ACC Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2022-23 season

Mar 27, 2022; Philadelphia, PA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels pose for a photo after the Tar Heels defeated the St. Peters Peacocks in the finals of the East regional of the men's college basketball NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

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ACC Basketball Louisville Cardinals guard El Ellis Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports /

14. Louisville Cardinals

When New York Knicks assistant Kenny Payne was hired to replace Chris Mack as head coach, Louisville had some good momentum early on in the offseason. He was able to keep both El Ellis and Sydney Curry on the roster, while also landing Tennessee center transfer and former five-star prospect, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield.

The frontcourt is in solid shape, with Curry, Huntley-Hatfield, Roosevelt Wheeler, and Jae’lyn Withers all back. And the wing position is also fine, with Mike James and incoming top-100 freshmen, Devin Ree and Kamari Lands. So the Cardinals have decent depth in those areas.

The problem is the backcourt, an area the team literally hasn’t addressed all offseason. Ellis averaged 8.7 ppg and 1.9 apg while sharing the point guard duties so his production should increase with a much-expanded role. But right now, he’ll have to play 40 mpg next season because there are no other ball-handlers on the roster.

Making matters worse, there is no true shooting guard on the roster either. The Cardinals would have to play one of their young wings out of position but even then, that could be a disaster on both ends. There is still some time for the team to add a couple of perimeter pieces but even then, Ellis and Curry being the best players don’t provide great optimism. Could be a long season for Payne in year 1.