CNNSI.com - 2000-01 Men's NCAA Basketball Preview - CNNSI.com's Louisville preview

	CNNSI.com
	Preview Home
	Latest College Basketball News
	Conference Previews
	Team Previews
	Women's Preview
	Team Pages
	Polls
	Stats

EVENTS
Sportsman of the Year
Heisman Trophy
Swimsuit 2001

CENTERS
Fantasy Central
Inside Game
Multimedia Central
Statitudes
Your Turn
Message Boards
Email Newsletters
Golf Guide
Cities
Work in Sports

CNNSI.com GROUP
Sports Illustrated
Life of Reilly
Television
SI Women
SI for Kids
Press Room
TBS/TNT Sports
CNN Languages

COMMERCE
SI Customer Service
SI Media Kits
Get into College
Sports Memorabilia
TeamStore

Louisville Cardinals

Barren post game could leave Cardinals hurting

Last season

19-12, 10-6 C-USA (NCAA first round, lost to Gonzaga)

Coach

Denny Crum (30th season, 663-276)

Projected starting lineup

G Reece Gaines, 6-6, So.
At 6-6, he's a walking mismatch for other PGs, and remarkably quick. Had 104 assists and a 9.1 scoring average as a fresman.

G Marques Maybin, 6-3, Sr.
It seems like Maybin, who led Cards in scoring (14.7), has been around forever. They'll need his experience.

C Ellis Myles, 6-8, Fr.
Myles, a Top 100 prep star, must step up quicly, since Louisville returns no frontline starters for the first time in 28 years.

F Hajj Turner, 6-8, Jr.
This is the frontcourt's experienced veteran--he averaged 2.5 minutes a game, made four baskets all season.

F Luke Whitehead, 6-7, Fr.
Another Top 100 prospect, but he still has to adjust to the college game. The guards had better step up big early.

Top guy off the bench

G Rashad Brooks, 6-1, Sr.
A solid, experienced backcourt backup who averaged 2.7 points while playing 10 minutes a game.

Key games

vs. Maryland (Nov. 20). Battle for early rankings position in 1st round of Maui Invitational.
Kentucky (Jan. 2). The whole state always watches.
Cincinnati (Jan. 13). A chance to make a statement in sold-out Freedom Hall.

Outlook

This is no longer the perennially contending Cardinals squad of recent decades. Louisville simply has too many holes, despite a decent backcourt, to hang with the rest of the division. All of the Cardinals' inside scoring left with Tony Williams and Nate Johnson, and Crum will have a tough time finding replacements early in the season. These guys will be pretty good, but a lack of an experienced frontcourt will keep them out of the division race. Expect a squabble with Marquette for fourth place.

--Stan Olson