Louisville Is Expecting To Spend $10 Million On Transfers Following NCAA Tournament Loss

Louisville enjoyed an outstanding 2024-25 season under first-year head coach Pat Kelsey.

Kelsey returned the program to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2018-19 season, when Chris Mack was head coach. Louisville has missed the tournament five years in a row and won a total of 12 games during the past two seasons.

Kelsey exceeded that combined victory total in 2024-25, leading Louisville to a 27-8 record before falling in the first round to Creighton. Creighton won 89-75 thanks to an impressive three-point shooting performance.

Creighton will face top-seeded Auburn in the second round on Saturday, with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line.

Despite Louisville’s successful season, the program is far from content. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Louisville plans to spend up to $10 million in the transfer portal for next season’s team.

Louisville has NIL money to spend, and it looks like the school intends to use it. Louisville hasn’t advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament since the 2016-17 season, and it hasn’t reached the Sweet 16 since the 2014-15 season.

The school wants the team to compete for national titles like it did when Rick Pitino was the head coach.

Kelsey has constructed a solid foundation and can persuade elite transfers to come to Louisville following his success in just one season.

Prior to coaching Louisville, he spent three seasons at the College of Charleston, where he led the club to two NCAA Tournament appearances. He also coached Winthrop for nine seasons, and the club made two NCAA Tournament trips.

He has a 288-130 overall record as a Division I head coach over 13 seasons.

Louisville’s Pat Kelsey addresses technical violation, water container incident after NCAA Tournament loss

The Cardinals’ remarkable turnaround under first-year head coach Pat Kelsey was abruptly terminated on Thursday, as they were defeated 89-75 by Creighton, the No. 9 seed, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The loss was not without controversy; Kelsey received his first technical foul of the season, and a spectator subsequently threw a water container onto the court, resulting in a delay in the latter half.

After the game, Kelsey stated, “I became frustrated and said something I should not have said, and he teed me up, you know.” This statement was reported by CardinalAuthority. “I acknowledge that the current situation is far from ideal for technical discussions.” Therefore, it is as it is.

Kelsey entered the court with less than five minutes remaining and addressed referee Brooks Wells as he raced past the sideline following a Creighton defensive rebound. Wells promptly sounded his whistle and assessed a technical foul on Kelsey, who expressed his frustration with the call. As this transpired, broadcast cameras captured a water container striking the floor in close proximity to the Creighton bench, necessitating a pause as personnel attempted to remove the liquid from the court.

Kelsey stated, “To be candid, I did not observe it.” “I had just received the technical, and I was conversing with my team when they began to clean up something on the other end. I was confused, and someone mentioned that they had thrown a water bottle on the court.” It is regrettable. You are aware that it transpired.

Creighton established a 15-point halftime lead and maintained control on the final stretch by shooting 57.1% from the field and 48.5% from 3-point range. Louisville’s overall shooting percentage was 42.9%; however, they encountered difficulty from beyond the arc, as they only managed to make 27.6% of their shots (8 of 29). Chucky Hepburn, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, led the Cardinals with 22 points in the defeat.

This marks Louisville’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2019, when it qualified for the tournament under the guidance of then-head coach Chris Mack. The Cardinals experienced an extraordinary reversal under Kelsey, winning 27 games, which also matched their highest total in a decade, after winning only 12 games over the previous two seasons under former head coach Kenny Payne.

Kelsey expressed her distress at the precipitous conclusion, stating, “It is extremely painful.” “You exert an immense amount of effort in your preparation.” Every day, you exert yourself to the utmost. You never anticipate its conclusion. And when it concludes, it is exceedingly challenging. Upon observing the distraught and emotional state of the men in the locker room, a wave of emotions washes over you, and you begin to reflect on the experiences you have shared with this group.

