Breakdown of Louisville Basketball 2013-2014

This school won the National Title last season, congrats but this is a new year and here's the breakdown, enjoy: STARTERS: POINT GUARD-CHRIS JONES(5'10" JUNIOR)-National Junior College Player Of The Year is slated to replace Peyton Siva, he's quick, very good outside shooter and adequate defender. Biggest question mark is leadership and balancing his scoring mentality with running the team. SHOOTING GUARD-RUSS SMITH(6'0" SENIOR)-Decided to come back to school to improve NBA Draft stock and run some point guard. He will get his chance but will it take away from his scoring aggressiveness? He is a volume shooter with quick hands on the defensive end and blinding quickness. This team will go as Russ goes. SMALL FORWARD- WAYNE BLACKSHEAR(6'5" JUNIOR)- Former McDonald's All-American is finally healthy after shoulder issues his 1st two years, very athletic and good three point shooter. Will have to be more aggressive on the offensive end and has to improve his slashing ability. POWER FORWARD- MONTREZI HARRELL(6'8" SOPHOMORE)-This kid has a lot of potential especially hitting the boards, very explosive, work in progress offensively in the post, offensive game is 10 feet in is powerfully built with lots of upside. Might be the best NBA prospect on the squad. CENTER- STEPHEN VAN TREESE(6'9" SENIOR)-Works hard on the inside, on the boards but limited offensively, his role will be to use his body to keep other teams players off the boards. Will provide veteran leadership to this team. BENCH- LUKE HANCOCK(6'6"SENIOR)- Final Four Most Outstanding Player, knock down three point shooter, leader and pulse of the team. Not great defensively but tries his best on that end. Plays well off other players penetration not so good of the dribble. KEVIN WARE(6'2"JUNIOR)- Has been cleared to practice and play after a gruesome leg injury in Elite 8 game vs Duke. If he gets past some issues from the off season where he was suspended for a time, he will give this team great depth at the guard position. Good at running a team and can hit the 3 pointer if teams back off him. ANTON GILL(6'4 FRESHMAN)-One of the top prep school players, can hit the 3 pointer and slash to the basket, is decent defensively can disrupt with his length. Will help with guarding other shooting guards. TERRY ROZIER(6'1" FRESHMAN)- Explosive scorer who can go off for points in bunches, not a point or a two guard, more of a combo who will give this team scoring off the bench.MANGOK MATHIANG(6'10" FRESHMAN)-Redshirted last season to get stronger, seems like he will have to contribute this year even though he might not be ready. Is on a similar path to Gourgui Dieng had here, a good shot blocker who will develop his offensive game as time goes on. Will have to help on the boards as he's U of L's tallest player. AKOY AGAU(6'8" FRESHMAN)-Another player who will have to help on the glass this year, not sure he is physically ready to contribute but he is a good shot blocker who will help in that department. His best is ahead of him, good potential for the future. CHANE BEHANAN(6'6" JUNOR)*- He has been suspended for a violation of University policy indefinitely. I say he will be back (this is U of L after all), A monster on the glass, had a double double in National Title game, good post game, terrible free throw shooter, uses his body well defensively in the post. THERE YOU HAVE IT: THIS TEAM WILL CONTEND FOR A NATIONAL TITLE, THIS WILL BE A GOOD THREE POINT SHOOTING THEM BUT TO ME ARE TOO SMALL TO WIN ANOTHER NATIONAL TITLE!!!! ALSO IF BEHANAN DOES NOT COME BACK FOR SOME REASON THEIR CHANCES SHRINK EXPONENTIALLY!!!!!! ALSO THE TEAM CHEMISTRY ISSUES WITH AND WITHOUT BEHANAN!!!!! THIS IS MY RANT FOR TODAY, GOD BLESS AND PEACE TO THE CREATURES!!!!!!!!!   

Breakdown Of Louisville at Kentucky Basketball!!!!!!

