Louisville came a lot closer to landing Milan Momcilovic than many Cardinals fans probably realized.
The Iowa State transfer, one of the biggest names in the portal this offseason, said Louisville was right there until the end before he ultimately picked Kentucky. That alone gives Pat Kelsey’s staff a different kind of what-if to chew on, because Momcilovic wasn’t just another option - he was one of the most coveted shooters in college basketball.
“I mean it was probably my final two, to be honest. I really liked what Pat Kelsey had to say.
Obviously, now that I'm here, I know everyone hates them, so I don't want to praise them too much," stated Momcilovic. “But you know, in the recruiting process, everyone tells you what you want to hear… I have respect for them and how they did it.
But obviously, I chose here.”
Momcilovic had spent a long stretch testing his NBA Draft stock before pulling his name out and diving back into recruiting. Once that happened, the race tightened quickly, with Louisville, Kentucky, and others in the mix. In the end, the Cardinals finished second.
That answer is enough to send Louisville fans straight into the alternate-universe conversation. Momcilovic would have been a clean fit in Kelsey’s system, the kind of stretch-four weapon who changes spacing in a hurry. Put him next to Flory Bidunga and the picture gets even more interesting.
The numbers explain why he was such a hot commodity. The 6-foot-8 forward led college basketball in made 3-pointers last season with 136, shot 48.7 percent from deep, averaged 16.9 points per game, and knocked down 3.7 threes per game.
Louisville still enters the season looking loaded after rebuilding around a veteran portal class that includes Flory Bidunga, Seth Trimble, Karter Knox, Jackson Shelstad, and others. Pat Kelsey had to replace nine of his top-10 players, and he did it by bringing in seven transfers.
Still, Momcilovic’s comments make one thing clear: Louisville was very much in the hunt for one of the best shooters in the sport. And with Kentucky now the choice, December 12 suddenly carries even more juice.
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If Kienholz is unable to go, Louisville will be forced to sort through a backup plan that was never supposed to be this prominent so soon. The options appear to be freshman Briggs Cherry or transfer Davin Wydner, a reminder that what looked like a straightforward Week 1 quarterback situation can change in a hurry once injuries enter the picture. [Read more 🡒]
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The injury picture only adds another layer to the matchup, with Louisville navigating a long list of unavailable players, while NC States status report includes uncertainty at quarterback. The Cardinals also bring a historical edge into the series, but that kind of backdrop only matters if they avoid another stumble in a game that already feels like a test of whether the season can stay on track. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Faces A Familiar ACC Problem At NC State
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NC State brings a mixed profile into the game, with quarterback play split between CJ Bailey and Will Wilson and Duke Scott giving the Wolfpack a threat on the ground. Defensively, Popo Aguirre has been one of the more active players on the roster, which adds another layer to a game that figures to hinge on discipline and execution. Louisville already knows how quickly this matchup can turn into a grind, and this one feels built for another possession-by-possession fight. [Read more 🡒]