ACC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 12: A general view of center court prior to the quarterfinals round of the 2020 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 12, 2020 in Greensboro, North Carolina. The remainder of the tournament will be played with only essential tournament personnel, limited school administrators and student-athlete guests, broadcast television and credentialed media members in attendance due to concerns over the possible spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

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LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – MARCH 01: Chris Mack the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

5. team. 438. . . . Cardinals

Louisville had a VERY impressive 2019-20 season, finishing with an ACC record of 15-5, and an overall record of 24-7, good enough to finish third in the ACC, their best finish to a season since 2016-17.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they will be without Jordan Nwora who was selected to the 2020 All-ACC Team, and led Louisville in scoring and was also second on the team for rebounding with 18.0 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game, and 1.3 assists per game.

In addition to Nwora, Louisville will also be without their top rebounder and third-leading scorer from last season, Dwayne Sutton, the second-leading scorer in Steven Enoch, their fourth-leading scorer in Ryan McMahon, and more.

The good news for Louisville fans is they added the top JUCO transfer in the country in Jay Scrubb, and two four-star freshmen in D’Andre Davis and JJ Traynor, plus a three-star in Gabe Wiznitzer, and two transfers in Charles Minlend, and Carlik Jones.

However, despite adding all of these players, the losses of Nwora, Sutton, Enoch, and McMahon will be felt immensely. Louisville’s best scorer from the 2019-20 team that will still call Louisville home in 2020-21, is Malik Williams who was the Cardinals’ fifth-leading scorer last season.

Here is what Louisville’s roster will look like in 2020-21:

Sam Bearden, Freshman, Forward
Brad Colbert, Freshman, Guard
JJ Traynor, Freshman, Forward
Dre Davis, Freshman, Guard/Forward
Drew Schultz, Freshman, Forward
Gabe Wiznitzer, Freshman, Center
Ashton Myles-Devore, Freshman, Guard
Jae’Lyn Withers, Redshirt Freshman, Forward
Hogan Orbaugh, Sophomore, Center
Samuell Williamson, Sophomore, Guard/Forward
Quinn Slazinski, Sophomore, Forward
David Johnson, Sophomore, guard
Josh Nickelberry, Sophomore, Guard
Aidan Igiehon, Sophomore, Forward
Malik Williams, Senior, Forward/Center
Carlik Jones, Graduate Student, Guard
Charles Minlend, Graduate Student, Guard

Of Louisville’s 17 players on their roster for the 2020-21 season, seven of them are true freshmen, with Jae’Lyn Withers being a redshirt freshman, making it eight freshman total, almost half their roster. In addition to this, there are an additional six sophomores, making up for 14 total underclassmen.

This means there are a total of only three upperclassmen, one senior, two graduate students, and zero juniors. Why does all of this matter? This matters because it creates the question; who will step up in replacement of Nwora, Enoch, Sutton, and McMahon?

We know Malik Williams will step up and take on a bigger role in his senior season, but as for who else steps up, is more of a question.