Louisville’s starting Point Guard Chris Jones was dismissed today….3 WEEKS before Selection Sunday. Time to panic? Maybe. This Louisville team has been limited offensively throughout 2014-15 and removing the senior point guard, 3rd leading scorer, and perhaps its best defender should be a huge blow to any team.
However, history of Louisville Basketball is: The Beat Goes On. (SEE CHART BELOW)
Looking at the 4 seasons prior to this Louisville Basketball has suffered season ending injuries, early entries into Professional Basketball, and dismissals. In fact, in the past 5 seasons I counted 17 instances of early departures or injuries….SEVENTEEN. Still, Louisville has won 3 consecutive Conference Tournament Championships, 2 Final Fours, 3 Sweet 16s, 4 consecutive appearances in Conference Championships, AND of course…the 2013 National Championship.
That’s not an indicator that Louisville 2014-15 is going to make a deep run or even recover from losing Chris Jones 3 weeks before Selection Sunday. It is, however, an indicator that Louisville Basketball under Rick Pitino has proven resilient with the ability to overcome hardships…..even self-inflicted hardship.
Now, the Cards have a quick turn around tomorrow night vs. Georgia Tech and have 4 games before things get real in Greensboro, NC for the ACC Tournament. Several people have already speculated seed adjustment based on the absence of Chris Jones and Louisville now has a very short window of time to prove to the selection committee of its NCAA Tournament worth and if the Cards deserve any seed preference at all without its senior point guard.
| Year | Early Departures/Injuries | Season Result |
| 2014-15 | #Kevin Ware, Chris Jones, #Akoy Agau | ? |
| 2013-14 | #Gorgui Dieng, #Zach Price, Chane Behanan | 31 wins, AAC Regular Season Champions, AAC Tournament Champions, Sweet 16 |
| 2012-13 | #Jared Swopshire, *Kevin Ware, *Mike Marra, #Angel Nunez, #Rakeem Buckles | 35 wins, National Champions, Final Four, Big East Regular Season Champion, Big East Tournament Champion |
| 2011-12 | #George Goode, #Terrence Jennings, *Rakeem Buckles, *Mike Marra, *Stephan Van Treese | 30 wins, Final Four, Big East Tournament Champion |
| 2010-11 | #Samardo Samuels | 25 wins, NCAA Appearance, Big East Tournament Runner-Up |
*Injury ended season
#Left Program Prior to Season (transfer or early pro declaration)
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