LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- There are many reasons to howl at the NCAA transfer portal, but there is one reason to embrace it:
The transfer portal creates a lot of old friends.
By my count, there are 14 former University of Louisville men's basketball players performing at other Division 1 programs this winter.
Half have downgraded from the Power 5 conference level. Some who started at Louisville now play off the bench. Some played off the bench for the Cards but are getting major minutes at their new homes.
But the answer to the important question won't arrive until March 17 — Selection Sunday. How many will make the NCAA Tournament?
Currently, there is one cinch and two others in good position. (That's a tease and encouragement to read on.)
Let's call the roll of the former Cards in this late season edition of Old Friends Alert.
14. Roosevelt Wheeler, VCU
I have not uncovered any reports that Wheeler suffered an injury, but he's contributed one basket and one free throw at VCU this season.
After playing in 10 games in the first part of the season, Wheeler has not earned a minute since the first of the year. As a native of Richmond, it's not the kind of homecoming anybody predicted when Wheeler joined the Rams.
March Outlook: Say a prayer.
Although the Rams are 17-8 overall and 9-3 in the Atlantic 10, that's currently a one-bid league which means VCU will have to handle Dayton, Loyola (Chicago) and Richmond in the conference tournament.
13. Fabio Basili, Texas-Arlington
Basili played his way deep onto the Mavericks' bench in early January and has only emerged to play 13 total minutes since Jan. 6.
He did score nine points last Saturday so maybe Basili is set up for an improved finish because he's made 42% of his shots from distance as well 12 of his 20 two-point attempts.
March Outlook: Next question, please.
The Mavericks are 13-13 overall, 8-7 in the Western Athletic Conference. Don't expect them to overtake Grand Canyon or Tarleton State in the league tournament.
12. Aidan Igiehon, Abilene Christia
After two seasons at Louisville and two at Grand Canyon, Igiehon is finishing his career at Abilene Christian, averaging 2.8 points and 2.8 rebounds.
Igiehon has posted a pair of double-figure scoring games but has scored six points in the last eight games with a pair of DNPs.
Remember, if you like, that 247Sports ranked Igiehon the No. 62 recruit in the prep class of 2019, ahead of Malik Hall of Michigan State, Santiago Vescovi of Tennessee and Jaime Jacquez, the former UCLA star finishing his first season with the Miami Heat.
Ooops.
March Outlook: Next question, please.
His team is 10-15 with six games to play.
11. Gabe Wiznitzer, Ohio University
A reserve in two seasons at Louisville, Wiznitzer has been a more active reserve in two seasons for the Bobcats, averaging four points and three boards in less than 15 minutes per game.
Wiznitzer had a season-high nine points against Western Michigan and has missed his only two shots from distance.
March Outlook: Next question, please.
The Bobcats are 13-12, 7-5 in the Mid-American Conference. Toledo, Akron and Central Michigan are better bets to win the MAC Tournament.
10. Devin Ree, Louisiana Tech
Ree has started to deliver on the promise that made him a prospect who committed to Louisiana State before he changed his mind and came to Louisville in 2022.
Ree has started half of Tech's last eight games, averaging six points and three bounds.
Tech is tied for first in Conference USA with Sam Houston State and will play at Western Kentucky Feb. 28. The Bulldogs are 18-8 overall and 8-3 in the league.
March Outlook: Say a prayer.
CUSA is not a two-bid league. Even if Tech wins the regular-season title, the Bulldogs must win the conference tournament.
9. Kamari Lands, Arizona State
Big start. Tiny finish.
Lands scored in double figures in the Sun Devils first three games. He did it again in the final two games of December.
But since then, Lands has managed two points or less in seven of ASU's last 13 games. He has made less than 28% of his three-point shots and less than 28% of his two-point shots with one offensive rebound since the first of the year.
March Outlook: Say a prayer.
Arizona State is 13-13 overall, 7-8 in the Pac-12, unlikely to make a run in the conference tournament as reports swirl about coach Bobby Hurley's future.
8. Josh Nickelberry, Florida State
Twelfth on the Seminoles in average minutes played per game, Nickelberry has given Leonard Hamilton three points and one rebound per contest.
Recruited to Louisville for his three-point shooting ability, Nickelberry has struggled against tougher competition. After making 36% and 40% of his attempts from distance the previous two seasons at LaSalle, he's 12 for 44 (27.3%) this season, closer to his performance at U of L.
March Outlook: Next question, please.
