We are better than we were last year

[tn00nan]

Better quality depth. I think our outside shooting is better too, though not so far today.

North Florida is not a joke. They are damn good and will be playing in the NCAA in March. One of the best 3-pt shooting teams I've ever seen.

Gotta continue to kill them on the boards, keep on driving and try to limit their 3s.

 

[Cue Card]

That is all they do well. They shoot the 3 incredibly well and that's good enough most of the time. Hopefully not today.

 

[teamcanada]

The offense seems to run a lot smoother

 

[cuzimacardfan]

Last years team in November probably would have lost to this team. We wouldn't have been able to score to stay ahead of them.

 

[tn00nan]

We have two excellent ball-handlers (Lewis, Snider) and a couple of others who are okay (Lee, Mitchell), we are playing good team defense and really good rebounding.

I thought this would be a test but we blew them away in the 2nd half.

MSU WILL be a test. Hard to see us beating them this early in the year, but who knows.

First time I've seen Spalding play really. Good defense, nice play inside. Heady player. I thought Pitino was just doing his typical marketing speak, but Spalding is THAT good! Wow.

 

[rockycard]

I really like this team.

 

[KerryRhodes]

Theyre growing on me.

They probably saw my 21-10 prediction and told me to STFU !

 

[n4cer2ad]

No Kerry they said we have to be better than that WE ARE THE CRADS L1C4!!!!!!!!!!!! This team loves the fans.

 

[nccardfan]

I do know one thing this team is better at than last year. It's running the fastbreak. Couldn't understand with guards like Jones and Rozier, we weren't able to fastbreak like the Cards do usually. The fastbreak is BACK!!!!!

 

[n4cer2ad]

Don't get me wrong I liked both of them, but sometimes I think they got into that me ball. Who is going to score more points.

 

[shamcard]

I do know one thing this team is better at than last year. It's running the fastbreak. Couldn't understand with guards like Jones and Rozier, we weren't able to fastbreak like the Cards do usually. The fastbreak is BACK!!!!!

Part of the the problem last year was Jones going one on three.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

I do know one thing this team is better at than last year. It's running the fastbreak. Couldn't understand with guards like Jones and Rozier, we weren't able to fastbreak like the Cards do usually. The fastbreak is BACK!!!!!

Jones and Rozier dribbled just a little too much IMO

 

[tn00nan]

Rozier was a good, not great ball-handler and Snider was a true Frosh. Jones was our only really good ball-handler last year and we all know about how erratic he was.

Rozier was only a decent outside shooter but an incredible and fearless driver. I think our current guards + Lee are better outside shooters and have shown to be smart, clever guards at penetrating, even if they don't go all the way in. Nothing wrong with an open 6 footer.

We are much stronger at the 3 with Lee, Adel, Johnson, maybe even Mahmoud.

We obviously miss Harrell a lot but we have a cast of bigs who have gotten better and Spalding looks like he could be great. I think we won't miss Harrell that much.

Onuaku and Mathiang are a year older, much more confident and aggressive. They need to stay out of foul trouble. Matz looks like he can contribute some minutes (even if he hasn't done much of that yet).

Our depth is much better this year (Mitchell, Adel, Johnson, Spalding, Levitch, Henderson, Matz).

I think we are under-rated significantly, even though we just got in Bozich's top 25. I think our game against MSU will be interesting. We might get blown out but I doubt it. It will be a huge test of our composure of having a combination of young players and veterans still getting used to one another.

 

[zipp]

I wanna see how well we play a game in the 50s or low 60s. A team like Michigan State is not gonna wanna run up and down the floor. Nor will they be as easily pressed into TOs.

That game next week will tell us a lot about the near future of this team. If we struggle in a slowdown game, expect more teams to play us that way...

 

[thecycle21]

I think Saint Louis will be a challenge for the Louisville offense. MSU will be a good measuring stick game to see exactly where this team is right now. They have just over powered these early teams with their size.

The thing I like is they seem to be extremely coachable. Give Pitino a group that is willing to learn and then able to execute watch out.

 

[rockycard]

Jones and Rozier dribbled just a way too much IMO

fify

 

[Cue Card]

I like the balance this team is showing. They're not forcing up shots from the outside (yet), and they are making a clear effort to take the ball inside first. Spalding and Mahmoud have shown a nice ability to pass out of the high or low post to the open man on the wings or corner. This team is much better than last year at this same time of the year. Lee, Lewis, Mitchell, and Snider are the 3 point threats but they're not relying on the shot behind the arc. Everyone is trying to get the ball inside. I like it!