Louisville Cardinals are determined to disprove their critics during the NCAA Tournament

As the University of Louisville men’s basketball team prepares to play in the NCAA Tournament, the squad and its fans are overcome with emotion—both exhilaration and dissatisfaction. The Cardinals, with a 27-7 record, were shockingly placed eighth in the tournament after finishing second in the ACC and reaching the conference championships.

Many Louisville supporters were surprised by the decision, as they had expected a higher seed based on their great performance this season. Bubba Cunningham, leader of the NCAA selection committee, addressed these issues during a recent press conference. “I think Louisville had a great year, but I do think when you take a look at our league, we ended up getting four teams into the tournament this year… that’s where the committee felt that they should be ranked this year,” Cunningham told me. His remarks came following Louisville’s seeding announcement on Selection Sunday, which generated fury among fans and experts.

The Cardinals’ record includes two victories over ACC foe Clemson, which got a 5-seed in the tournament. This mismatch had supporters questioning how Louisville could finish ahead of their opponents in head-to-head contests while receiving a lower seeding. To add to their dissatisfaction, Louisville was ranked 10th in the most recent AP poll leading up to the tournament, and many fans are aware that Louisville is the first team to get an 8-seed while rated 10th since seeding began in 1979.

“You felt slighted a little bit,” admitted Louisville coach Pat Kelsey in an open moment on ESPN Radio. Kelsey stated that his team deserved at least a 12 or 11 seed based on their outstanding performance, particularly in the ACC Tournament, where they played bravely against Duke, the top-ranked team.

Despite the seed issue, supporters are getting excited for the Cardinals’ first-round game against the ninth-seeded Creighton Bluejays on March 20, 2025, at Rupp Arena. The highly anticipated game is scheduled to begin at 12:15 p.m. ET and will be aired nationally on CBS, adding to the excitement of the day.

Louisville has historically exhibited amazing resiliency in tournament play, and there is considerable anticipation that the current circumstances will lead to triumph. This season, the Cardinals have averaging 78.6 points per game, 9.1 points higher than Creighton generally allows. The battle promises to be competitive, with betting odds favouring Louisville by 2.5 points, which is encouraging for their devoted fan base.

Chucky Hepburn and Terrence Edwards have been Louisville’s best players this season, laying the groundwork for a memorable tournament run. Hepburn averages 16.2 points and nearly 6 assists each game, while Edwards scores an amazing 16.6 points per game. Both players are anticipated to play key roles against Creighton, which brings its own set of studs to the floor, including Ryan Kalkbrenner, who averages roughly 20 points and 9 rebounds per game.

The cultural milieu around the Louisville basketball scene is as colourful and energetic. Musician B. Simm recently revealed that his song, “You Don’t Want These Cards,” which first got traction when Louisville’s football team made headlines in 2012, is experiencing a rebirth in popularity with the current basketball season frenzy.

Simm, who has witnessed a significant shift in excitement throughout the years, noted that there is “probably 100% difference” in the atmosphere around UofL basketball currently compared to past years when the team’s success trailed. This increased fervour is visible as fans of all ages, including the elderly and small children, sing along to his catchy tune during games.

As the Cardinals prepare for their match against Creighton and beyond, the attitude among supporters and players is a mix of resolve, pride, and enthusiasm. Louisville is hoping to utilise their perceived low position as incentive to advance in the tournament. Whether they succeed depends on their ability to translate this intensity into outstanding performances as they start on their NCAA adventure.

The game against Creighton on March 20 is only the start of what promises to be an entertaining NCAA Tournament for the Louisville Cardinals, whether they want to prove their naysayers wrong or simply soak up the energy of their returning supporters. As Coach Kelsey stated, it will serve as “a little fire in your belly” for this team, laying the groundwork for an incredible season.

Louisville’s Pat Kelsey is ‘hurt’ by the Cardinals’ NCAA Tournament placing and feels insulted

The Louisville Cardinals are possibly the most shocking team in college basketball this season. Pat Kelsey, first-year head coach, swiftly added 12 new players through the transfer portal after inheriting a team with only one player.

