Busting Brackets
Fansided

ACC Basketball: Biggest takeaways from opening 2019-20 league games

By Tristan Freeman

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 06: Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 06: Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 05: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals drives to the basket against Sam Waardenburg #21 of the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Watsco Center on November 05, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 05: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals drives to the basket against Sam Waardenburg #21 of the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Watsco Center on November 05, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Louisville is as good as advertised

As the top-ranked team that didn’t participate in the Champions Classic, Chris Mack and Louisville have incredibly high expectations. But we’ve seen time and time again that hype doesn’t always turn into wins and deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. If this game was any indication of what’s to come through, those who pegged the Cardinals as a Final Four threat have to be happy what they saw.
Despite not having 6’11 forward Malik Williams due to injury, Louisville handled Miami from start to finish. Senior forward Jordan Nwora showed why he’s a legit candidate for ACC and National Player of the Year, going for a game-high 23 points and 12 rebounds. The depth down low for the Cardinals made Williams’ absence a moot point, while five-star freshman Samuel Williamson was phenomenal off the bench. He provided 13 points in 24 minutes off the bench and could possibly crack the starting lineup if the team needs more perimeter production.

It’s not the biggest deal in the world but it’s always nice to see a juggernaut put away teams early like they should, rather than let them hang around. It’s no secret that Mack-coached teams are prepared and can handle anything but it’s nice to them not whither under what will be very high expectations going forward.

As for Miami, they won’t see better collective frontcourts than that of Louisville’s. But how badly they were outclassed has to be a bit of a concern for Hurricane fans. Chris Lykes and the rest of the perimeter can’t carry them 24/7.