The Seminoles are 13-12 overall, 7-7 in the ACC. It's not one of Leonard Hamilton's better teams.
7. El Ellis, Arkansas
Eric Musselman's Transfer Portal Party did big things during the coach's second, third and fourth seasons in Fayetteville.
This season, the Razorbacks are looking up at 11 teams in the Southeastern Conference. Ellis has been in and out of the lineup, starting 14 of 25 games.
He's currently on an uptick, averaging nearly 10 points while starting the last three. But his key numbers at Arkansas are not different from his performance at Louisville last season. He's making only 31% of his shots from distance with a 20% turnover rate. And his assist rate has plunged from 30.8 to 17.7.
March Outlook: Next question, please.
No chance unless Arkansas wins the SEC Tournament.
6. Sydney Curry, Grand Canyon
Fewer minutes, more team success.
Curry is playing about half the minutes he earned at Louisville but he's been an effective reserve contributor for Antelopes, who are 24-2 and leading the Western Athletic Conference.
Curry contributes four points and three rebounds in less than 11 minutes per game. He hasn't had a double figure game since November and has four points in the last eight games.
March Outlook: Don't stop now.
Even at 24-2 and 14-1 in the league, the Antelopes will likely have to win the conference tournament. They had a solid non-league win over San Diego State but lost to South Carolina.
5. Samuell Williamson, SMU
Considered the third-highest ranked recruit to commit to Louisville over the last 20 seasons (behind Samardo Samuels and Sebastian Telfair) by 247Sports, Williamson is finishing his fifth and final college season with gusto at SMU.
A starter in all 25 games for the Mustangs, Williamson ranks fifth in the American Athletic Conference in rebounding (7.6) while also scoring 9.3. He reached the 1,000-point mark last week in a win over Tulane.
One thing has not changed. Williamson struggles to make shots. He's four of 18 from three (.222) and a more concerning 52.5% from the foul line. He had surgery on his right elbow in July 2023 for a pinched nerve.
March Outlook: Say a Prayer.
Although the Mustangs are ranked No. 39 by Ken Pomeroy's formula and No. 34 in Bart Torvik, they'll likely have to win the American Athletic Conference Tournament to make the NCAA field.
4. Quinn Slazinski, West Virginia
Considering Rick Pitino's outburst at St. John's Saturday, Slazinski caught break jumping from Iona to Morgantown instead staying with Pitino in New York City.
The Mountaineers have given him ample playing time (nearly 30 minutes per game) and Slazinski has responded by averaging 12.9 points and 4.2 rebounds.
He scored 20 against UMass and 19 against St. John's. He should have a shot at a solid career overseas.
March Outlook: Say a prayer.
WVU is 8-17, 3-9, last in the Big 12. No factor.
3. Matt Cross, UMass
Second in the Atlantic 10 in rebounding, ninth in scoring, Cross has been a beast for Frank Martin and the Minutemen.
Pomeroy's analytics formula has selected Cross as the MVP for UMass in six games. He had a game with 31 points and another with 24. But he's still not an outside threat, making only 30.5% of his shots from distance.
March Outlook: Say a prayer.
UMass is 16-9 overall, 7-6 in the Atlantic 10, a longshot to win the league tournament.
2. Dre Davis, Seton Hall
Guess who was in the middle of Seton Hall's jarring second-half rally to incense Pitino and beat the Red Storm Sunday?
Davis, who left U of L after two seasons to play for the Pirates. He finished that game with 15 points, 7 rebounds and two blocks, topping his season averages of 14 points and 6 boards.
Davis had a streak of 13 consecutive double-figure games that started in December and ended with a 25-point night against Georgetown.
March Outlook: Don't Stop Now.
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi has the Pirates the next to last team in the 68-team field. Seton Hall is 17-9 overall, 10-5 in the Big East, with trips to Creighton and UConn on the schedule.
1. Jay'Len Withers, North Carolina
If winning a conference championship and making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament were primary goals for Withers to play his fourth college season at UNC, he chose well.
Settled into his role as the team's top frontcourt sub, Withers has averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds while scoring in double figures three times, topped by his 15-point performance against the Cards.
He's played less than 10 minutes in each of the Tar Heels' last four games but UNC continues to pace Duke in the ACC race.
March Outlook: Dance Fever.
Lunardi ranks Carolina the No. 2 see in the East Regional in his latest bracket.
Of the 14 former Cards, Withers is the only one who appears to be a lock to compete in the NCAA Tournament. But don't be surprised if Curry and Davis join him.
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