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New Year’s Resolutions: Louisville Cardinals

Montrezl Harrell, James Michael McAdoo

Louisville’s Montrezl Harrell (24) blocks a shot by North Carolina’s James Michael McAdoo (43) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament championship at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Michael Dwyer

Over the course of the holiday week, we at College Basketball Talk will be detailing what we believe will be the New Year’s Resolutions of some of the nation’s most talented, most disappointing, and thoroughly enigmatic teams. What can we say, we’re in a giving mood.

Who else made Resolutions? Click here to find out.

WHAT DOES LOUISVILLE PROMISE TO DO MORE OF?: Play Mangok Mathiang


  • Why it will happen: I’m going to start this off by making one thing clear: we are picking nits here. Louisville is very, very good, especially defensively, and given the fact that they’re played just one tournament caliber team this season, it’s tough to truly get a gauge on just how good. That said, it’s to see what the biggest difference is for this group defensively: no Gorgui Dieng. What Dieng provided Louisville was an eraser around the rim, a guy that blocked or changed a lot of shots. That allowed Louisville’s perimeter defenders to be more aggressive gambling for steals. If they got beat, Dieng was their security blanket. Mathiang isn’t Dieng just yet, but he’s the best shot-blocker the Cardinals have on the roster.
  • Why it won’t happen: The Cardinals allow too many offensive rebounds and second chance points, a problem that will get worse as they face better front lines. Mathiang can block shots, but he’s not as good of a rebounder as Chane Behanan is. What made Dieng great is that he could do both. Mathiang may make some plays defensively, but I’m not sure Rick Pitino will be enamored with struggles ending defensive possessions.

WHAT DOES LOUISVILLE SWEAR THEY WILL DO LESS OF?: Luke Hancock’s missing threes


  • Why it will happen: Hancock is far too good of a three-point shooter to maintain the 25.0% clip at which he is hitting from beyond the arc this season. Last year’s Final Four MOP has yet to find his rhythm this season, although much of that is the result of an Achilles’ tendon injury that he suffered in the preseason. Hancock is still getting his legs under him this year.
  • Why it won’t happen: As poorly as Hancock has shot from deep, he’s actually been an efficient offensive player this year thanks to his ability to draw fouls and knock down free throws and the fact that he avoids turning the ball over. The Cards will be better when he’s hitting from beyond the arc, but there is not a pressing need for Hancock to find his stroke because he’s going to be getting playing either way.

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