The lowdown
2000-01 record: 12-19; 8-8 in C-USA (t4th in American)
Final Ranking: NR
Postseason: None.
Three Questions for 2001-02
1. How will the Cardinals adjust to Rick Pitino's style and intensity? Will they have the same growing pains that Memphis had with John Calipari last season? How patient will Pitino be?
2. The Cardinals will have to rely heavily on young players like Carlos Hurt and Brandon Bender, but how will they handle the pressure? The expectations?
3. Can Reece Gaines become the leader Pitino will need him to become? How will he and Hurt mesh in the backcourt?
Three Key Facts
1. The addition of Pitino and Billy Tubbs at TCU gives C-USA four coaches with at least 350 career victories. Tubbs leads the way at 579-482, while Cincinnati's Bob Huggins is 469-168 and DePaul's Patt Kennedy comes into the season at 384-257. Pitino arrives at Lousiville with a 352-124 career mark -- a winning percentage of nearly 74 percent. In 15 seasons, Pitino ranks 16th all-time in winning percentage and fifth among active coaches.
2. The Cardinals may have struggled on the court last season, but the Freedom Hall faithful still showed up. Despite losing a record nine home games last season, the team averaged 17,443 fans, which ranked fifth nationally. Louisville has been among the nation's top 10 in attendance the past 24 seasons.
3. Pitino already has built a solid foundation at Lousville with a recruiting class ranked 10th nationally by ESPN.com and fifth by The Sporting News.
Andy Katz's Scenarios
Best case: The Cardinals find an inside game, buy into what Pitino is doing and win their side of the league, earn a bid and win a game in the tournament.
Worst case: The Cardinals fall short and end up in the NIT, just like Memphis did a year ago and wait a year before they make their big splash with Pitino.
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Key Players Returning
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Player
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Yr.
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Reece Gaines
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Jr.
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G
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6-6/185
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PTS: 13.9 | REB: 3.5 | AST: 3.3
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Erik Brown
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Jr.
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G/F
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6-5/200
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PTS: 10.2 | REB: 3.9 | AST: 1.2
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Ellis Myles
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So.
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F
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6-4/240
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PTS: 6.1 | REB: 5.5 | AST: 1.8
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Key Losses
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Marques Maybin
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G
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6-2/185
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PTS: 17.7 | REB: 3.0 | AST: 1.9
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Rashad Brooks
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G
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6-1/205
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PTS: 6.1 | REB: 2.2 | AST: 1.6
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Louisville Signings
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht.
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High School/College
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Greg Tinch (walk on)
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F
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6-5
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Albany, Ga./Westover School
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Carlos Hurt
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G
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6-2
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Louisville, Ky./Moore H.S.
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Brandon Bender
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F
F/C
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6-9
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Louisville, Ky/Ballard H.S.
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Larry O'Bannon
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G
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6-4
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Louisville, Ky./Male H.S.
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