Looking at our competitors expected lineups, is UL a tournament team?

[EclipsingYou]

I am really NOT trying to start some kind of flame war here.

I was just looking at what our usual competition will be offering this year,

When I got to the UL roster, I could not believe the lack of talent. What exactly has Rick done to their program? I almost feel bad for them.

It looks like a decent mid major transfer in Lee and a bunch of role players.

Am I missing something here?

Again, I am not trying to start another "bash on UL" thread. I am 100% serious. Do they have the talent to make the NCAA tournament this year, in your opinion?

 

[WeWant9]

They'll make the tournament, but I can't see them being higher than around a 7 seed. I think their backcourt will be decent to good and keep them in some games, but their front court will more than likely be bad.

They'll load up on some cupcake wins in the OOC play and then probably get one or two big ACC wins. I see them being a team who flirts in and out of the top 25 throughout the year.

 

[Poetax]

I am really NOT trying to start some kind of flame war here.

I was just looking at what our usual competition will be offering this year,

When I got to the UL roster, I could not believe the lack of talent. What exactly has Rick done to their program? I almost feel bad for them.

It looks like a decent mid major transfer in Lee and a bunch of role players.

Am I missing something here?

Again, I am not trying to start another "bash on UL" thread. I am 100% serious. Do they have the talent to make the NCAA tournament this year, in your opinion?

They have a lot of unknowns on their roster so it is hard to see the forest for the trees. I did notice that rick had them playing better in each pre-season game which is a MO for him, taking lesser players and getting them to play over their heads. I'm sure he would be happier if he could get his good players not to play lesser then the other way.

 

[wcc31]

Depends upon how good they senior transfers are. They got lucky reeling those two in at the last minute.

 

[Smashcat]

I see them being a team who flirts in and out of the top 25 throughout the year.

Agree

 

[EclipsingYou]

2 senior transfers at the last minute? I guess Rick saw the exact same thing I did, HAHA!

I really am oblivious to their program and do not follow it closely enough to know about senior transfers, though.

 

[Petjurino]

Simple answer. Yes, we make the tourney. Lewis may be one of the best players in the country and we have a wealth of talent around it. Rick has said that we have as many as 8 future NBA players on this team. I can assure you. We will be good. Certainly we will make the tourney.

 

[EclipsingYou]

Flirting with the top 25? A 7 seed? Ok, I can live with that.

I really do not want them getting to the point of IU where getting to the tournament every year is not a given. It really ruins the rivalry.

 

[EclipsingYou]

Thank you for the serious reply, Petjurino. It is good to see that confidence remains high in Louisville.

 

[RipThru]

Simple answer. Yes, we make the tourney. Lewis may be one of the best players in the country and we have a wealth of talent around it. Rick has said that we have as many as 8 future NBA players on this team. I can assure you. We will be good. Certainly we will make the tourney.

Bull$#it.
Bull$#it.

 

[Orange Soda King]

They don't have 8 future NBA players, but they do have a talented backcourt. I wouldn't say Lewis is one of the best players in the country, but the two grad transfers are good players and good shooters. We'll see how the frontcourt proves itself, but as long as it's at least serviceable, they can win some tourney games (they made the Elite 8 last year and didn't have a stellar frontcourt besides Harrell). Sure they don't have a player like Harrell this year, but I imagine Onuaku, Johnson, Mathiang, and Mahmoud have only improved. I see UK beating them again, especially since the game is at Rupp, but Louisville will probably be a fairly dangerous team by March, especially if their backcourt is clicking.

 

[EclipsingYou]

The most worrisome thing that prompted me to post this topic was exactly what Petjurino referred to. Projected NBA players. After reading a Mock Draft and not seeing a single UL player until late in the 2nd round (Lee) had me curious. Over the years it seems like UL has had at least 1 player projected to be a 1st round pick on every team. Not so this year.

But Pitino claims to have 8 future NBA players? Confusing as always.

As I said, though. I really do not want them to get to the point of not making the tournament every year. I enjoy the rivalry a whole lot more when both are high caliber NCAA teams.

 

[catfan111]

Petjurino were waiting for you to discuss in the Jurich thread like you promised.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

I'm sure they will make the tournament, but probably be out pretty fast IMO.

