By Russ Brown
Special to NKyTribune
LOUISVILLE — When it comes to University of Louisville big man Chinanu Onuaku, teammate Trey Lewis has proven himself to be an excellent judge of potential talent.
The senior guard reminded a questioner of that when he was asked about Onuaku’s recent outstanding performances following last week’s 59-41 win over Pittsburgh, during which Nanu — as he is nicknamed — recorded his fourth double-double in a row with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He also blocked four shots.
“I made a statement earlier in the year,” Lewis said. “I said if Nanu wants to he can be the most dominant player in the ACC, and he wants to. I’m starting to see that more and more. He demands the ball, he wants the ball inside and he makes great decisions with the ball, and I don’t think anybody can handle him one-on-one.”
Since ACC play began, Onuaku has caught fire. Going into Wednesday night’s game against Florida State (12-5, 2-3 ACC) in the KFC Yum! Center, the 6-10 sophomore leads the league in rebounding (12.3 rpg) and blocks (2.75) and is second in field goal percentage (66.7) in ACC games only as UofL has gotten off to a 3-1 start.
“It’s confidence,” the Lanham, Md., native says. “I’m doing what Coach tells me to do — demand the ball, post up in the lane, get the ball and just go up and score.”
Last season, when Onuaku played 17.8 minutes per game as a reserve, it was obvious that he had offensive skills, but they needed to be developed and he averaged just 3.0 points. Now, he’s averaging 10.5 overall and 14.0 in the ACC.
“I’ve come real far,” he says. “I think my teammates have more trust in me. I think they know if they pass me the ball I’m going to score or pass it back out to them. I feel like I’ve gotten better on the offensive end.”
After his dominating performance against Pitt, Panthers coach Jamie Dixon indicated that Onuaku’s scoring ability took him by surprise.
“We didn’t anticipate him getting 18 points,” Dixon said. “It was his night, so give him credit — good kid, hard worker and he’s obviously very talented. Everybody in the country recruited him, and he will only continue to get better.”
Against Pitt, Onuaku showcased a versatile offensive repertoire that included a baby hook, crafty moves under the basket, a mid-rane jumper and an 18-footer, which he accidentally banked in from the key.
“I feel like I’ve been more aggressive because our guards give me the ball, so I’ve got to make a move and score,” he says.
Also not to be overlooked is Onuaku’s improved free throw shooting, although modest. After hitting just 46.7 percent from the foul line last year, he switched to shooting underhand — or granny — free throws, and has boosted his percentage slightly to 53.1. He was 4-of-5 against Pitt, including two crucial ones when the Panthers had rallied and closed to within 46-37 with 4 minutes remaining.
Onuaku couldn’t have picked a better time to increase his contributions because UofL’s two leading scorers, Lewis and wingman Damion Lee have been in a shooting slump lately.
Lee, the Cardinals’ leading scorer at 16.7 ppg, is 7-of-25 (28.0 percent) overall in his last two games and has missed all 11 of his 3-pointers. Before that, he was shooting 49.5 and 39.5 percent.
Lewis’ skid has been even more severe. He is only 3-of-29 (10.3 percent), including 1-of-16 from beyond the arc. In the first 14 games, he was shooting 49.2 and 44.8 percent.
So Onuaku’s offensive improvement, as well as his defensive presence in the paint, has been a key for UofL in its fast start in the ACC.
“He’s made a tremendous, tremendous difference for us,” Lee says. “His confidence right now is unbelievable. And when he gets it going he’s one of the best big men in the conference and in the country. He’s young, but he has an old mind and really, really knows the game. As long as he works on his game and keeps putting the time and effort in on it, then he’s gonna reap the benefits.”
It’s no conincidence that Onuaku’s increased productivity has coincided with his ability to avoid the foul trouble that limited his minutes for the first 12 games of the season when he was on the court for just 21 per contest.
His value to the team was emphasized in the 66-62 loss at Clemson on Jan. 10. He got 14 points and 10 rebounds, but was limited to 20 minutes due to early fouls and fouled out. In the other three ACC games he has played 37, 32 and 33 minutes.
“Nanu’s conditioning is getting better and he’s playing smarter,” Lee says. “So he’s not making the dumb mistakes, the young, silly fouls like reaching over a guy.”
Pitino says his statistics show that the Cards are plus-16 when Onuaku is in the game and minus-11 when he’s on the bench.
“I feel real good right now because I’m not getting cheap fouls in the first half,” Onuaku says. “So I get to play more minutes and help the team more.”
Furthermore, aside from helping atone for Lee’s and Lewis’ shooting woes, Onuaku is needed more because Louisville’s frontline depth has been depleted by Mangok Mathiang’s broken foot suffered against Western Kentucky on Dec. 19.
“Right now, if he plays 33 minutes we’re going to be tough to beat,” Pitino says of Onuaku. “Once Mango comes back he can play 27-28 minutes and it won’t be a problem. With Mango, we would not have a problem. He can rebound and block shots and do the things Nanu can do, but Anas (Mahmoud) and Matz (Stockman) can’t.
“He has improved every week since he’s been here. Although he has a man’s body, he’s very young mentally. He’s just matured.”
Pitino’s latest estimate of when Mathiang will return is mid-February. Until then and until Lee and Lewis get back on track, it’s up to Onuaku to continue his high level of play at both ends of the court.