DALLAS — Pat Kelsey has embarked on a fresh journey at Louisville, taking the initiative to rejuvenate the team by acquiring transfers who have tasted success at their previous programs. This strategy is paying off as the Cardinals, after enduring a challenging two-year stretch, are currently riding a nine-game winning streak and have re-entered the Top 25 for the first time in four years.
Kelsey emphasized the importance of recruiting players with a proven track record of winning. He noted, “We were intentional about identifying guys that came from programs and have a background of winning. They just have that winning gene about them.” In addition to seeking those with a winning disposition, he highlighted the need for toughness, competitiveness, and high basketball IQ, qualities that his current team embodies.
As of now, Louisville boasts a record of 15-5, including an impressive 8-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. This achievement has already surpassed the combined wins both overall and within the conference from the previous two seasons, when Kenny Payne recorded a dismal 12-52 during his tenure as head coach. Payne was once part of the Cardinals’ successful era, contributing to their national championship victory in 1986 under Hall of Fame coach Denny Crum.
In their first game back in the Top 25 since January 2021, Louisville showcased their talent with a commanding 98-73 victory over SMU, a newcomer to the ACC. Reyne Smith, a senior guard from Australia who followed Kelsey from the College of Charleston, set a new program record by sinking 10 three-pointers, scoring a total of 30 points. Meanwhile, Chucky Hepburn dished out 16 assists, the highest in school history, including several lob passes that led to spectacular dunks by fellow transfer, James Scott.
“Coach did a great job of recruiting winners,” remarked Hepburn, who has been a starting point guard in Wisconsin for three seasons and is now averaging 15.1 points and 6.4 assists per game for Louisville. “We knew how good we were going to be, and we just needed to figure it out.” Reyne Smith contributes an average of 14.5 points, with a remarkable 78 of his 90 field goals this season coming from beyond the arc. Terrence Edwards, last year’s Sun Belt Conference player of the year, adds another 13.3 points per game, while J’Vonne Hadley, Louisville’s leading rebounder at 7.6 per game, contributes an average of 12 points.
Louisville’s early-season losses primarily came against ranked opponents, including a tough opener against No. 2 Duke, which was played before Christmas. The team faced its last setback on December 15 against rival Kentucky.
Kelsey praised his players for their focused, process-driven approach, stating, “You can just feel how connected the guys are both on the offensive and defensive end. They’re selfless. The old quote, it’s amazing how much can be accomplished when nobody cares who gets the credit. I think that defines this team in a lot of ways.”
Before his appointment at Louisville, Kelsey had a successful coaching record of 261-122 over twelve seasons, with stints including a notable run at Winthrop. He recently concluded a remarkable season at Charleston, where he led the team to a 27-8 record and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
This year’s Cardinals squad includes 11 players who participated in the NCAA Tournament last season and 12 that were members of 20-win teams. While all of Louisville’s active scholarship athletes are newcomers this season, they collectively possess significant experience from Division I basketball. Together, they entered the current season with a combined 19,898 minutes on the court, marking the most seasoned roster since Crum’s 1981-82 Final Four team. At least four newcomers joined the squad with over 1,000 career points under their belts, while the only returning player is fifth-year walk-on Aidan McCool, who has yet to make a significant impact this season.
The Cardinals appear poised to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, ending a five-season drought—a stretch longer than their previous seven-year absence from 1952-58. After their trip to Dallas, Louisville will enjoy a break before concluding January with a home game against Wake Forest. The team will then face a challenging schedule with five of their seven February matches on the road but will return home to play three consecutive games at the start of March.
