CARDINALS

U of L's Lee, Lewis locking up starting roles

Jonathan Lintner
@JonathanLintner
Nov 30, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA;  Drexel Dragons guard Damion Lee (14) takes the ball up court against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at John A Daskalakis Center. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Rick Pitino has said it many times -- that starting on his basketball team doesn't matter.

Two incoming graduate transfers are far enough ahead of the rest, though, that Pitino on Thursday said they're guaranteed spots in Louisville's lineup this season.

Guards Damion Lee (from Drexel) and Trey Lewis (from Cleveland State) arrived this summer to great fanfare from the Hall of Fame coach, with Lee "much better" than Pitino anticipated.

"In a fast style of play, he's lethal because of how he scores," Pitino said Thursday, ahead of U of L's trip to Puerto Rico. "He's not selfish by any means, but he has the ability to put points on the board, and that's something that's so needed for this basketball team.

"Trey Lewis is also a young man that just gives incredible leadership -- tough physically, gets in the lane, shoots it, does a lot of good things as well."

Lewis will run the point and Lee likely slide to small forward, heading a group of newcomers that includes four-star freshmen Deng Adel, Donovan Mitchell and Raymond Spalding.

Pitino said that outside of two spots, he has no idea who will start where. That's why the Cardinals signed up to play nine games in six days against the Pitino-coached Puerto Rican national teams.

Competition hasn't created a negative culture among teammates.

"This is the best attitude I've seen since I've been a coach," Pitino said. "The closest thing was 1987 at Providence College," his first Final Four team.

The coach said players have come up to him after practice to shake his hand and thank him for instruction, something new for the 62-year-old.

"It's the luck of the draw so to speak," Pitino said. "We do want to recruit good people, but I've never seen 13 like this in my life."

Along with Lewis, Mitchell and sophomore Quentin Snider will rotate in the Cardinals' backcourt. Pitino said Adel is giving Lee "all he can handle" at the three spot. A "dogfight" at power forward will come down to Mangok Mathiang, Jalen Johnson and Spalding. The Cardinals then have Chinanu Onuaku and Anas Mahmoud at center.

"They're all so close," Pitino said.

U of L's other scholarship player, Ryan McMahon, will still redshirt this season. But Pitino added that the 6-foot sharpshooter has surprised him by "physically holding his own."