NCAA Basketball: 10 bold predictions for 2022-23 season

The NCAA Basketball season is finally upon us, the first of five straight months of non-stop games and action. A lot is going to happen, both good and bad for all 363 D-I programs, and expect 80% of the preseason takes to be wrong.

But since the season hasn’t started just yet, allow me to make some more take; but this time, a little spicier. Here are 10 bold predictions I’d like to make before Baylor tips off against Mississippi Valley State at noon.

Louisville goes 4-16 in ACC play

In my defense, I was down on the Cardinals even before the concerning results. There was rightful hype when Kenny Payne was hired as the head coach and he immediately landed former five-star forward, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield to bolster the backcourt. That was good but the bad was not landing any guards in the backcourt to pair with senior El Ellis outside of three-star guard, Fabio Basili.

The results haven’t looked good so far. They lost to D-II opponent, Lenior-Rhyne, 57-47. And against Chaminade, they survived an 80-73 battle after trailing in the second half. Ellis had 28 points to lead them, which was different from a 4-point effort in the loss. The fact that the team needs a stellar effort from the senior guard to stay in games against non-D-I opponents is a worrying sign.

Georgia Tech has become a consistent pick to finish last in the ACC this season. But Louisville, if the past week is an indicator, will have a case to finish at the bottom itself. They have a solid frontcourt that should be competitive but if teams focus on Ellis and wear him out, they’ll have a hard time scoring and getting wins.