2019-20 Louisville Basketball: The Must-Have Roster

It’s that time of year again! The Louisville Cardinals are getting ready to tip off their 2019-20 season and we’ve got the inside scoop on the must-have roster.

2019-20 Louisville basketball The Must-Have Roster

The Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball team is set to begin their 2019-20 season under new Head Coach Chris Mack The Cardinals will look to improve on their 22-14 (9-9 ACC) record from last season and return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017. Louisville has a talented team, but there are a few Must-Have Players that will be key to the team’s success this season.

The first player on the must-have list is junior forward Jordan Nwora Nwora was named to the Preseason All-ACC team and is one of the best players in the conference. He averaged 17.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last season and will be looked upon to lead the Cardinals in both scoring and rebounding once again this season.

Next on the list is sophomore guard Darius Perry. Perry played a key role for Louisville last season, averaging 9.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 37% from three-point range He will need to have another big season for the Cardinals if they want to make a run at an NCAA Tournament berth.

The third and final player on the must-have list is junior center Steven Enoch. Enoch averaged 7.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game last season while playing limited minutes off the bench behind graduate transfer Malik Williams. With Williams now gone, Enoch will be asked to step into a starting role and play big minutes for Louisville this season. He has shown glimpses of potential in his two years with the Cardinals and will need to break out if they want to make noise in the ACC this season

The Roster: Who’s Who

The Louisville Cardinals have a new head coach this season in Chris Mack and he’s brought in a whole new roster of guys to play for the Cards. Here’s a quick rundown of who’s who on the 2019-20 Louisville Basketball team

Redshirt senior forward Dwayne Sutton is the team’s only returning starter from last season. The 6-foot-5 Kentucky native averaged 9.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last season and is one of the team’s best defenders. He’ll be counted on to provide leadership for the young Cardinals squad.

Freshman Samuell Williamson is the team’s only 5-star recruit and one of the most highly-touted prospects in recent memory. The 6-foot-7 small forward from Texas is expected to make an immediate impact on both ends of the court. He’s a dynamic scorer with a High Basketball IQ and has drawn comparisons to former Louisville greats like Donovan Mitchell and Keith Bogans.

Junior center Steven Enoch will be Louisville’s starting center this season. The 6-foot-10 Connecticut native averaged 4.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game last season as a backup but has worked hard to improve his game over the offseason. He’ll need to be a big presence down low for Louisville this season.

Sophomore guard Ryan McMahon will be one of Louisville’s Key Players off the bench this season. The 6-foot New York native can provide instant offense with his long-range shooting ability. He averaged 5.1 points per game last season but will likely see his playing time and numbers increase this year with Louisville’s lack of depth at guard.

The Roster: The Departed

The following is a list of the players who have departed from Louisville since the end of the 18-19 season
-Gone are Jordan Nwora Steven Enoch, Ryan McMahon, Khwan Fore, and Dwayne Sutton.
-Also gone are V.J. King and Darius Perry, who announced their intentions to transfer earlier in the offseason.

The Roster: The Newcomers

With the season opener less than a month away, let’s take an in-depth look at the 2019-20 Louisville basketball roster We will break down the scholarship players by position and then look at the walk-ons who will round out the roster.

The Cardinals will have a total of 12 scholarship players this season, which is the NCAA limit. They have eight returning players from last year’s squad and four newcomers. Let’s start with a quick look at the newcomers.

The first newcomer is Malik Williams, a 6-11 center who transfers to Louisville from Wake Forest Williams averaged 9.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season for the Demon Deacons and should help to shore up Louisville’s thin frontcourt.

The second newcomer is Samuell Williamson, a 6-7 small forward from Rockwall, Texas. Williamson was a highly sought-after recruit who chose Louisville over offers from Kansas, North Carolina and Texas amongst others. He is expected to make an immediate impact for the Cardinals and should be in the starting lineup on opening night.

The third newcomer is Aidan Igiehon, a 6-10 Power Forward from Dublin, Ireland. Igiehon was also a highly sought-after recruit who chose Louisville over offers from Kentucky, Oregon, and Stanford amongst others. He provides much needed depth in the frontcourt and could see significant playing time as a freshman.

The fourth and final newcomer is Ryan McMahon, a 6-0 guard who transfers to Louisville from Syracuse. McMahon averaged 12.8 points per game last season for the Orange and provides much needed depth at the guard position for the Cardinals.

The Roster: The Breakdown

U of L’s roster is experienced and deep. The Cardinals will have a strong defensive presence with plenty of size and athleticism.

Returning starters Jordan Nwora and Steven Enoch will lead the way up front, with Malik Williams and Dwayne Sutton providing support. Nwora, who averaged 17.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last season, is a preseason All-American and one of the Top Players in the country. He’ll be counted on to provide scoring and leadership for this Louisville team.

