Louisville Cardinals: Gorgui Dieng, Russ Smith and Chris Smith Top the Class

Despite a plethora of injuries, limited practice sessions and loss of star freshman Wayne Blackshear for possibly the entire season, this squad has not merely persevered, but excelled.

The Cardinals have attained a Top 5 ranking, behind only Syracuse, Ohio State and Kentucky and ahead of preseason National Champion favorite North Carolina, are one of only seven undefeated teams in Division I Men's Basketball at 12-0, and trail only the 1974-75 Final Four team (13-0) with the most victories to begin their season.

Most Cardinal fans were simply hoping to maintain the status quo and not suffer too much carnage before they returned to full strength, yet these birds, who certainly could have migrated South to weather the storm, have soared above any menacing clouds and with each week gain more national admiration for their achievements.

So why haven't these Cardinals not stayed close to their nest recovering from their wounds? 

Because with some of the stalwarts riding the pine in street clothes, other birds that were grounded grasped their opportunity and took flight.

Gorgui Dieng: At the Top of His Class with an A+

The native of Kebemer, Senegal, recorded 5.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in the 29 contests he participated in during 2010-2011, but he has definitely stepped up his contributions to the team this season. 

The sophomore has started all 12 contests, boosted his averages to 10.8 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game and has double-doubles in his last five outings. Herb Pope, from Seton Hall, leads the nation with eight.

Rick Pitino called the 6'11" center a "one man wrecking crew inside" and his gravitation to the glass is certainly one of the main reasons for the Cardinals success to date.

"He plays like a man possessed," Pitino said.

Russ Smith: Finally Healthy, This Shooting Guard Shares Valedictory Honors

Limited to a small slice of playing time (5.6 min per game) during the 2010-2011 season due to foot and knee injuries, Russ Smith, formerly a shooting guard who has been transferred to a new role at the point position, has been a staple of the Cardinals offense this year.

The Brooklyn, New York, native is beginning to draw national attention.

After deciding not to transfer after a frustrating freshman season, Smith is currently ranked 50th in Division I Men's Basketball with 20 steals, averages nine points per game and his 12 turnovers are one less than he committed all of last year.

After trailing the University of Western Kentucky Hilltoppers for nearly the entire game on December 23, Smith's offensive firepower was one of the main reasons the Cardinals still sport an unblemished record.

"Russ Smith saved us again," Coach Pitino said after the game.

“This is probably the best feeling ever, winning at this level and contributing,” Smith told The Louisville Courier-Journal on December 13. “That’s all I want for someone to say: ‘Russ is a part of this team and he’s winning and he plays a role.’ ”

Chane Behanan: Making an Immediate Impact

He was supposed to share the frontcourt with fellow McDonalds All American Wayne Blackshear, but freshman Chane Behanan has not allowed the loss of his teammate to affect him.

The 6'6", 245-pound, forward averages a solid 8.8 points per game and eight rebounds. He does need to improve at the charity stripe, but drilled two key free throws in Louisville's overtime victory over Vanderbilt, but with more than half the season ahead of him, the resident of Bowling Green, Kentucky, has more than enough time to build on what he has already achieved.

“I’m confident in my freshman,”point guard Peyton Siva told The Louisville-Courier Journal on December 5.“He’s a big-time player who stepped up big for us.”

Kyle Kuric: Steady as She Goes, but Not Embracing a Leadership Role

Senior shooting guard Kyle Kuric certainly provides stability, an outside shooting threat and a level head, but despite averaging 13.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game the Cardinals most experienced player has slightly disappointed his coach.

“I told him I want a T-Will (Terrence Williams) type of box score," Rick Pitino told The Louisville-Courier Journal on December 10. ‘I’m tired of you not having an assist, I’m tired of you not having an offensive rebound.”

Kuric ranks 112th nationally in field goal percentage (50 percent) and does average more steals than Peyton Siva (1.7 to 1.6), yet Pitino feels he must be more aggressive on the court for the Cardinals to continue their presence in the upper echelon.

“He’s still not shooting the ball enough,” Pitino said. “He’s got shots and he’s not taking them.” 

Peyton Siva: The Floor General Is No Longer on the Front Line

Although he injured his ankle nearly a month ago, junior point guard Peyton Siva is still playing through pain and is clearly not enjoying one of his best seasons.

Siva, who was raised in Seattle, Wash., was expected to lead the Cardinals through the loss of of various other players sidelined by injury and pilot this team towards a repeat in the Big East Championship, as well as another visit to the NCAA tournament at year's end. 

In his last two games, Siva has averaged more turnovers than points, but he does rank 10th in the nation in assists per game with 6.8 and is 90th in assist to turnover ratio with a rate of 2.0.

