Fall is here, and school is back in session, which means the good times are almost here – the start of college basketball season! To get you ready for this upcoming season, The Hoops Manifesto presents to you its preseason top 25 team rankings, based on the input from our esteemed voting panel. Next up #2 Louisville Cardinals
Big thanks to our voting panel: Jeff Fox (@HoopsManifesto) from The Hoops Manifesto, Perry Missner (@PerryMissner) from RotoWire, Ray Bala (@CanBallReport) who writes The Can Ball Report on Raptors HQ, Adam Francis (@RaptorsHQ) from Raptors HQ, Ian (@SoxAndDawgs) from SOX & Dawgs, and Alex Gallant (@SeaTownSports) from SeaTown Sports.
#2 – Louisville Cardinals
2011/12: 24-13, lost NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Key Returning Players:
Gorgui Dieng – Center – Junior
9.1 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.2 spg, 3.2 bpg
Peyton Siva – Point Guard – Senior
9.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.7 spg
Chane Behanan – Power Forward – Sophomore
9.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg
Russ Smith – Shooting Guard – Junior
11.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.9 apg, 2.2 spg
Top Newcomers:
Terry Rozier – Point Guard – #80 ranked recruit (Rivals.com)
Montrezl Harrell – Power Forward – #82 ranked recruit (Rivals.com)
Luke Hancock – Small Forward – Junior (transfer from George Mason)
2010/11 – 10.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.0 spg
Top NBA Prospect:
Gorgui Dieng – early second round pick in 2013 draft
Outlook:
Slick Rick has got a stacked deck this year in Louisville. Pitino’s squad is packed with talent, size and experience. With the confidence that comes with making the Final Four last year, along with the additions of a healthy Wayne Blackshear and the experienced and talented transfer from George Mason, Luke Hancock, all adds up to this year’s team being even better than last year’s. One question – if the Cardinal make it to the Monday night game next April, does Pitino rock a white suit?
Preseason Top 25
#3 – North Carolina State Wolfpack
#4 – Kentucky Wildcats
#5 – Michigan Wolverines
#6 – UCLA Bruins
#7 – Kansas Jayhawks
#8 – Ohio State Buckeyes
#9 – North Carolina Tar Heels
#10 – Duke Blue Devils
#11 – Missouri Tigers
#12 – Gonzaga Bulldogs
#13 – Syracuse Orange
#14 – UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
#15 – Arizona Wildcats
#16 – Wisconsin Badgers
#17 – Baylor Bears
#18 – Creighton Bluejays
#19 – Florida Gators
#20 – Kansas State Wildcats
#21 – San Diego State Aztecs
#22 – Saint Louis Billikens
#23 – Memphis Tigers
#24 – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
#25 – Texas Wildcats
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