good.
Like football preseason expectations no one knows what will happen. We have 2 years of watching VJ King be average, he has to be really good for them to do anything. That is a leap maybe it happens but his actual performance tells you it won't. The starting point guard is from a small school and has never played at this level. To expect him to be really good is optimistic again maybe he will maybe he won't.
My expectations are they are going to really struggle because that is what their performances in the past have shown me. They may do great, but nothing tells me that is going to happen. Next year will be different because I know the staff is good.
I knew when I posted my views of the scrimmage it was going to be scrutinized as I am a Pitino lover but it wasn’t about that. I called it like I saw it and I know fans around me that thought it lacked energy and enthusiasm.
I’m hopeful, but I really don’t know how this year is going to go. It may take a while for the guys to learn the new system. I am looking forward to Carl Spackler being at some of the games. At least we have that going for us...
Similar threads
Latest posts
-
-
-
FOOTBALL Head Coach Jeff Brohm Weekly Press Conference
- Latest: Ty Spalding
