It amazes me

[Huskyforlife]

how overrated UL is. what team stays on top after losing their best 2 players? i don't care how good this juco kid is, he ain't siva. maybe i'm just looking through the husky colored glasses, but i think we're much better than them. dam it season start already!!!

 

[champs99and04]

UL is loaded with talent. If they under-achieve, it will be because the pieces don't mesh and Jones struggles running the offense.

 

[Huskyforlife]

UL is loaded with talent. If they under-achieve, it will be because the pieces don't mesh and Jones struggles running the offense.

i don't know, behannen is overrated, harrell is good, smith is..... well smith. jones isn't probably going to be anywhere near siva, and hancock had a good NAT game, but before that he was a good role player, expect him to disappoint.

 

[Inyatkin]

Every defending champion is highly rated, and it often doesn't turn out well, at least if UConn is any guide.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Every defending champion is highly rated, and it often doesn't turn out well, at least if UConn is any guide.

exactly, the year after we won the nat we thought we had a really good team. look how far we got

 

[UConn990411]

I have no idea how good Louisville will be, but people are completely glossing over the losses of Siva and Dieng.

Plus, when your best player (Russ Smith) has an IQ in single digits, there's always the chance of disaster.

 

[champs99and04]

I don't think people are "glossing over" the losses of Dieng and Siva. If those two were back, Louisville would be preseason #1. As it turns out, Louisville returns seven of their best nine players (Smith, Behanan, Harrell, Hancock, Ware, Blackshear, Van Treese) and possibly an emerging star in Harrell.

It all boils down to Chris Jones, IMO. If he's up to the task of running the team from day one, there won't be five better teams in the country. If he struggles, there is a lot of potential for implosion in the half court offense with Russ occupying a hefty percentage of the possessions.

 

[TRest]

Decourcy on WTIC tonight said if UL were to win the championship, it would probably be with the shortest front court since the mid 1960's.

 

[champs99and04]

Our front court in 2011 couldn't have been too much bigger.

 

[upstater]

The people watching Ville practices are saying that Rozier is outplaying Jones, and that's because Jones is slightly (very slightly) less than advertised (no surprise at all in a JUCO) while Rozier looks better than any freshman guard they've had in a long time. He's much better than his ranking.

 

[dunlow66]

The people watching Ville practices are saying that Rozier is outplaying Jones, and that's because Jones is slightly (very slightly) less than advertised (no surprise at all in a JUCO) while Rozier looks better than any freshman guard they've had in a long time. He's much better than his ranking.

And Rozier is actually more like a sophomore guard anyway since he did a 5th year at prep school and a lot of people had him as a five star after watching him at Hargrave. Between Jones, Rozier and Anton Gill, Louisville will have an even deeper backcourt with just as much(if not more) talent that last season. I think Harrell is going to be a true difference maker this year and they have a young 4 star big man coming in as well(Akyo Agau)

 

[TRest]

Our front court in 2011 couldn't have been too much bigger.

According to him, it would be with a 6'8" center and a 6'5" power forward.

 

[UConnCountry]

I'm high on Behanan. I think he will have the type of year we are hoping/expecting Deandre to have. Harrel is also going to break out. I'm fine with being ranked #2. extra motivation something to play for

 

[Huskyforlife]

I'm high on Behanan. I think he will have the type of year we are hoping/expecting Deandre to have. Harrel is also going to break out. I'm fine with being ranked #2. extra motivation something to play for

i would honestly like to know what you see in SB. nothing i've ever watched of him made me think he was very good. he is however very athletic, and can put on a show

 

[Senore]

Well, Behanen is built like Blair - he is a Tight End sized space eater whose lower body is really tough to root out from under the basket. His calves are the size of most opponents legs. The fact that he is athletic, runs the court, makes steals on Louisville's press and owns last season's dunk of the year are the attributes people see in "CB" - not SB. The other fact is his experience, but I guess that doesn't much matter in these days of "high-quality freshmen". He intimately understands the Louisville defensive system and is a leader with a big personality. Other than that - not much to like, lol. Oh - he was also MVP of the West Regional as a freshman.

 

[Senore]

According to him, it would be with a 6'8" center and a 6'5" power forward.