 

[Petjurino]

They don't have 8 future NBA players, but they do have a talented backcourt. I wouldn't say Lewis is one of the best players in the country, but the two grad transfers are good players and good shooters. We'll see how the frontcourt proves itself, but as long as it's at least serviceable, they can win some tourney games (they made the Elite 8 last year and didn't have a stellar frontcourt besides Harrell). Sure they don't have a player like Harrell this year, but I imagine Onuaku, Johnson, Mathiang, and Mahmoud have only improved. I see UK beating them again, especially since the game is at Rupp, but Louisville will probably be a fairly dangerous team by March, especially if their backcourt is clicking.

Rick even said that Lewis is a better version of Ron Mercer. Now I am not a UK fan obviously, but I recall Mercer being pretty good. Wasn't he an All American or he may have even been PLayer of the Year? If Lewis is a better version of that, I would say it's a safe bet he's one of the best players in the country.

 

[WeWant9]

Has Pitino ever compared any of his current players to his past UL players? It always seems he uses his UK players, whom he hasn't coached in over a decade.

 

[brianpoe]

Simple answer. Yes, we make the tourney. Lewis may be one of the best players in the country and we have a wealth of talent around it. Rick has said that we have as many as 8 future NBA players on this team. I can assure you. We will be good. Certainly we will make the tourney.

In Puerto Rico, it appeared that Lee was by far your best player. No doubt, the two transfers will run this team.

Rick Pitino quotes have proven to be a lot of bluster. You have been around long enough to know this... Marra best shooter he has ever seen, every decent player compared to a past UK player, fastest, strongest, best attitude, blah, blah, ever, ever.

Petjurino I bet more than a dozen on this site will take a big money bet with you, that 8 of this UL team NEVER sets foot on an NBA court.

 

[ymmot31]

Simple answer. Yes, we make the tourney. Lewis may be one of the best players in the country and we have a wealth of talent around it. Rick has said that we have as many as 8 future NBA players on this team. I can assure you. We will be good. Certainly we will make the tourney.

I liked this comment. You only had 3 and I prefer even numbers.

I have thought you were trolling ul with your posts for some time now. I have to believe that or my other option is to feel sorry for you. Keep repeating the bs about 8 NBA players, even the stupid ul fans know that is a preposterous statement. Normal for Rick, but preposterous nonetheless.

 

[JC for 3]

"Lewis may be one of the best players in the country and we have a wealth of talent around it. Rick has said that we have as many as 8 future NBA players on this team. I can assure you. We will be good."

Good god.... another kid that didn't pay attention in the "Don't do drugs" presentations in school. So sad.

 

[Cats Gone Wild]

Kentucky has at least 4 players better than Lee and Lewis.

Kentucky has 3 players that are possibly that best player at their position in the country.

Center- Skal
Point Guard- Ulis
Shooting Guard- Murray

 

[UKGloryRoad]

First off season ticket holders shouldn't have to pay anything for that joke of a schedule.

Second off the transfers will look like all stars vs the weak schedule and struggle agaisnt the acc.

3rd Louisville will have to finish top 3 and make it to the acc championship to have a high seed that's how weak the non conference schedule is

4th Louisville showed what this season could be like when playing a decent team when they won what one our two games on there recent trip

 

[sluggercatfan]

I am really NOT trying to start some kind of flame war here.

I was just looking at what our usual competition will be offering this year,

When I got to the UL roster, I could not believe the lack of talent. What exactly has Rick done to their program? I almost feel bad for them.

It looks like a decent mid major transfer in Lee and a bunch of role players.

Am I missing something here?

Again, I am not trying to start another "bash on UL" thread. I am 100% serious. Do they have the talent to make the NCAA tournament this year, in your opinion?

Can only hope that your analysis is right and I would NEVER , EVER feel sorry for them. You must not live in this town with them

 

[G-PIP]

They have a lot of unknowns on their roster so it is hard to see the forest for the trees. I did notice that rick had them playing better in each pre-season game which is a MO for him, taking lesser players and getting them to play over their heads. I'm sure he would be happier if he could get his good players not to play lesser then the other way.

Agree. Maybe Pitino has gotten better at developing individual talent, but I still think he's mainly a "system" coach. So, I think he can take lesser talent and get them to improve over the season at running the system, and kind of play over their head so to speak. But ultimately the teams with better talent and good (not necessarily great) coaching will prevail.

 

[JustthefaxMa'am]

One of the best Drexel players in the country maybe? Better than Mercer who went 8th in the lottery? Did you not think this through and simply went with the homer line?

 

[sluggercatfan]

Flirting with the top 25? A 7 seed? Ok, I can live with that.

I really do not want them getting to the point of IU where getting to the tournament every year is not a given. It really ruins the rivalry.