 

[nccardfan]

I still like the effort of JJ. He quietly gets rebounds, made a few good passes and hit a 15 foot jumper. He needs a little work on his foul shots but they all looked good coming out of his hand. I like our front court future with him Spaulding and Mahmoud.

 

[turducken71]

Let's be sure to make free throws and make close shots.

 

[tn00nan]

I wanna see how well we play a game in the 50s or low 60s. A team like Michigan State is not gonna wanna run up and down the floor. Nor will they be as easily pressed into TOs.

That game next week will tell us a lot about the near future of this team. If we struggle in a slowdown game, expect more teams to play us that way...

Good points. Turnovers won't be as easy to come by and neither will rebounds. What poise will this team show? IF Lee and Lewis are the 5th year seniors and captains, they will need to help the team through those types of games. Should be interesting. The St. Louis game could be interesting too.

All that being said, there's no question in my mind that we are bigger, stronger and deeper than last year's team.

 

[Senore2006]

I think Saint Louis will be a challenge for the Louisville offense. MSU will be a good measuring stick game to see exactly where this team is right now. They have just over powered these early teams with their size.

The thing I like is they seem to be extremely coachable. Give Pitino a group that is willing to learn and then able to execute watch out.

We will run more, not less, against MSU to wear out the bigs and take their legs out in general. I think we will press the entire game, too. Plus, I suspect we match up pretty well with their big people anyway....or anyone else's, for that matter.

I don't think SLU can defend us.

 

[tn00nan]

Just saw MSU vs Boise State. Denzel ? is very tough but their team aside from him didn't impress me that much. Maybe they were tired from the night before. I think we can play with them. Not sure we can beat them yet - especially at their home.

 

[cuzimacardfan]

Gonna give MSU a pass due to playing multiple days in a row and no scout time. Izzo is tough when he has time to prepare. And they still won by double digits.

MSU is very deserving of their ranking, unlike many other top 25 teams.

 

[shamcard]

Last years team in November probably would have lost to this team. We wouldn't have been able to score to stay ahead of them.

I recall how we destroyed IU last year early in the season. So I doubt we would have lost to NF last year. Having said that. I like the style of play much better this year, in part, because our bigs have improved so much and there are so many of them. Also, I am so glad Jones and his ball hogging style is goneF
St. Louis beat NF by 13 after our win. I watched Texas A&M/Syracuse today (Friday) and those teams are good. shoot outside well, can make the 10-12 footer, and their bigs are capable around the basket. As all know we haven't been tested yet, but the time is coming.

 

[tn00nan]

I agree. Our big test is coming next Wednesday. We'll learn a lot. I think right now, we are well behind last year's team in playing our zone and team defense in general. But offensively, we are much better, in my view. We didn't shoot well tonight until the latter part of the 2nd half and still beat a decent team by 20 on a neutral court. Snider and Lewis are both much more under control than Jones and Rozier. Better decision-making AND our bigs are much better than they were last year. Of course, we miss Harrell but with Spalding, Lee and the maturity of our other bigs and we are very good.

People talk about us being 7th in the ACC but outside of UNC, I think we are arguably as good as everyone else. And not far behind UNC.

 

[kyjeff1]

I wanna see how well we play a game in the 50s or low 60s. A team like Michigan State is not gonna wanna run up and down the floor. Nor will they be as easily pressed into TOs.

That game next week will tell us a lot about the near future of this team. If we struggle in a slowdown game, expect more teams to play us that way...

So you think MSU keeps it in the 50's and 60's? You haven't seen them play in 5 years from the looks of it. They are going to push it all game long. They are a high scoring team.

 

[zipp]

So you think MSU keeps it in the 50's and 60's? You haven't seen them play in 5 years from the looks of it. They are going to push it all game long. They are a high scoring team.

At nut cuttin' time. Against better teams. Like in the NCAA tourney, where they averaged 67 points per game last year while holding their opponents to 61 ppg.

But thanks for your insights, LPT guy.

"Elite program", my a$$...

 

[cardsfan53]

Snider, Lee, Lewis, and Mitchell can all drive and get in the lane. Last year it was only Jones and rozier. I would also like to see what Adel can bring when he gets 100% healthy. No of these guys are Harrell, but OVERALL as a group we are much better inside. Johnson has improved and I think Spaulding has the potential to be a 1st rounder or maybe lottery pick. He has as much upside as anybody Pitino has brought to UofL. Anas and Nanu have really worked on their game and it's showed thus far in the season.