Louisville men’s basketball is on an upward trajectory, even after a tough loss to SMU on Monday night. As they battle for position in the ACC standings, the team’s resurgence can be largely attributed to the return of Mikel Brown Jr. Since coming back from injury on January 24th against Virginia Tech, Brown has been nothing short of spectacular.
In his eight games back, Brown is averaging 21 points per game, highlighted by an explosive three-game stretch where he posted 45, 29, and 29 points. During those games, he was flawless from the free-throw line, going 19-19, and shot a remarkable 60% from the field, including 62% from beyond the arc. Even when you look at his performance across all eight games since his return, his shooting splits remain impressive: 83% from the free throw line, 44% from three-point range, and 46% overall.
Brown isn’t just scoring; he’s also contributing with five assists and nearly four rebounds per game. Excluding the Duke game, where Louisville struggled offensively, Brown has been the catalyst for an offense averaging just under 89 points per game during his return. That’s a scoring pace that would rank seventh among all Division I programs.
Room for Growth
Despite his stellar play, Brown has an area to refine: turnovers. Before Monday’s game, he led Louisville in assists but also in turnovers, averaging 3.2 per game.
This is a significant gap compared to his teammate Ryan Conwell, who averages 1.9 turnovers. Nationally, Brown’s turnover rate ranks 22nd among Division I players, a statistic that stands out, especially when compared to other projected lottery picks.
Among his peers projected to be drafted ahead of him, Brown’s turnover numbers are the highest. During his recent hot streak, he’s committed 15 turnovers in three games, resulting in a 12:15 assist-to-turnover ratio (0.8), which would rank near the bottom nationally.
Over the season, his 1.59 assist-to-turnover ratio would place him around 287th nationally if he qualified. For a top prospect, these numbers are concerning, particularly for NBA scouts evaluating him as a potential primary ball-handler.
Impact on Games
So far, Brown’s turnovers haven’t consistently cost Louisville games, but they were a factor in the loss to SMU. He accounted for seven of the team’s 17 turnovers, which led to 21 points for SMU in their 10-point victory. Reducing those turnovers could have given Louisville a better shot at winning.
Looking Ahead
As Louisville approaches the season’s final stretch, they face crucial matchups against teams like UNC, Clemson, and Miami. They’ll likely need to secure at least two wins in the ACC Tournament to improve their NCAA Tournament seeding.
In tight games, details such as turnovers, rebounds, and free throws can be decisive. For Mikel Brown Jr. to lead Louisville on a deep postseason run, minimizing turnovers will be essential in his continued development.