Kentucky Basketball: Why Wildcats will be better than Louisville in 2020-21

Louisville’s depleted three-point arsenal gives Kentucky Basketball an edge

When Louisville lost JUCO product Jay Scrubb a few months ago to the NBA, their three-point shooting turned from a what already seemed like a concern after losing Ryan McMahon, Jordan Nwora, Darius Perry, Dwayne Sutton, Steven Enoch, and their combined 6.8 three-pointers per game, into a legitimate weakness. Although returning players Samuell Williamson, Quinn Slazinski, and Josh Nickleberry occasionally drew some attention after hitting a few shots from beyond the arc here and there last season, all three still played very limited roles, which does not exactly scream confidence.

Now the Cardinals stand essentially without a pure three-point shooter, which remains something most winning teams enjoy. The team’s incoming class offers only minor assistance from outside with Davis at the guard spot, as he still needs some work and to rely on him alone so heavily might force him into taking pour shots, consequently plunging both his individual and the team’s percentages.

This potential three-point drought poises to cause trouble far beyond its own original extent as well when considering head coach Chris Mack’s background. Since taking over the Louisville head coaching position and even before during his days with Xavier, Mack rarely went without numerous solid three-point weapons at his dispose.

But now, uncharted territory lies before a coach who normally constructs his offenses with the three-point shot as a major building block. Even if Mack manages to lead over this unfamiliar hurdle, its very presence alone still puts him and his team at a disadvantage when going against Kentucky.

Incoming Kentucky guards Askew and Boston both showed off some elite three-pointer schools before concluding their high school campaigns. Askew especially highlights the team as a first-class three-point option, with both the skills and confidence to pull up from anywhere.

With these younger players backed by Brooks, who also flashed his three-point shooting abilities last year which poise to take a leap during his second year, Kentucky once more improves their odds to top Louisville next year.