Impact players such Chucky Hepburn, Terrence Edwards Jr., Reyne Smith, Noah Waterman, J’Vonne Hadley, and James Scott have radically transformed the program. In his first season as Louisville’s head coach, Kelsey was voted ACC Coach of the Year and led the team to their first ACC Championship trip.

With a 27-7 record, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi predicted the Cardinals as a 6-seed, citing their excellent conference tournament performance. However, the selection committee had a different opinion, placing Louisville not just lower in the seeding but also as an 8-seed. The Cardinals’ berth in the ACC Championship might lead to a second-round game with Auburn, the tournament’s top overall seed. Kelsey discussed the team’s seeding and expressed his discontent with the committee’s choice.

Kelsey expressed his excitement about competing in the national tournament on KY Sports Radio. “I’ll be completely honest with you, we’re watching the selection show and when that popped up, it hurt a little bit.”

Kelsey did not hesitate to state that he believed his squad had been insulted in terms of seeding. As of now, the Cardinals are one of the country’s hottest teams entering the NCAA Tournament.

Maybe the seeding reflects Louisville’s absence from the tournament in recent years. Nonetheless, the Cardinals have advanced to the big dance, but their poor seed may result in an early departure in the Round of 64.

Hunter Cookston

Hunter Cookston started his career as a reporter for the Marion Tribune, covering local high school football, basketball, and baseball. His interest in athletics began at the age of four, when he played his first year of teeball. Growing up in Tennessee, he had strong feelings for the Tennessee Volunteers and the Atlanta Braves. Hunter is presently enrolled at Tennessee Wesleyan University, where he is pursuing a BA in Sports Communications/Management.

Crafted for fans since 1886.

Pat Kelsey responds to public outcry about him receiving ACC Coach of the Year over Jon Scheyer

Pat Kelsey led Louisville to a 25-6 overall record and an 18-2 conference record, earning him the ACC Coach of the Year award in his first season. However, there was significant backlash on social media when he received the honour.

Some fans felt their coach should have received the honour over Kelsey, but in the end, the Cardinals’ head coach gained the honour after transforming Louisville into an ACC contender. During the conference tournament earlier this week, Louisville’s head coach spoke out about the topic.

“No. Kelsey remarked, “I don’t pay any attention,” following Louisville’s ACC Tournament quarterfinal triumph on Thursday. “Obviously, there are a lot great coaches in this league, and several of them could have easily earned the honour. My mom emailed me a visual from Duke, but after reading everything, I thought, “Wow, that’s pretty impressive. Maybe he should have won it.”

Kelsey is referring to Duke’s social media release of a graphic highlighting all of the reasons why the head coach, Jon Scheyer, should have been named ACC Coach of the Year. The statistics extended far beyond Duke’s 19-1 record against ACC opponents and its projected No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

However, Kelsey was chosen for the award after taking over a team that had just had two of its worst seasons in recent memory. Kelsey went on to guide Louisville to 18 wins in the ACC alone, establishing his place as conference coach of the year, despite only winning 12 games in both seasons.

“I do not know. These don’t matter. “All that matters is fighting with this team to win a championship,” Kelsey said. “We’re really fortunate to progress; survival and advancement is what they say in tournament play, and we’re lucky to do so.

“I’m excited to find out who we’ll be playing. It’ll be a restless night, but it’ll be pure adrenaline. This is the most enjoyable time of the year. March is collegiate basketball season. College basketball fans all throughout America witnessed a thriller today, and we were lucky to advance.”

Kelsey made these comments after the Cardinals upset Stanford in the quarterfinals. They progressed to the title game against Duke after defeating Clemson 76-73 in the semifinals on Friday. The game between Louisville and Duke will tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET and will be live on ESPN.

How Louisville basketball pulled off an incredible comeback against Stanford at the ACC Tournament

No. 2-seeded Louisville basketball recovered from 15 points down with 14:32 remaining in regulation to defeat Stanford on a game-winning jumper from Chucky Hepburn as time expired in the ACC Tournament.

