Next year could be the year for Louisville basketball

Louisville basketball has a real chance to start next year in the top five of the preseason polls.

Though they caught a red-hot Michigan team in time for an early tournament exit this year, the Cardinals had legitimate Final Four aspirations. They fought through the ACC with a 25-9 record, earning multiple-possession wins over Duke and Notre Dame, as well as a 10-point non-conference win over Wichita State. But their run ended short despite an accomplished season.

The Cardinals currently sit No. 9 on KenPom.com, with the ninth-best defense. They held opponents to just 45.7 percent effective field-goal shooting (19th in the nation) and were 13th in offensive rebounding percentage.

With the chance for minimal roster turnover, those numbers may improve.

Nearly the entire team could return next season

The Cardinals could return all but two rotation players and all five of their starters next year. The wait will be on projected late first-round pick Donovan Mitchell. Draft Express currently has him at No. 21. He’s the engine that runs this team, scoring 16 points per game and grabbing five rebounds per game.

His immediate response after falling to Michigan in the second round seemed to indicate he would return. Of course, his mind could change.

“I can’t wait to win a national championship next year. I can’t wait.”

Mitchell has a few months to participate in the draft combine if he so chooses. And if he comes back, Louisville will only lose one player, Mangok Mathiang, who played more than 10 minutes per night.

Incoming talent

Louisville currently holds the No. 8 incoming recruiting class, according to 247Sports. Along with the No. 68 player in the class, point guard Darius Perry, the Cardinals will also add five-star center Malik Williams. The No. 3 big man in the class stands at 7’0 and will look to add to an already good defensive team and stretch the floor.

Williams also held offers from Michigan State, Indiana, Maryland, UCLA, Xavier, and Butler. He was a coveted add who should find immediate minutes.

He’ll join 7-footer Anas Mahmoud, who will return as a senior. He averaged six points, four rebounds, and two blocks per game.

Existing talent has yet to bloom

Deng Adel was pegged as a potential breakout player in his sophomore year before this season began. Adel had barely played as a freshman, but he impressed scouts at Adidas Nations during the summer.

For the most part, Adel lived up to the hype. He averaged 12.1 points per game, hit 34 percent of his threes, and proved to be a willing passer and rebounder as well. Still, it feels like he’s capable of taking another step up. If he does it in his junior year, Louisville could find itself with a star.

Five-star freshman wing V.J. King is another player who could improve. He only played 14 minutes per game this season, averaging six points on 44 percent shooting to go along with two rebounds.

He played all of five minutes and scored zero points in the loss to Michigan.

King struggled to find playing time all season, buried behind Mitchell, Quentin Snider, and Adel, but had moments. Against Virginia, he tallied career highs in minutes and scoring with 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting in 37 minutes.

Though he didn’t get many attempts all season, King was Louisville’s best long-distance shooter among those who took more than 30 attempts. He knocked down 16-of-38, good for 44 percent.

If King can find success with the 7-foot incoming one, the Louisville Cardinals could be loaded in 2017-18. Though the team will have to wait out Mitchell’s fate to know its true depth.