A highly anticipated game on December 28th between the last two National Champs, should be entertaining. Opening comment this is experience (Louisville) vs youth and talent (Kentucky). Here we go: POINT GUARD- CHRIS JONES( 5'10" JUNIOR) VS ANDREW HARRISON (6'6" FRESHMAN)- Jones is a newcomer National Junior College player of the year, quick, ball handler, decent passer, serviceable 3 point shot, has experience at the college level. Andrew Harrison one half of the Harrison twins is the top incoming freshman point guard in the country, can pass, shoot, good ball handler, serviceable 3 point shot. Both are adequate defensively it comes down to talent, because both do not have experience at Division 1 level. ADVANTAGE- ANDREW HARRISON. SHOOTING GUARD- RUSS SMITH (6'0" SENIOR) VS AARON HARRISON (6'6" FRESHMAN)- Smith is experienced (2 Final Fours, 1 National Title), quick on offense, quick hands, resilient, volume shooter. Aaron Harrison other half of the Harrison twins is a lot like his brother but is more aggressive with his offense, good defender, can play point also, good 3 point shooter. This matchup I will go with experience over talent. ADVANTAGE- SMITH. SMALL FORWARD-WAYNE BLACKSHEAR(6'5 JUNIOR) VS ALEX POYTHRESS (6'8" SOPHOMORE)- Blackshear a former McDonald's All-American has had shoulder problems but is very explosive leaper, can shoot the 3, good defender, and he's one of my favorite players. Poythress had a freshman season that was good by standards at any other school but Kentucky, good shooter out to 3, explosive, decent ball handler, okay defender. ADVANTAGE- POYTHRESS. POWER FORWARD- CHANE BEHANNAN(6'6" JUNIOR) VS JULIUS RANDLE(6'9" FRESHMAN)-  Behannan is a beast, a monster on the glass, runs the floor very well, and experienced. Randle is a total monster himself, can shoot the 3, good ball handler, explosive off the floor, shot blocker,possibly the best incoming freshman in college basketball. I go with experience here, only slightly. ADVANTAGE- BEHANNAN. CENTER- STEPHAN VAN TREESE(6'9" SENIOR) VS WILLIE CAULEY-STEIN( 7'0" SOPHOMORE)- Van Treese has been a serviceable player for Louisville with some injury issues, good rebounder, not much of a scorer, runs the floor well, Cauley-Stein is a good rebounder, good offensive player, can run the floor very well, shot blocker. I take size in this one ADVANTAGE- CAULEY-STEIN.       For the bench I will name player and say which team has the advantage. LOUISVILLE- LUKE HANCOCK(6'6" SENIOR), MONTREZI HARRELL(6'8" SOPHOMORE), ANTON GILL (6'4" FRESHMAN),TERRY ROZIER(6'1" FRESHMAN), MANGOK MATHIANG(6'10" FRESHMAN), AKOY AGAU(6'8" FRESHMAN), KEVIN WARE (6'2" JUNIOR)- They have Final Four MOP, Under 19 participant, and some young guards coming off the bench, pretty impressive also with a couple of young big men to provide rebounding. KENTUCKY- JAMES YOUNG (6'7" FRESHMAN),DAKARI JOHNSON (6'11" FRESHMAN), MARCUS LEE(6'9" FRESHMAN),JAROD POLSON(6'2" SENIOR), JON HOOD(6'7" SENIOR),DOMINIQUE HAWKINS(6'0" FRESHMAN), DEREK WILLIS(6'9" FRESHMAN)- Lots of youth and size off the bench, a little thin in the backcourt, but a lot of interchangeable parts off this bench, also a ton of athleticism. I will go with size and give bench advantage to: ADVANTAGE- KENTUCKY. COACHING- RICK PITINO VS JOHN CALIPARI- Pitino is a Hall of Fame Coach, brought Kentucky's program back to life in the 90's, he has shown he still has the magic touch as a Coach and gets the best out of his talent. Calipari will be a Hall Of Fame Coach someday and is doing well recruiting and is a very underrated Coach, but I will have to give Coaching edge to ADVANTAGE- Pitino. CONCLUSION- This game will be about experience vs youth and talent, I would say if this game was being played earlier in the season and at a neutral site Louisville would be a slight favorite. But with the three weeks extra time afforded for practice this year and Kentucky having about 10 games under their belt when this matchup takes place. Also the game being in Rupp Arena, oh I have to take into account Louisville's pressure defense and playing a matchup zone. They will get killed on the glass in their matchup zone and are too small to play man to man, I will say Kentucky wins this game and by double digits. KENTUCKY BY 11. THERE YOU HAVE IT, SHOULD BE AN EXCITING GAME AND BOTH FAN BASES SHOULD LOVE THE HIGH TALENT IN THIS GAME. THIS IS MY RANT FOR TODAY, GOD BLESS AND PEACE TO THE CREATURES!!!!!!!!!!