Wilted Flowers

We’re thinking about Steve Forbes and his family today. Even the idea of a loved one suffering a serious medical event while you’re halfway around the world gives me a massive pit in my stomach. Best of luck to his wife, Johnetta, during her recovery.

Onto to Monday’s news.

1. Louisville takes its first L this season

The 2023-24 season hasn’t even begun, and Louisville’s already dealing with a significant loss.

Trentyn Flowers, a top 30 prospect who was one of the cornerstones of the Cardinals’ 2023 recruiting class, announced Monday that he won’t attend school and will instead play professional basketball in Australia.

The 6-8 wing has his eye on the 2024 NBA Draft and thinks this will be the better preparatory route. They’ll reportedly give him significant time at point guard, which would give his NBA stock an overall boost. That kind of versatility at his size? That’s potent. (Ignore the jokes at Flowers’ expense.)

“Earlier today, Trentyn and his family informed me of his decision to pursue a professional career overseas,” coach Kenny Payne said in a statement. “We’re certainly disappointed in his decision and the timing. We fully believe in the University of Louisville’s ability to help student-athletes reach their goals, including to play at the highest levels of professional basketball — and we’re confident that Trentyn could have achieved his dreams by making Louisville his home. However, we wish Trentyn and his family well in all of their future endeavors.”

The bigger question: Does this derail Louisville to another abysmal season?

The Cardinals’ issues last season were always bigger than one player, and any issues this season will be the same. Flowers was one of six incoming freshmen — center Dennis Gates is another Top 30 prospect — and three incoming transfers. Ensuring that amount of newcomers gel isn’t a small thing, especially for a second-year coach.

But if there’s a singular issue that is the same as last season, it’s the overall lack of guards.

Louisville’s roster remains loaded with wings and bigs. Former Illinois guard Skyy Clark will be the one running the show, as Louisville is still awaiting incoming freshman Ty-Laur Johnson to join the team. (Fwiw, Clark isn’t worried.)

That’s where Louisville will miss Flowers the most. We’ll see if Payne tries to add another guard to alleviate the loss.

2. Report cards are in: How’d your team do?

Speaking of teams loaded with wings and bigs, and no point guards … I now present The Field of 68’s video series: Offseason Grades.

Look, there’s no denying that Illinois has talent. When you have NBA-caliber players on the roster such as Terrence Shannon and Coleman Hawkins, it automatically elevates your floor.

But like last season (and to a degree, kinda like Louisville), the Illini will try to run the offense without a natural floor general. Shannon will handle the ball. Hawkins will facilitate the offense. Sophomore Ty Rodgers should see plenty of time at guard. Utah Valley transfer Justin Harmon could run the show for short stretches.

None of those are ideal scenarios for efficient offense. Or, as Greg Waddell tells Rob Dauster in the video: “It really feels like they’re risking the whole season on somebody emerging and being more than just playable at point guard, and I’m not sure I see the formula of what that’s gonna be.”

It’s a formula that worked at times last season when Illinois went 20-13 and made the NCAA Tournament. But there’s a reason why it never strung together more than four wins in a row. And that’s because the pieces never really fit together.

Maybe it’s the same story this season. Maybe Illinois’ defense carries it again — there is something to be said for all that length and athleticism on the roster — and the offense does just enough to get it into the Big Dance, where anything can happen.

So. Did Illinois pass its summer “exams?” Watch the rest of the video and see if you agree with Greg and Rob. We’ll also be highlighting the rest of the Offseason Grades video series in the Daily over the next five weeks.

And if you were the kind of student who worked ahead (weirdo), you can dive into all the other videos here.

3. Two more tourney fields set

Some of the college hoops tournaments and multi-team events that didn’t announce last week got in on the act on Monday. And they’re not too shabby.

Start with The Empire Classic.

The defending champs vs. a Big Ten contender? I’ll take that. The Hoosiers are one of the few teams that have the size to throw at Donovan Clingan and potentially slow him down. Whether that works is another story.

The winner almost certainly will take on Texas in the title game (sorry Louisville; see above), which makes for a nice little start to Feast Week.

Need your hoops fix earlier in the season? You could do worse than the Asheville Championship (Nov. 10-12).

Davidson vs. Maryland might not be close, but that Clemson-UAB game is gonna be a blast. The Tigers should have one of the nation’s best offenses, while the Blazers have always been a team that can get up and down the floor under coach Andy Kennedy.

Watching the Terps vs. the Clemson-UAB winner will be a nice cap to college hoops’ opening week.

Cruel summer

Summer breaks don’t really exist for college coaches anymore. Not with the transfer portal, recruiting, and player development. Is it all part of the job? Sure. And coaches, for the most part, are paid well for their work. But everyone needs some time off, as Baylor coach Bryce Drew explained on a coaching roundtable with Wes Miller and Dana Ford.

Subscribe to The Field of 68 on YouTube here and subscribe here to AFTER DARK

Links as you vow to never watch ‘The Blind Side’ again.

• Drake and Nevada reportedly will be part of the Jack Jones Classic on Dec. 9.

• Sounds like Florida State isn’t leaving the ACC. For now.

• Here’s what Vanderbilt’s new men’s and women’s hoops practice facility will look like.

• NCAA President Charlie Baker says progress has been made on gender equity in the NCAA.

Thanks for reading The Field of 68 Daily! If you have a news tip or feedback, email us at [email protected].