Louisville Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Cardinals

Key reserves

Forward – Samuell Williamson, Junior

Samuell Williamson is the bulk on the interior off the bench that should serve Louisville basketball well and play a ton of minutes, especially with Gabe Wiznitzer out with a broken wrist. He produced 9.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg and 1.2 apg across 18 appearances (15 starts) in 2020-21. He’ll have Sixth Man potential as a reserve and could find himself in the starting lineup given his status as a team captain.

Guard –  Jarrod West,  Grad. Student

Jarrod West is another graduate transfer set to join the Louisville basketball ranks out of Marshall. He earned quite the accolades in the Conference USA as an All-Defense and All-CUSA performer from 2019-21. He put up 12.5 ppg, 6.0 apg, 3.5 rpg and 2.5 spg at the lead guard spot. There shouldn’t be too much fall off with him on the floor.

Guard – El Ellis, Junior

El Ellis joins the Cardinals lineup after two seasons at Tallahassee Community College where he put up 17.7 ppg, 4.3 apg and 3.4 rpg while knocking down 41.7 percent of his 3-pointers. He’ll add depth in the backcourt as a scorer and playmaker. He’s also an underrated leaper that can attack the rim with authority if opponents aren’t careful.

Wing/Forward – Matt Cross, Soph.

Matt Cross finds himself in the ACC still after a short stint with Miami in 2020-21 before hitting the transfer portal and landing with Louisville basketball. He’ll add length and 3-point shooting on the perimeter with his size at 6-foot-7. He knocked down 40 percent of his 3-pointers and averaged 6.9 ppg and 3.5 rpg across 14 games with the Hurricanes.

Center – Roosevelt Wheeler, Frosh.

Roosevelt Wheeler is a 6-foot-10 newcomer in the Cardinals rotation that should find time given his ability to rebound the basketball and protect the rim. He’s got a winner’s mentality already coming from Virginia powerhouse John Marshall High School. Wiznitzer’s early injury should make room for him in the frontcourt.