Rick Bozich of WDRB wonders if Louisville’s freshmen players are proving to be better than Kentucky’s heralded freshman class.
Here are the players to consider:
Louisville: Donovan Mitchell, Ray Spalding, Deng Adel, Ryan McMahon (redshirt) – RANKINGS: Scout.com #7, Rivals.com #9
Kentucky: Jamal Murray, Skal Labissiere, Isaac Humphries, Tai Wynyard, Isaiah Briscoe, Charles Matthews – RANKINGS: Scout.com #1, Rivals.com #1
Here’s what Bozich says:
That leads to my next question: Is Rick Pitino’s freshman class actually better than John Calipari’s freshman class?
Not yet.
But the gap isn’t as large as it seemed when they finished those recruiting rankings last summer.
The overall statistics still tilt toward Lexington, primarily because of Jamal Murray, Kentucky’s dynamic freshman guard. At 17.8 points per game, Murray is tied for fourth place nationally in scoring by freshmen. His 46 made three-point field goals rank eighth among all freshmen.
Isaiah Briscoe has also had his moments. He is Kentucky’s third leading scorer, averaging 10.7 per game. You have to overlook his shaky shooting (18.2 percent from distance and 34.5 percent from the line) and focus on Briscoe’s defense. Briscoe contributes and makes Kentucky better.
After that? Skal Labissiere has scored 25 points with 20 rebounds over UK’s last eight games. Don’t bother with the per game averages. It’s not enough for a guy that one web site (DraftExpress.com) still ranks as the sixth best prospect in the 2016 NBA Draft.
When you listen to Calipari in press conferences, you have to believe that freshman guard Charles Matthews is one of those guys who will get fewer minutes when Dominique Hawkins becomes completely healed from his ankle injury.
Tai Wynyard and Isaac Humphries? If they’re going to show they’re the answers to what Kentucky is missing in the low post, now is the time.
Then there is Louisville.
Mitchell is becoming more essential to any big things the Cardinals might do in March. His start against Florida State was his fourth in Louisville’s last fifth games. With 13 points against the Seminoles, Mitchell has scored at least eight in six of the Cardinals last 10 games.
