2000-01 record: 12-19; 8-8 in C-USA (t4th in American) Final Ranking: NR Postseason: None. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Gaines 13.9 ppg | Rebounds: N'Sima 5.6 rpg | Assists: Gaines 3.3 apg | FG %: Turner 50.7% | 3pt %: Gaines 42.6% | FT %: Brown 80.5% 00-01 Stats: Louisville | C-USA

		Saturday, Nov. 3 If the NCAA bid went to the new coach who received the most publicity, Louisville would win hands down. They Cardinals, however, are not prepared to step up and do much this year -- but I think they’ll be OK. While Rick Pitino is a really good coach, people need to remember that this team is really slim on talent this year. Besides Reece Gaines, who is very good, and 6-5 Eric Brown, the Cardinals don't have much of anything else. But I remember Pitino's first year at Kentucky -- when they were on probation and nobody expected them to do anything -- that club had no talent and ended up going .500. In fact, they probably had a little more talent than what Louisville will have this year -- don't count this guy out yet.

Outlook
The truly surreal sight of red-tied Rick Pitino on the home sidelines in Freedom Hall became reality on Halloween night, of all nights, in the Cardinals' exhibition opener.

There was no mistaking the man who used to torture the home team in this building, while coaching at hated rival Kentucky. And there was no mistaking the Pitinoball philosophy that has radically remade Louisville basketball.

Out with the stale Denny Crum Era went the high-post offense, the half-court style, the inconsistent effort and the general unhappiness that had settled on this proud program. In came names on the jerseys, motion offense, frantic pressure defense and the kind of hustle that has made some talent-poor Pitino teams into surprise contenders.

This Louisville team won't threaten to win Conference USA unless things really get haywire. But if early indications mean anything, every opponent had better pack its "A" game when Louisville appears on the schedule.

The Cards have remade their bodies and their body language. Everyone is leaner and stronger, and so far there has been no slouching or moping on the bench -- disturbing trademarks of recent Louisville teams. Pitino's Musketeer attitude of "One for all and all for one," seems to be taking hold.

It will all start in the backcourt for this group, where junior Reece Gaines is the team leader and freshman point guard Carlos Hurt is the rising star. Gaines plays the kind of defense Pitino prizes, while Hurt thrives at the kind of pace Pitino demands. However, Gaines, Hurt and small forwards Erik Brown and Larry O'Bannon (a freshman to watch) all must sharpen their outside shots to make Pitino's offense truly click.

This is a small and dreadfully thin interior team, but the runway model for the made-over Cards is power forward/center Ellis Myles. Flabby, floor-bound and hot-headed as a freshman, he's now a sculpted 6-8 sophomore with wonderful hands and a newly acquired ability to finish around the basket. He'll be joined on the low block by fellow sophomore Luke Whitehead, rebounding specialist Joseph N'Sima and touted freshman Brandon Bender -- who is still getting religion, Pitino-style. The 6-9 Bender was suspended for the exhibition game for academic underachievement, and his defense makes the coach's teeth grind.

What we like: Louisville basketball figures to be fun again, for the first time in a long time. This team has bought in with remarkable enthusiasm to the entire Pitino approach, which has a prodigious track record.

What we don't like: These bombinos can't shoot, and they stand a very good chance of being brutalized by the biggest and strongest teams in the league.

The bottom line: Pitino would like a reprise of his first year at Kentucky, a 14-14 joyride. But with only one road game before Christmas and in a less-imposing league, the Cards might creep a few games over .500 heading into the conference tournament -- and perhaps into the NCAA Tournament.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Reece Gaines	Jr.	G	6-6/185	PTS: 13.9 | REB: 3.5 | AST: 3.3
Erik Brown	Jr.	G/F	6-5/200	PTS: 10.2 | REB: 3.9 | AST: 1.2
Ellis Myles	So.	F	6-4/240	PTS: 6.1 | REB: 5.5 | AST: 1.8

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Marques Maybin	G	6-2/185	PTS: 17.7 | REB: 3.0 | AST: 1.9
Rashad Brooks	G	6-1/205	PTS: 6.1 | REB: 2.2 | AST: 1.6

Louisville Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Greg Tinch (walk on)	F	6-5	Albany, Ga./Westover School
Carlos Hurt	G	6-2	Louisville, Ky./Moore H.S.
Brandon Bender	F F/C	6-9	Louisville, Ky/Ballard H.S.
Larry O'Bannon	G	6-4	Louisville, Ky./Male H.S.
Otis George	F F/C	6-8	Roseau, Dominica/The Berkshire School