How did Pat Kelsey’s Cardinals complete the comeback? “Everybody just stayed together and held each other accountable,” Terrence Edwards Jr. explained.

Charlotte, North Carolina — In the locker room, Frank Anselem-Ibe and Khani Rooths were rewinding the last seconds of regulation on an iPhone. Were their eyes fooling them?

“I knew it was cash,” Anselem-Ibe explained.

Louisville basketball advanced to the semifinal stage of the ACC Tournament for the first time since entering in 2014, thanks to Chucky Hepburn’s last-second shot from the left elbow.

The highlight-reel performance closed up the Cardinals’ greatest comeback of the season and earned Hepburn a FaceTime conversation with former University of Louisville standout Donovan Mitchell.

Where does this rank among the senior point guard’s top moments from his college career?

“Top two,” Hepburn said, “and it is not No. 2.”

Louisville will face No. 3 Clemson at the Spectrum Centre on Friday at 9:30 p.m., following their first postseason win in three years. Another victory, and it will face either No. 1 Duke or No. 5 North Carolina in Saturday’s championship game.

Here’s how Pat Kelsey’s Cards made their amazing comeback:

‘I didn’t need to say much’



Kelsey took a timeout with 14:32 remaining in regulation with Louisville on the ropes.

The Cardinals trailed No. 7-seeded Stanford by 15 points, 52-37, despite defeating them by 20 points in the regular-season finale at the KFC Yum! Centre. Hope was in short supply from the outside.

Kelsey told reporters afterward that the Cardinal was the aggressor for the majority of the night, breaking U of L’s string of 20 consecutive games with a halftime lead. The ACC Coach of the Year called the aforementioned stoppage of play with Kyle Smith’s team on an 11-0 run and shooting 3 for 9 from the field after the break.

What would you say in such a situation? With an experienced team like Kelsey’s, it only takes about 30 seconds of what the 49-year-old Cincinnati native refers to as “aggressive counselling.”

“I didn’t have to say much after that,” Kelsey explained. His teammates grabbed it from there—and ran with it.

“Coach always tells us, ‘Stick together; play (our game) for 40 minutes,” Noah Waterman said. “We weren’t worried — even when we were down 15.”

“Nobody argued,” said Terrence Edwards Jr., who scored a game-high 25 points. “Everybody just stayed together and held each other accountable.”

“We just all looked at each other and said that we weren’t going to lose,” Hepburn told the crowd.

What happened next will be widely discussed in Louisville.

“How these guys responded to that adversity was amazing,” Kelsey told me. “I’m very, very, very proud of them.”

First, Edwards halted the bleeding with back-to-back layups. With 12:16 remaining, he knocked down a jumper in the paint, sparking a 16-3 run for the Cards, including baskets from Hepburn, James Scott, and J’Vonne Hadley, to tie the game at 60 with 7:41 on the clock. U of L outscored Stanford 13-5 over the following 5:45, taking its greatest lead of the night, 73-65, into the final 1:56.

“They just started driving us 1-on-1 a little in the middle of the floor,” Smith said; “and we couldn’t quite sustain it.”

That was only the beginning of this wild ride to the finish. Despite playing its second game in as many days, the Cardinal still had one more run in the tank, scoring eight consecutive points to tie with 32 seconds remaining. Its final bucket was a fast-break, and-1 layup after a poor pass from Hepburn, prompting Kelsey to call another timeout and set up for the final possession.

‘Pop-A-Shot’

Two Stanford defenders leaped Hepburn once and again as he dribbled the ball past midcourt. According to Edwards, this removed Louisville from the set it planned to run.

With 5.1 seconds left, he had the ball in his hands at the top of the key and launched a step-back, double-clutch 3-pointer over a leaping Oziyah Sellers. Scott’s comments came to mind at the time: “Put it on the rim; I got you.”

