The “n” is silent. Little else about his game is.
Louisville returned six of its top seven scorers from a year ago, but none was more impactful – or more unexpected – than preseason ACC Player of the Year Jordan Nwora. The 6-6 junior declared for the NBA Draft in the spring, but a calf injury limited his ability to participate in workouts.
“He’s a pro. I was hoping he went pro last year,” quipped Pastner, who recruited Nwora out of Buffalo, N.Y., and brought him on an official visit to Tech.
Nwora was held to a season-low six points in Louisville’s 79-73 win over Duke Saturday, but he remains the ACC’s scoring leader at 19.6 points per game. A cerebral, controlled small forward, the Cardinals like to run him off pindowns and dribble handoffs where he can use his high, quick release to squeeze off shots. In two career games against Tech, Nwora has averaged 20.5 points on 57-percent three-point shooting (8-of-14).
The Cardinals, though, haven’t climbed to the top of the ACC standings with Nwora alone. Center Steven Enoch, 6-10, is a sledgehammer on the block who can finish over either shoulder. He can also draw out post defenders as a pick-and-pop threat. Power forward Dwayne Sutton (6-5, 9.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg) has averaged a double-double over his last four games and can wilt opponents with his high motor. Three-point specialist Ryan McMahon (44-percent on threes) orbits around the perimeter and makes teams pay for straying across the split line. Freshman David Johnson scored 19 points against Duke and gives the Cards another scorer off the bench.
All of those weapons allow Louisville to keep the floor spaced, which has enabled them to shoot a remarkable 44.9 percent from three-point range in ACC play. Discipline, closing out with high hands, matching Louisville’s physicality inside and its work rate off the ball – all will be key for the Yellow Jackets Wednesday.
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Nwora chose Louisville, but his recruitment at Tech paid other dividends. Pastner said he was watching Nwora’s New York Rens AAU team at a Sunday 8 a.m. game when he took note of a fiery point guard lighting into his teammates for their perceived lethargic play. Pastner became enamored. Before long he had a commitment from Jose Alvarado.
Also, by season’s end Pastner and Nwora’s Dad Alex will have something in common: both will have coached Josh Okogie. Alex Nwora is the head coach of the Nigerian men’s national team, which has Okogie on its roster for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