Even though his left ankle has slowed his cuts and acceleration, Siva's lay-up with 1.4 seconds to go in overtime sealed Louisville's triumph over Vanderbilt on December 2.

''I love him,'' Chane Behanan said after the game. ''I always count on him to make big plays. Big-time players make big-time plays and that's what he was tonight.''

Chris Smith: Doing Whatever His Team Needs

He was never considered to be a a potential superstar or laden with lofty goals, but senior guard Chris Smith is a key reason the Cardinals are presently undefeated.

The transfer from Manhattan isn't out to pad his own stats or make the SportsCenter Top 10. His only real ambition is to help his team pile up victories.

“I just try to take on the role that we need for whatever game it is,” Smith, who's brother J.R. plays for the Denver Nuggets, said to The Louisville Courier-Journal on December 2.

Smith is averaging 10.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists, and his percentages from the field (.500), three-point range (.471) and the free-throw line (.864) have all increased from last year. 

“When I first got here I wasn’t that good of a shooter—my percentage was very low,” he said on December 2 to The Louisville-Courier Journal. “I had to adjust pretty much my whole attitude. Mainly it was my shot selection. At Manhattan I didn’t care who was guarding me or how far I shot it from; I just launched it from anywhere.”

In a year where Pitino has not heaped praise upon his pupils, Smith has been the recipient of several accolades.

“I expected him to play big this year,” Pitino said. “When he came from Manhattan College I just thought we were getting a free player. I didn’t know he’d be this good.”

Jared Swopshire: Will He Ever Be 100 Percent?

After sustaining a groin injury in the off-season that required two surgeries and kept him from playing the entire 2010-2011 season, senior Jared Swopshire returned to the court with a vengeance in Louisville's first four games of the year. 

Swopshire, who's hometown is St. Louis, Miss., and is listed in the media guide as a junior, is a very athletic 6'8" forward, whose presence in the Yum Center was eagerly anticipated, showed no signs of rust early on the season and averaged 7.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in those first four games, but has lost his form during the next eight contests.

He has seen action in every Cardinals game, but has started none, averaged 15.1 minutes and his points have dipped to five per game and his rebounds have followed suit to 3.5 per game. Directly following Louisville's third game, Rick Pitino commented "he had played the best on the team."

For some reason, Swopshire has regressed, but his coaching staff still retains faith in his ability.

“Our expectations aren’t that low, but I think that the healthier he gets, we really expect him to contribute a lot,” assistant coach Rick Pitino said. “(Swopshire) has been in this program for a while, and he knows how to play the game. When he’s fully healthy, he is just as good as any big guy out there.”

Rakeem Buckles: How Will the Knee Hold Up?

The Cardinals faithful were anxiously awaiting the return of Rakeem Buckles to the court after tearing his ACL in a game against the Pittsburgh Panthers on February 27th.

The junior forward only played 16 games last year Buckles played only 16 games last year after wrestling with a broken finger and concussion before the knee injury, but led the team in rebounding and went 11-for-26 from three-point territory last year. 

“Rak is just a very good, sound basketball player that is used to the pressure,” Pitino said on December 6. “He’s not going to go into any place in America and be nervous—this first game back he may be nervous—but Rak has been through the mills, so to speak.”

“The one thing these injuries have done for Rak is they have made him a good shooter from the outside,” he said. “Because when you’re injured, the only thing you can do is shoot, and he’s really worked hard on his shooting.”

To date, Buckles has started one game, averaged 13 minutes, 5.8 points and four rebounds, but Pitino plans on bringing him back slowly.

“We’ll probably play him anywhere from 10-14 minutes,” Pitino said. “Try to increase it a little bit the following game. The main thing is I don’t want to play him longer than 3½-minute spans."

Kevin Ware: Does His Freshman Season Possess Productivity?

When Kevin Ware discovered the sanctions on the Tennessee Volunteers were going to be quite serious, he changed course and signed late to play for the Cardinals. After signing a financial aid agreement with the University in June, the NCAA declared him ineligible for this season and did not allow any appeals or waivers. He was finally cleared to play only last month once his ACT scores were reviewed.

In two games for the Cardinals, Ware, a guard from Conyers, Georgia, has played nine minutes with one turnover, one block and one steal, but has not scored a point, grabbed a rebound or dished an assist.

“I honestly think I can play now, but that’s not my decision; that’s more so Coach’s decision,” Ware told The Louisville-Courier Journal on December 25. “Whenever he feels I’m right for the situation, I’m going to play.” 

But his coach isn't exactly sure what the freshman's future holds.

“The effort is always good; it’s the execution that is poor,” Pitino said “I think there are reasons for that. I made a big mistake by trying to get a guy in who hasn’t played a second and I’m trying to get him ready in two or three days. It was silly.”