“I thought his shot was going to go in; I’m going to be honest,” Waterman told reporters. “I believe (in) everybody on the team, so I thought it was a buck.”

The shot that sent @LouisvilleMBB to it’s first-ever ACC Tournament Semifinals. pic.twitter.com/gCeeB9vj69

— ACC Men’s Basketball (@accmbb) March 14, 2025

It was not. The ball struck the rim, then the backboard, and briefly rested in Chisom Okpara’s hands with 2.9 seconds remaining. Smith stated that he attempted to call a timeout while his side was in control, but Scott knocked the ball loose, allowing Hepburn to recover near the left elbow with ample of room to shoot before the buzzer.

“I was just at the perfect spot at the perfect time,” Hepburn added.

“It was just like Pop-A-Shot,” Kelsey explained. “I don’t even think he jumped.”

Hepburn wasn’t thinking about the turnover he made on the possession before this one.

“If it’s still on my mind,” he said, “I probably don’t even hit that shot.”

Swish. Comeback is complete. Pandemonium. Another epic event for the guy who kissed the Dunking Cardinal emblem before leaving the Yum! Centre last weekend. According to statistician Kelly Dickey, this is Louisville’s first game-winning shot at the buzzer in the tournament since Scooter McCray’s tip-in against Arkansas on March 24, 1983, which set up the “Dream Game” vs archival Kentucky.

See you Friday night.

“Hopefully there’s more luck in the genie bottle,” Kelsey was saying.

UofL’s Pat Kelsey wins ACC Coach of the Year, Hepburn earns defensive accolades

Louisville, Kentucky —

Pat Kelsey, the Cardinals’ first-year head basketball coach, has been voted the ACC Coach of the Year.

The No. 13 Cardinals and Kelsey ended the regular season with a victory against Stanford this weekend. This improved UofL’s record to 25-6 heading into the ACC Tournament as the No. 2 seed.

Kelsey’s accomplishments in year one included leading the Cardinals to the final game of the Baha Mar Hoops Tournament early in the season and finishing on a nine-game winning run.

Kelsey’s strong finish helped the Cardinals tie for second place in the ACC.

Kelsey garnered 47 votes, outperforming Duke’s Jon Scheyer, who received 27. He is the first Louisville coach to collect the league award since Rick Pitino was awarded CUSA Coach of the Year in 2005.

In addition to Kelsey’s ACC honour, guard Chucky Hepburn was voted ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Hepburn is the first Cardinal to earn this honour. He was also selected for the All-ACC First Team.

Terrence Edwards, a guard, was chosen to the All-ACC Third Team.

If history holds true, Pat Kelsey and Louisville basketball have already won the ACC title

Pat Kelsey & Louisville Basketball is a championship formula in the works.

Pat Kelsey, the head coach of the Louisville men’s basketball team, has had a significant impact on the schools he has led. He appears to have wasted little time, as early indicators of his stay at Louisville indicate that the Cardinals’ first-year head coach is quickly converting the program into something remarkable.

Louisville’s season may still have one game left in the regular season, but Kelsey’s track record suggests that the Cardinals will rise to the No.1 seed in the ACC, and being crowned ACC Tournament winners is not only plausible, but quite likely.

With Kelsey in command, the program is in strong hands, and if his extended winning runs are any indication, it may only be a matter of time before the Cardinals lift an ACC championship trophy.

Pat Kelsey & Louisville Basketball is a championship formula in the works.

Pat Kelsey has had an instant impact on the Louisville basketball program, which finished last in the ACC last season with an ugly 3-17 record in league play and 8-24 overall. After starting 6-5, the Cardinals won 10 consecutive games before losing to Georgia Tech. They have since won eight more, bringing their total to 24-6 and 18 of their last 19.

Louisville basketball’s overwhelming victory run appears to be a trend Pat Kelsey has followed throughout his coaching tenure. Kelsey’s track records suggest that extended victory streaks have been a hallmark of his teams, and history shows that those runs typically result in championships.

