Keith Oddo’s journey from GT to GA and now GM and Head Coach of Louisville TBT squad “3-time Champs” has been a long time coming.
The city of Louisville has been starving for a Louisville TBT alumni team. Thanks to former guard Keith Oddo, that former pipe dream is now flowing like the Ohio River.
“My time at Louisville has positively changed my life both on and off of the court,” Oddo explains. His time in The Ville clearly lit a fire.
“As an aspiring high level basketball coach, I learned so much from Coach Mack and his staff during my one season,” he said.
The more we chatted, the more I’m bought in to Coach Oddo.
“Coach Mack always preached being an ‘every day guy’, this mentality is something that I have taken with me into the coaching field as well,” Oddo said.
I’m sure many Louisville fans wonder how Luke Hancock falls into this equation.
“Luke and I went to Hidden Valley High School in Roanoke Virginia. Although I ended up transferring after my freshman season, I remember going to kids camps growing up and always having Luke as my head coach,” Oddo said.
The 2013 NCAA Tournament MOP was more than just a deadeye from long-range. “Most Card fans know Luke for his shooting, but back in high school he had big time bounce, so I thought it was unreal that he could do a 360 dunk,” Oddo said.
Many Louisville fans are ecstatic that these two teamed up to start this inaugural Louisville team, as a lot of us watched Ryan MacMahon shoot the lights out last year.
“This is something that Luke and I discussed a year ago, but with COVID going on, there were simply too many logistical challenges getting everyone back to the Ville,” Oddo said.
*Very Morgan Freeman voice* He would not be deterred.
“As soon as I finished my season at Akron, the TBT reached out and encouraged me to get this thing rolling. After getting Luke on board, I knew I had the support needed to take the next steps. So we put our heads down and started doing the groundwork,” Oddo said.
Who was on Oddo’s radar?
Almost immediately, there were former Cardinals that were on the short wish list.
“Obviously Russ Smith, Peyton Siva, and Kyle Kuric immediately popped into my head, but it’s not as easy as it sounds to get these guys on board,” he explained, offering a behind-the-magic POV. “Those 3 and all the guys we are trying to get would be risking a lot to play in the TBT, specifically regarding injury, so there are challenges that outsiders may overlook,” Oddo said.
At first glance, the bigger guys Oddo and Hancock were able to recruit are a Louisville fan’s delight.
“Getting Chane and Wayne on board was huge, as they were key pieces on the National Championship team. I know Card Nation is excited to get those two,” Oddo said.
Obviously, I’m not gonna stand here and act like Samardo Samuels is invisible. Neither is Keith.
“In the half court (offense), I want to get the ball inside to Samardo and space the floor with shooters,” Oddo said.
Previewing Louisville TBT
Speaking of style-of-play, Keith revealed a sneak peak at what sort of pace he’d like to see on the floor.
“We will push the ball and get into a lot of ball screens,” he said.
Fans will love to see it. But don’t let him fool you. Oddo is a Chris Mack guy at heart.
“The #1 strength of this team will be toughness and rebounding. With guys like Samardo, Wayne, and Chane we believe we can dominate the backboards and play a physical style, just like the guys did when they played at Louisville,” he said.
My mind wandered into X’s and O’s, but Keith and Luke have more groundwork to do, and more players to reveal along the way.
“The next player will be revealed Monday on the CardSportsZone podcast. It will be a backcourt member,” Oddo said.
Meanwhile, CardNation is waiting on pins and needles as to where and when to go watch this team take the floor. Keith let us in on the locations on the table.
“The regionals would either be in Charleston on July 17th-21st or Columbus July 23rd-27th (and) we get to pick. Then if we were to win that, championship week would be in Dayton on July 31st through August 3rd.”
Lately, Keith has been a busy man on the recruiting trail, to say the least.
“I went golfing with (Ryan) McMahon last week, went to Milwaukee to see Games 1 and 2 of the NBA playoffs a few days ago, and I’m heading back to Louisville this coming up week to reunite with Fresh (Kimble) and Steve (Enoch), who have been playing professionally overseas for the last year,” Oddo said.
Until the roster comes together, all eyes will be on Oddo the recruiter. However, don’t sleep on Keith Oddo the head coach.
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