Amid an up-and-down season, how can Chris Mack and Louisville basketball take things up a notch?
A lot is riding on this season for the Louisville basketball program.
Although 2021 is a year muddied by COVID and although the Cardinals lost over half of the 2020 roster, this is a season that could determine a lot about the future of the program.
Chris Mack, in his third season, saw a team primed for a deep run in 2020 denied the opportunity to prove itself.
Now, the program is back to square one. A young team missing its senior captain and best defensive player. A team led by a graduate transfer. Yet, this season still bares tons of implications.
Given that Louisville gone three years without an NCAA tournament win and five years without making it to the second weekend, fair or not, patience is running thin.
To add insult to injury, the program still awaits its official punishment from the NCAA. Louisville basketball’s not-so-distant future appears grim. Despite the University of Louisville’s efforts to clean house and start anew, its not expected that the NCAA will do the school any favors.
With that in mind, 2021 could be Louisville’s last shot at postseason success for a couple of years.
So, how does Louisville basketball seize the moment? In a season where only six scheduled games remain and five postponed match-ups have yet to be rescheduled, Mack and the Cards figure to be nearing postseason mode already.
Here are a few areas where the Cards could place the emphasis to squeeze the most out of this season.
Involve JJ Traynor and Jae’Lyn Withers more on offense
Unsurprisingly, Louisville basketball gets a huge percentage of its offense from the duo of Carlik Jones and David Johnson.
However, the Cardinals could certainly benefit from a steady increase of shot attempts from their bigs.
Big men are often the highest percentage shooters on the team because of the propensity to get the ball close to the basket on set pieces or offensive rebounds. However, Louisville’s bigs are especially efficient at putting the ball in the hole.
According to Fifth Factor, Withers is more efficient than any player in the country with the ball around the basket.
Louisville basketball is without a traditional big man in 2021 and Withers and Traynor are the benefactors. Both of Louisville’s men in the middle have the skillset of a traditional power forward. So, when the Cardinals get those guys 1-on-1 opportunities on the block, their ability to finish around the basket has been a major asset.
If I am Mack and the Louisville coaching staff, priority No. 1 on offense going forward is having offensive sets go through the big men.
Another thing to look out for as we enter the final stretch will be how Louisville utilizes freshman Gabe Wiznitzer. If Wiz can provide effective minutes, that opens up so many possibilities for the Cardinals. I would love to see Withers and Traynor see more clock at the same time. Withers and Traynor can be used interchangeably at the 4 and 5 spots. Both can put the ball on the floor, shoot the three well, and finish well at the rim. Additionally, their length could be a nightmare for opponents trying to get in the lane against that pack-line defense.
Trending: Projecting the Louisville defensive depth chart
Increase the tempo and execute on fast breaks
Louisville basketball is one of the slowest teams in the country.
According to Kenpom.com, Louisville is 296th in adjusted tempo.
The Cardinals do a fantastic job of limiting possessions for their opponents, which is why Louisville defense is so effective. However, it may behoove Louisville to try and push the pace just a bit more on offense.
Louisville has one of the best backcourt tandems in the country, and Jones and Johnson have proven effective in transition. Additionally, freshman Dre Davis is one of the best players in the country at finishing in transition.
Although Louisville basketball is a smaller team, one benefit of this is that the Cardinals almost always have five players on the floor who can get out on the break and finish well in transition.
Louisville basketball must share the ball better
The Louisville half court offense has been its major bugaboo this season. In losses, the Cardinals have scored 48, 50, 65, and 72 points. In the latter two games, Louisville scored 28 points in the first half against Florida state and 21 in the opening period at Miami.
The point is that when Louisville is dropping games this season it is because the opponent has figured out ways to stall the offense.
Too often, the offense has been ineffective for 20 seconds and then the ball ends up in the hands of Jones or Johnson for a bad shot at the end of the shot clock.
Louisville basketball ranks dead last in the conference in assists during ACC play.
Outside of the Cardinals back court, nobody averages more than 1.3 assists per game. Traynor has not been credited with an assist all year. Withers is not much better in the passing department. Samuell Williamson has had one game with more than 1 assist since dishing out five in the season opener against Evansville. Dre Davis has never recorded more than two.
The point is that Louisville is simply not sharing the ball well. Yes, the Cards move it around the perimeter okay, but name one player outside of Johnson and Jones who sets up his teammates in position to score.
Often times, Louisville’s best offense is Jones, Johnson, and Williamson isolated 1-on-1 and creating for themselves. That is not how you win championships, and if this trend continues, it will lead to more late season conference losses.
Solution: find a new coach