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What is the key to the Louisville Cardinals basketball team this year? Is it keeping people healthy? Does everything ride on head coach Rick Pitino reverting back to his old “run and gun” style? Or do the Cards just need flat-out better players to compete in the Big East?

No, no and no.

The key to this year is freshman Derrick Caracter.

“He’s un-guardable in the low post. He’s a terrific passer, a great ball handler. He reminds me of a 6-foot-8 Charles Barkley…unbelievably athletic.” That is one of the first things Rick Pitino said at the Cardinals’ annual media day about heralded freshman Derrick Caracter.

Yes, the Charles Barkley who led the NBA in rebounding on numerous occasions, as one of only four men to have 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists in NBA history.

Charles Barkley was 6-foot-4; imagine what he could have done with four more inches.

Now whether Caracter turns out to be the next Round Mound of Rebound remains to be seen, but his drive and work ethic may be the deciding factor on whether Louisville returns to dominate the hardwood this year.

Caracter has long battled weight problems and came onto Louisville’s campus weighing about 320 pounds. With his weight now down to around 275, he has a way to go before Pitino is going to play him.

“It’s either 10 (percent body fat) or learn what coaching is all about if he doesn’t make it. I’ll get him into coaching. He’ll be a graduate assistant or something like that,” said Pitino.

If Caracter does not get down to the 10 percent body fat or target weight of 268 pounds, it won’t be the end of the world, but if he does and is able to stay healthy all year, he will make a huge difference on this team.

“When he gets down to 268 he will be unstoppable,” said Pitino.

Caracter has the body type to move people around on the block at will, but his explosion off the floor when he attacks the rim makes you think he is an Olympic high jumper. There is a reason this kid was at one point ranked ahead of Ohio State’s Greg Oden in all of the major prep rankings.

If he can stay dedicated and get down to where the coaching staff wants him weight wise, this team will be much better than expected. He will command double teams, give the Cards a great low post back to the basket scoring option and will free up the plethora of young shooters we have on this team. He is the key to the Cards’ success this year. But like Pitino said, “It all depends on Derrick.”

Andrew Krumme is a senior majoring in finance. E-mail him at akrumme@louisvillecardinal.com.