2008 Louisville Cardinals Basketball Predictions & Season Preview

Written October 14, 2008 by Jack Jones

Rick Pitino lead the Louisville basketball team to a 27-9 record and 14-4 mark in the Big East last year. The Cardinals made it past Boise State, Oklahoma, and Tennessee in the NCAA tournament before falling to North Carolina in the Elite 8. Even with those accolades, this year’s edition should be even better and anything less than a Final Four would be a disappointment. He has a good group of experienced players who saw what it takes to get there a year ago, and they will be joined by an excellent recruiting class. Even without David Padgett and Juan Palacios this team still has a pair of great talents in Earl Clark and Terrence Williams, who returned to Louisville after contemplating a move to the NBA. The college basketball odds makers also see this team as the one to beat in the Big East. Louisville is listed at 2-to-1 at BetUS to win the conference’s regular season title.

The frontcourt is in good hands with Clark and Williams leading the way. Clark would have been drafted in the first round last year, but wanted to work on his low post game. He should average a double-double this year with a 6′9″ mobile body doing damage down low while he also has a sweet outside shot. Williams led the team with 4.5 assists per game a year ago, but needs to limit his turnovers and quit forcing shots. He is a ferocious defender who should go in the first round of next year’s draft. George Goode missed last season when he was academically ineligible, but is supposed to be solid with his mid-range jumper. Down low the freshman Samardo Samuels should chip in right away after being named the National Player of the Year by USA Today. Terrence Jennings will also see some playing time as a freshman.

The team also has a good group in the backcourt. Jerry Smith scored 10.7 points per game while shooting 38.4% from behind the line and he led the team in steals with his ability to put the pressure on full court. Andre McGee and Edgar Sosa are both capable point guards. Sosa is the better player, but sometimes gets more caught up in trying to score than in managing the game. That’s not a problem with McGee who took over the starter’s role towards the end of the year. Reginald Delk comes over from Mississippi State as a potent three-point threat while Preston Knowles is an excellent defender for Pitino’s pressing style.

Final Analysis

If the freshman Samuels fulfills his promise then it’s tough not seeing this team as a national contender. Williams and Clark will be a deadly frontcourt combo that not many teams will be able to matchup against. If Sosa can mature and develop then this team should be the favorite to take down the loaded Big East conference. They have experience and lots of young talent to go with it, so you might want to take a look at the 16-to-1 odds on Louisville to win the national title.

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