Prior to joining UofL, Kelsey was the head coach at Charleston and Winthrop, where he established a winning culture and drastically transformed those programs.

In Kelsey’s second season at Charleston, the Cougars went 31-4, capturing the program’s first CAA title since 2008. Kelsey led the Cougars to a 20-game winning streak and landed Charleston in the top 25 for the first time in years.

Pat Kelsey also guided the Winthrop Eagles to a 23-2 record, including a school-record 21-game winning streak, a Big South tournament championship, and an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Kelsey was charged with a similar scenario with the Louisville Cardinals program, as UofL was considered floundering in previous years. However, Kelsey’s winning 18 of 19 games and establishing two major win streaks may be a premonition that the Cardinals are on track to earn the ACC regular season title.

Pat Kelsey’s history indicates that when his team has extended winning streaks, he frequently brings hardware to the program. The Cardinals have never won an ACC Tournament crown, and Kelsey’s victory run suggests he wants to put his name in the program’s history once more.

The Cardinals face Stanford at home, while Duke travels to UNC tomorrow night to face the Tar Heels.

The Cardinals’ winning streak at Louisville is more than simply luck; it demonstrates the program’s success. History implies that Kelsey and the Cardinals’ victory run has them set up for a ring ceremony. Cardinals supporters, gather your popcorn because this team’s sky is the limit.

Reyne Smith talks on his friendship with Pat Kelsey ahead of Louisville basketball’s senior day

Louisville basketball sharpshooter Reyne Smith, the only player on the squad who has spent all four years under coach Pat Kelsey, will have an emotional senior day.

Smith, who is from Tasmania, has always had a talent for shooting the ball. Kelsey has helped him become perhaps the greatest in Division I this season.

This is the narrative of Smith falling in love with the game, meeting Kelsey, and forming a friendship that will endure their entire lives.

Pat Kelsey’s pause revealed more about his connection with Reyne Smith than the accolades the Louisville basketball coach bestowed upon the Australian player.

“He’s a winner,” Kelsey told reporters during the Cardinals’ season-opening exhibition against Young Harris College in October. “Sometimes, people mistake him for what Skip Prosser used to call’suburban jump shooters.'” That is not Reyne.

“That’s his deal — and he shoots the blood out of the ball — yet he’s tough as nails and appears on every single scouting report. He is always precisely where he is supposed to be. It’s almost like having another assistant coach because he understands what we do and how to execute it so effectively. He’s a selfless guy who puts the team first.”

Then comes the pause. Perhaps Kelsey was reminded of the day Smith committed to play for him at Winthrop, when he jumped into the pool at his Rock Hill, South Carolina, home after getting the news. Perhaps it was a realisation of how much time had gone — or that concentrating solely on the next item in front of him would not avert the inevitable.

“It’s a shame I only get to coach him for one more year,” he told me. “Because he’s a joy.”

With a crowded senior day versus Stanford at the KFC Yum! Centre on Saturday, Kelsey is likely to say the same thing about players on his debut U of L roster. Smith’s family travels from Tasmania to accompany him to Denny Crum Court, which will have a different impact.

“He’s like a son to me,” Kelsey said after a Feb. 16 win against Notre Dame. Smith became only the third player in school history to hit 100 shots from beyond the arc in a season.

“It’s hard to put into words,” Smith told The Courier Journal later that night. “It’s starting to feel a little more real: It’s coming to the end.”

Smith, of course, is the only Card who has spent his whole four-year college career with Kelsey and his crew. He was the first to transfer in last March, only hours after the coach named his renovation “The ReviVILLE” on X, previously Twitter. All he’s done since then is improve his skills and become a fan favourite, making umbrella hats a must-have accessory in the student section.

“It’s kind of emotional to see the success he’s had this year; because he came with me from Charleston,” Kelsey elaborated. “He’s better here than he was there—and he was really excellent there. It’s absolutely amazing to see, and it’s a credit to hard effort.”