LONG for the day that they would NEVER make the tourney...Believe you me if you live in Louisville then you know had bad they hate KENTUCKY and would be more than happy if we were in that situation...

 

[BostonCat2001]

there are going to be several games this year where if you took "lousiville" off the name of the jersey, you would think you are looking at a D2 team.

they will have a typical pitino year....scrap to get a bunch of wins but never really beat anyone. have 1 or 2 "decent" home wins...but that is about it.

 

[ymmot31]

Most years they play NO ONE (two words) of substance until they play us and lose. Is this year any different?

 

[Supafuzz75]

Simple answer. Yes, we make the tourney. Lewis may be one of the best players in the country and we have a wealth of talent around it. Rick has said that we have as many as 8 future NBA players on this team. I can assure you. We will be good. Certainly we will make the tourney.

You see,, this is why it's so easy to make fun of your kind,, and why we make fun of you.. Thanks again for the laughs..

 

[Ajax10]

Those of you saying they are fringe top 25, could not agree more early in the season. Late in the season once they are in the heart of the ACC schedule I think they will be on the outside looking for big wins to make the tourney. The last few years they have been a VERY impressive defensive team with most players having experience with Pitino's system. This year, the backcourt will not have that experience and I can simply not see them being that same defensive team as past years. Without their defense they are not an NCAA tourney team.

 

[Blue Decade]

I am really NOT trying to start some kind of flame war here.

I was just looking at what our usual competition will be offering this year,

When I got to the UL roster, I could not believe the lack of talent. What exactly has Rick done to their program? I almost feel bad for them.

It looks like a decent mid major transfer in Lee and a bunch of role players.

Am I missing something here?

Again, I am not trying to start another "bash on UL" thread. I am 100% serious. Do they have the talent to make the NCAA tournament this year, in your opinion?

Playing an ACC schedule, UL looks like an NIT team this year. The Cards are going to get walloped a lot.

 

[Blueisbest]

The only way 8 of the current UofL players sees an NBA court is if they buy a ticket. There are 2, maybe 3 possible NBA draftees on that roster. No way there is 8.

Also, the poster that goes by Petjurino has to be a parody account. Even real UofL fans, as dumb as they are, can't be stupid enough to actually believe the drivel that comes from that poster.

Finally, based on UofL's putrid pre-conference schedule (are they actually charging their fans to watch those games?), they will get enough wins to make the NCAA tournament. They will likely be gone after the first weekend though.

 

[TheTruCatsFan]

I want to say this real loud, so hopefully everyone hears me. Petjurino is not a UL fan. He doesn't believe a word that he types. He's just some weirdo that loves negative attention.

 

[MdWIldcat55]

I want to say this real loud, so hopefully everyone hears me. Petjurino is not a UL fan. He doesn't believe a word that he types. He's just some weirdo that loves negative attention.

Weirdo...Negative...Liar...Sounds close enough to me.

 

[Stonewall12]

Simple answer. Yes, we make the tourney. Lewis may be one of the best players in the country and we have a wealth of talent around it. Rick has said that we have as many as 8 future NBA players on this team. I can assure you. We will be good. Certainly we will make the tourney.

Lewis one of the best players in the country?

Your coach is FOS you know that right?

He will not be one of the 10 best players in the ACC.

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

The only way 8 of the current UofL players sees an NBA court is if they buy a ticket. There are 2, maybe 3 possible NBA draftees on that roster. No way there is 8.

Also, the poster that goes by Petjurino has to be a parody account. Even real UofL fans, as dumb as they are, can't be stupid enough to actually believe the drivel that comes from that poster.

Finally, based on UofL's putrid pre-conference schedule (are they actually charging their fans to watch those games?), they will get enough wins to make the NCAA tournament. They will likely be gone after the first weekend though.

Absolutely @ petjurino...anyone taking this dude serious is getting clowned. there's NO way he's an actual louisville fan

 

[mebeblue2]

if Lewis and Lee are as great as Pitino claims, then why did they not enter the draft last year?
the answer is simple, they are decent - good college players, they are not great players

 

[W_Heisenberg]

Rick even said that Lewis is a better version of Ron Mercer. Now I am not a UK fan obviously, but I recall Mercer being pretty good. Wasn't he an All American or he may have even been PLayer of the Year? If Lewis is a better version of that, I would say it's a safe bet he's one of the best players in the country.

Man, I can't tell if you are for real or just playing around...but if serious, SMH man...Pitino does NOT believe there are 8 NBA players on that team, nor does he believe Lewis is a better version of Ron Mercer. I know what he said, but there is a huge difference in what he says and believes.