Vitale's Top 5

by ericdedwar on Apr 8, 2008 11:30 PM EDT

Dickie puts UofL in his pre-preseason top five. Well, top three actually. I'm not sure why that makes me so happy, but it does.
UNC -1, UCLA-2, UofL-3, Texas-4, GTown-5.
I know, I know, it's silly to even think about, but I'm already excited about next season. God, I hope the freshmen are good.
Thoughts. Comments. Concerns?

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My First Thought is...

that Dicky V must be going senile. There's no way we're a top 5 team if we're replacing our entire front line with newcomers. We still have plenty of talent on the wings, but the entire post is new. That's not a top 5, much less top 3 team. I would place us 8 - 12. If Samuels and Jennings come in and improve/aclimiate quickly, and Goode contributes almost immediately, then yes we could be a top 5 team at some point during February.

Go Cards!

by JMC @ Card Chronicle on Apr 9, 2008 5:54 AM EDT reply actions

I'd like to be so optimistic

I see us as top 15-20 with potential--if T Will comes back (assuming Earl and DC are gone)

I wish I could say more...

by frankpos on Apr 9, 2008 6:58 AM EDT reply actions

PAPIPOC

Has us at No. 15.

I'm not sure I'd have us at No. 3 in the Big East right now.

by Mike Rutherford on Apr 9, 2008 7:45 AM EDT reply actions

Dick Vitale is more senile than Lou Holtz

I don't buy the prediction. Half the guys are gonna be new. They could be incredible, but we don't know for sure.

by kidbourbon on Apr 9, 2008 7:58 AM EDT reply actions

Vitale's Top 5

I stayed up to see what his Top 5 was and must have missed it. It all seems pointless now. For them to even have this anymore makes no sense. Clark and Caracter are gone early for the Cards and it looks like UCLA is going to lose Love, Collison and Westbrook. Texas might lose Augustin and who knows who will leave early for UNC. I think we need to wait for the draft deadline to come and go to even evaluate next season's top 25.

by Red Ruby on Apr 9, 2008 2:55 PM EDT reply actions

If we can pick

up a couple more big men we could be a top 5 team. I like our guards with the press. If the press is effective enough the inexperience of the front line may not matter as much. We'll probably play a lot of three and four guard line-ups. I think we're a top 16 team by the end of the year.

You win some, you lose some but you never stop trying to do your best.

by DANCARD on Apr 9, 2008 7:19 PM EDT reply actions

I love you guys...

But to presume or even dream at this point that we could be a Top 5 team next year is so far beyond the realm of rational thinking as to be insane. Frank, as usual, is more grounded, and I can buy that only by emphasizing his use of the word potential when referring to Top 15-20.

by Roz on Apr 9, 2008 7:45 PM EDT reply actions

Out there

I really don't think its "insane". With all of the wing players coming back, if the new kids in the post gel and aclimate well, we're a top 10 team, maybe not 3, but top 10 by the end of the season. Its definately in the realm of rational thinking.

Trust me, no one has ever questioned my sanity. lol.

Go Cards!

by JMC @ Card Chronicle on Apr 10, 2008 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, JMC, We Have All Those Wing Players Back

...but we still need a couple of drum sticks (not to mention some thighs and breasts(!)) to round out the team's fabric and inside presence, some, shall we say, mashed potatos...and now that you mention it, besides TWILL, what other wing players are we talking about? Jerry, Good Edgar, Andre, and The Suit, are all pretty much guards. TWILL can't carry all the water, I mean gravy. We're asking for the world if we expect the big kid from NYC to be any more than Clifford Rozier as a frosh. Man, is he slow.

Hope you're right though, and I know you are just as sane as I am ;)

Hope you have a great day,
Colonel Sanders

by Roz on Apr 10, 2008 11:00 AM EDT reply actions

Swopshire

I think a lot of people are going to be pleasantly surprised by Jared Swopshire. Admittedly, I haven't seen a whole lot of him, but the little I have seen leads me to believe that he'll be able to step in immediately and give us some quality minutes at the three.

He reminds me a lot of Francisco Garcia (a comparison others have made before me) when he was a freshman, except Swopshire's got about an inch on 'Cisco, and doesn't bring quite as reliable an outside shot (a player with Garcia's range would certainly be beneficial with the three-point line moving back).

Our front line is going to be younger than it's ever been before, but you can win right away with freshmen (ask Purdue) so long as they have the right attitudes and don't waste any time buying into the system.

It's going to be as difficult a year to forecast as any of us have ever seen, but I think that makes it a little more exciting.

by Mike Rutherford on Apr 10, 2008 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

well, I haven't peed on myself just yet

but I am excited at the prospects and full pipeline (to the 6th grade?)

by frankpos on Apr 10, 2008 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Ground Control To Major Tom

...the pipeline goes to KINDERGARTEN, Frank. God, your naivete is showing. Pretty soon invitro.
Hope you have a beautiful bluegrass Saturday.

P.S. You tell me, how the hell are we gonna make it through the next six months with no Cardinal basketball? All this other stuff doesn't make it.
Not even close. I guess I'll have to move in with you. Don't worry, I'm really low maintenance and I don't have too many bad habits. Just call me Dupre.

by Roz on Apr 12, 2008 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions

All of 'em

I'm refering to all of the wing players. They all have experience. I include Delk in the group as well because he's been here for year sitting out and he played D-I ball (all be it in the SEC) previously. Experience counts.

I've seen Samuels play once and yes, he was a bit on the slow side. But he also was carrying a bit more weight than he will here. Pitino will see to that. He doesn't need to lose "DC" weight, but he'll drop some.

Go Cards!

by JMC @ Card Chronicle on Apr 10, 2008 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I think we're

going to get a least one more big man and maybe two befoe it's all said and done. Rick knows we need a little more depth at the 4 and 5 spot to be a great team.

You win some, you lose some but you never stop trying to do your best.

by DANCARD on Apr 10, 2008 2:41 PM EDT reply actions