Harrell's wingspan is absurd - something like 7' 3". He has played serviceably last season at center but Pitino will undoubtedly prefer to develop the RS freshman - 6' 10" Mangok Mathiang - a shot blocker athlete in the Dieng mold - and to also play Steve Van Treese at center to allow Behanen and Harrell to finish games together. Van Treese is a rebounding specialist at 6' 9" with a big strong body and who is also surprisingly fast on his feet.

It is completely understandable that UConn fans see the loss of Siva just like UofL fans tend to - more than one of his best games as a collegian were against you guys. Ask Cuse fans, though, and he is blah to them, against whom he had a dreadful time. The loss of Siva is more "chemical" and personality-based than it is basketball-based. Jones and Rozier may both be classically "better" at the game of basketball than Peyton, but his personality oversaw the entire program. One of the most beloved players in Louisville history whose game was deliciously flawed at the same time, lol. His out of control play sometimes just made you laugh while beating yourself about the head and shoulders. Just a loveable little creature, lol.

 

[CTBasketball]

Louisville is very good. Many think their getting an upgrade with Jones and Rozier in comparison to Siva. They have more depth at all positions than us and are a very dangerous team. Dieng won't be there to erase shots, which means everyone has to play tougher defense.

But this team is very good. If you rank them outside the top 3 or so, I find that puzzling.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

Put me in the camp that couldn't disagree more with the OP. You can't criticize Russ Smith for the way he plays and then claim that Peyton Siva is irreplaceable in the same sentence. Siva always killed Uconn and deservedly will be remembered as a guy who did an awful lot of winning at Louisville. But he's also a guy who missed 75% of his three's, turned the ball over 3 times per game, and had countless instances where he kept the other team in the game. Just ask his own fanbase - he received a lot of the same treatment that Taliek Brown did here.

Seeing as nobody here has ever seen Terry Rozier or Chris Jones play, it is absurd to suggest that there's no way their backcourt will be better this year. Since everybody who has seen those guys play is saying they will be even better, I'm inclined to believe it. Both Harrell and Behanan are really good - Behanan had 15 and 12 in the National Championship game if the OP needs an example of what he can do.

They are going to be very, very good.

 

[Rico444]

Not to say that Louisville won't be a very good team this year, but I will be absolutely stunned if they're as good as last year. Can't remember the last time a freshman PG came in and didn't have growing pains - Wall might be the last one to come close.

 

[upstater]

Not to say that Louisville won't be a very good team this year, but I will be absolutely stunned if they're as good as last year. Can't remember the last time a freshman PG came in and didn't have growing pains - Wall might be the last one to come close.

This!

Brandin Knight too had big flaws as a freshman. It's just the way it is.

 

[DOZE860]

I'm just glad Siva is gone.. he was the one guy that we could not guard at all. i dont know about the guys that they brought in but, i think we should be fine now that we don't have to worry about Siva breaking down our defense, 3 straight plays in a row to take the lead...

 

[SirHypeAlot]

Hancock lit it up this summer for Team USA....i wouldn't sleep on him. Louisville is really good top to bottom however i do believe they are beatable.

 

[aceboon]

Not to say that Louisville won't be a very good team this year, but I will be absolutely stunned if they're as good as last year. Can't remember the last time a freshman PG came in and didn't have growing pains - Wall might be the last one to come close.

Jones isn't a freshman, he's JUCO transfer, and its not like he was at JUCO because he couldn't play, it was grades.

 

[Senore]

Jones and Rozier have been the most outstanding players at the 2 scrimmages this season. Behanen and Harrell look awesome as well. Hancock and Ware have not suited up yet. Our best player this season might just be Backshear. He seems over his shoulder problems and is far more of aggressive, offensively. It could be typical fan delirium, but many feel this is a better team than last season's.

 

[dunlow66]

This!

Brandin Knight too had big flaws as a freshman. It's just the way it is.

For all his flaws, Knight led his team to the final four.
And PG Marques Teague led the next UK team to a championship as a freshman.

Now I dont like either guys game all that much in the NBA, but you cant dispute the team results in college.
If fans are going to extoll the virtues of Sam Cassell's age and expeirence since he went to prep school and then JUCO, the same respect should be afforded to Jones(JUCO) and Rozier(5th year Post Grad)