Premature Hoops BlogPoll: No. 5, Louisville

This week, FanHouse is taking a way too early look at the top teams heading into 2007 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. It's a time-honored filler for the off-season, and who are we to buck tradition? Today we look at teams 5 through 1.

So much talent in the Louisville frontcourt. So much to fear of injury. Forward Derrick Caracter finally had the proverbial switch go off in the second-half after near-exile from the team. Poised as he was to carry that into this coming season, he had to have off-season surgery to repair a cartilage tear in the left knee. There's David Padgett, gutting it out inside, with questions about whether his knees will make it through the game. Juan Palacios always seems to be battling foot injuries. Earl Clark should just avoid hanging out with all of them, as should incoming power forward George Goode.

The talent, but not the injury fears, in the backcourt is almost as impressive. Edgar Sosa had a trial by fire running the point as a freshman. Naturally, there was some up-and-down performances, but Louisville should benefit tremendously this season. Jerry Smith began to emerge in the second half. Losing Brandon Jenkins's steadiness hurts, but Preston Knowles will help stretch the defenses.



This is a Rick Pitino team, so of course, they will play a suffocating defense. The guards, especially are fast and don't provide space to shoot. And if a player tries to go inside, that frontcourt is there to alter and block shots. Things came together during the second-half last year, and there is no reason not to think the momentum won't carry into this season.

Why they should be ranked here: They are one of two teams expected to win the Big East, so being in the top-5 makes sense.

Why they should be ranked higher: The talent level is higher than it was a few years ago when Pitino took Louisville to the Final Four. There is a better mix of maturity and experience with the number of true freshmen who played last season and now have a much better sense of what to do in Pitino's system. Then, there is the fact that this is a Rick Pitino coached team. He has proven repeatedly to be one of the best college coaches.

Why they should be ranked lower: Injuries. Louisville has been dealing with a slew of them for the last two years. They even went into this summer with Derrick Caracter needing surgery.