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Maize · 07-25-2013 06:18 AM

From the article:

Luke Hancock: He was the MVP of the Final Four coming off the bench, dealt with his father being gravely ill due to cancer during that time and then the grief of him passing away on June 25. Hancock still honored his commitment to try out for the World University Games and then made the team that finished a disappointing ninth in Kazan, Russia, earlier this month. Hancock averaged 10.8 points, three rebounds
Luke Hancock was big in the Cards' title run and will be looked to as a leader next season.
"My dad being able to share that national championship with me is pretty special,'' said Luke of his late father, Bill. "It was a wild summer. There were ups and downs. I talked with my dad about not going [to USA basketball], but he looked at me and made me promise to him that I was going to go. The first several days after I found out, that was really tough. I wasn't going to back out on my promise. That's exactly what he wanted me to do.''

Montrezl Harrell: Harrell was an energy rebounder for the Cardinals during the postseason. He has a chance to ultimately be the best pro prospect on the 2013-14 roster. He was third on the team in scoring (10.6) and averaged 3.7 rebounds with 10 blocks and eight steals on the gold-medal winning FIBA U-19 team that won in Prague earlier this month.

"The last six months for me have been fun and a great experience,'' Harrell said. "I had a great experience with this team, winning the national championship and winning the gold. It's a great feeling.''

The guards: One-time walk-on Tim Henderson got a shout out from the president and Pitino during the ceremony. He said those two 3s he made against Wichita State in the semifinal "changed his life,'' due to the national recognition he received. "A lot of guys get a dream to get this opportunity and it has been a blessing and an unbelievable feeling," he said.

The top returning player is Russ Smith, who is in Europe competing with a foreign touring team loaded with college players. Smith has professed that the Cardinals can win the title again. They can with him leading this squad. Contributing wing Wayne Blackshear is back, and the infusion of JC transfer point guard Chris Jones has the team anticipating another title run.

"I got the chance to watch him in practice the other day, and he was amazing," Siva said. "He'll open eyes. He can play. He can shoot the ball. He will be really good this year."

The starters of Smith and Jones, the spot play of Henderson, the potential return of Ware, the face-up shooting of Hancock, the contribution of Blackshear, the inside play of Behanan and Harrell make up a team that can win the title again. The one thing missing is the intimidating back-line defense of Gorgui Dieng, leaving that onus on Harrell and Behanan. How much the newcomers -- guards Anton Gill, Terry Rozier and big man Akoy Agau -- contribute is still to be determined.

Louisville will be the team to beat in the American Athletic Conference. The Cardinals should be considered as a preseason No. 1.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketba...basketball

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