Louisville Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for Cardinals

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 19: The Cardinal Bird, mascot for Louisville Cardinals performs before the game against the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 14: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts after a play against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 Men’s ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 14, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Jordan Nwora returns to lead the Cardinals

The best news of the summer for Louisville came when forward Jordan Nwora withdrew his name from the NBA draft and announced he would return for his junior season. The 6-7 wing enters the year as a Player of the Year candidate in the ACC after averaging 17 points and 7.6 rebounds as a sophomore. The Buffalo native can not only score at all three levels on the floor, but he can also create his own shot off the dribble and his athleticism is an underrated part of his game. But Nwora isn’t the only key player returning for Chris Mack, in fact, the only player not returning among the Cardinals’ top-seven point producers is Christen Cunningham.

Also, back are three redshirt seniors in center Steven Enoch, forward Dwayne Sutton and guard Ryan McMahon who combined to score over 26 points and grab over 13 rebounds per game last season. Also returning is the big-bodied junior center Malik Williams, the 6-11 250lb. Williams took advantage of increased playing time as a sophomore which included 20 starts, by averaging 7.7 points and six rebounds.

Joining McMahon as a returning guard is Darius Perry who made 23 starts for the Cardinals last season and was one of the better three-point shooters on the team, knocking down 37.5% of his attempts. Chris Mack’s cupboard is overflowing with returning players, but he wasn’t done this summer.

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