In the backcourt, Quentin Snider and KhwanForeman are the returnees with the most experience. They’ll be joined by Darius Perry, who sat out last season after transferring from Miami. Perry is a talented guard who will add another aggressive defender to this group. Snider is the team’s veteran leader, and he’ll need to provide consistent playmaking for the Cardinals to be successful.

The bench will be key for Louisville this season, as several players will be called upon to contribute significant minutes. VJ King, Ryan McMahon, Dwayne Stanton, Anas Mahmoud and Lagerald Vick are all players who could see their roles increase this year. King is a versatile forward who can score inside or out, while McMahon is a sharpshooter who adds another scoring threat from the perimeter. Stanton is a tough defender and rebounder, while Mahmoud brings shot-blocking ability to the frontcourt rotation. Vick is an electrifying athlete with the potential to be one of the best sixth men in the country.

The Roster: The Starters

The starters for the 2019-20 season include:

-Senior guard, Khwan Fore
-Sophomore forward, Jordan Nwora
-Freshman center, Aidan Igiehon
-Junior forward, Dwayne Sutton
-Freshman guard, David Johnson

The Must-have Roster: The Starters are the core of any team. They are the ones who will be on the court the majority of the time and have the biggest impact on the game. This season, the starters for Louisville are a mix of experience and youth. Senior guard Khwan Fore is a veteran leader who will provide stability and scoring. Sophomore forward Jordan Nwora is one of the best players in the country and will be counted on to lead the team in scoring and rebounding. Freshman center Aidan Igiehon is a big body who can block shots and score inside. Junior forward Dwayne Sutton is a versatile player who can play multiple positions and contribute in many ways. Freshman guard David Johnson is an electrifying player who has the potential to be one of the best players in Louisville history.

The Roster: The Bench

The Roster: The Bench
In order to make a successful run at the title, Louisville will need production from its bench players Here are three players that must step up this season.

Nwora will be called upon to provide a scoring punch off the bench. He’s a confident shooter with the ability to create his own shot.
Nunge will be counted on to give Louisville some minutes in the frontcourt. He’s a streaky scorer and needs to be more consistent on the defensive end of the floor.
Williams will be looked to as a sparkplug off the bench. He’s an explosive athlete that can make things happen on both ends of the court.

The Roster: The Rotation

The Must-Have Roster for the 2019-20 season is a list of the 15 best players for the Louisville Cardinals These are the players that will be in the rotation and playing important minutes. This roster is based on how well each player performed last season and how they are expected to perform this season.

The starters for the 2019-20 season are:
PG: Malik Monk
SG: Donovan Mitchell
SF: Deng Adel
PF: Ray Spalding
C: Anas Mahmoud

The Roster: The X-Factors

In order for the 2019-20 Louisville Cardinals basketball team to be successful, they must have a roster full of players who are willing to work hard and play their roles. While there are a few key returners and newcomers who will be expected to make an impact, there are also a few players who will be the x-factors for this team. These are the players who may not get the headlines but could end up being the difference-makers for this team. Here is a look at the three x-factors for the Louisville Cardinals

1. Ryan McMahon: McMahon is a transfer from Niagara who is eligible to play immediately. He is a versatile guard who can shoot and score. He will likely come off the bench but could see significant minutes if he can prove himself.

2. Dwayne Sutton: Sutton is a 6’5” forward who was a key reserve last season. He is a good athlete and has the ability to play multiple positions. He will need to step up his production this season if Louisville is going to be successful.

3. Akoy Agau: Agau is a transfer from Georgetown who will be eligible to play immediately. He is 6’8” and can play either power forward or center. He is a good rebounder and shot blocker and could see significant minutes as a backup big man.

The Roster: The Bottom Line

The 2019-20 Louisville Men’s Basketball Roster is loaded with talent. The team will have a new look with an influx of freshman and some key transfers. The Cardinals have the potential to be a top-10 team and make a run at the Final Four.

Guard
The backcourt is led by junior Darius Perry. He is a dynamic scorer and has the ability to take over a game. Freshman David Johnson is a versatile guard that can score, rebound, and pass the ball He will be a key player off the bench. grad transfer Lamarr Kimble provides experience and leadership to the young backcourt.

Forward
Freshman Samuell Williamson is one of the most celebrated recruits in recent memory. He is a 6’7” forward that can score inside and out. Senior Jordan Nwora returns as the Cardinals leading scorer and rebounder. He will be counted on to provide leadership to the young team. Freshman Aidan Igiehon is a 6’10” center that adds size and shot blocking ability to the front court.

The Bottom Line
The 2019-20 Louisville Men’s Basketball team has the potential to be one of the best teams in recent memory. They have star power, depth, and experience. The season will be an exciting one for Cardinals fans