This is the story of Smith discovering basketball, his shot, Kelsey, and a second family.

He’s always been able to shoot it.

During an interview on The C.L. Brown Show in January, Smith revealed that he began playing Australian rules football as a child in Ulverstone. He started playing basketball in first grade and remained with it because of the individuals it made him close to.

A wise decision; by his early teens, he was competing in a national championship competition. His coach was Louisville assistant Michael Cassidy, a fellow countryman who is new to coaching.

“I should find a photo,” Cassidy told The Courier Journal last summer. “The guy is tiny and little, but he’s always been able to shoot it.

“We’ve always joked about how we can’t stay away from one other. It’s been like four separate programs.”

When Smith placed second in made 3-pointers during the week-long contest, he decided to dedicate himself to the sport in the hopes of one day being Australia’s best marksman. He spent a lot of time on YouTube, namely viewing a Sports Science video on Klay Thompson’s jumper, and worked hard in the gym.

 

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Smith informed Paul Rogers of the Cardinal Sports Network that he was confidence in his ability to shoot the ball after setting the Cardinals’ single-game record of 10 three-pointers against SMU on January 21. “I work way too hard to even think twice about my shot.”

“There are very few people I’ve ever coached,” she added, “who are as invested in their game as he is.”

Cassidy eventually came knocking with an invitation to play for the elite Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. It was founded in 1981 to improve the country’s prospects of winning an Olympic medal, and it has produced basketball players like Andrew Bogut and Patty Mills.

Smith was determined to advance his game to Division I level, so this was a no-brainer; he moved away from home at the age of 17. Since then, the distance has only increased.

“My mom’s like my biggest fan and wants me to chase my dreams,” she remarked. “She hates seeing me leave; but she knows that this is something I love to do.”

‘Comfortable’

Kelsey had success recruiting at the Australian Institute of Sport (Xavier Cooks) before to Smith’s arrival, developing contacts with coaches along the way. When the young guard began to build a reputation for himself, they contacted the Cincinnati native on his behalf.

“I’ve always loved watching Reyne play,” said Washington Wizards assistant Adam Caporn, who was the senior teacher at the institute’s Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence while Smith and Cassidy were there. “(He) can play anywhere and help a team anywhere with that level of shooting and toughness.”

Kelsey offered Smith two things if he committed to Winthrop. The first was that, in accordance with Australian customs, he would not have to address him as coach. The second move was the aforementioned backflip into his pool.

“I didn’t think anything of it,” Smith said. “When I called him to say I was committing, I kind of forgot about it.”

Kelsey then raced outside, flipped his phone camera around, and asked his son, Johnny, to record him diving into the lake while wearing his clothing.

“I’m like, ‘Oh my God,'” Smith explained. “Coaches with so much enthusiasm are hard to come by in Australia. “It was quite funny.”

 

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Kelsey have great expectations for Smith. When his signing became official, the coach stated, “I don’t want to put too much pressure on him; but I believe he could be Winthrop’s next great Australian.” However, that never materialised. Instead, he followed him and Cassidy to Charleston, where he broke the program record for most 3-pointers made in a game twice as a junior, finishing with 1,212 career points on 37% shooting from distance.

Smith praised Kelsey and his team for making him feel at ease during his adjustment to life in America. That’s one of the reasons he was so eager to join what they were creating in Louisville. Despite receiving offers from other institutions through the NCAA transfer site last spring, he chose not to pursue them.

“Especially during holidays like Thanksgiving (or) Christmas, PK’s always stressing to make sure that I’m OK and I’ve got something going on; and, if not, I can always come to his house,” Smith informed me.

“That’s what’s been so amazing for me: him underlining how welcome I am to come over anytime I want, and a variety of other staff members stating that if I ever need a home-cooked dinner, I can come over. Things like those simply make it feel so much simpler, and you feel a lot more at ease in that setting.”

‘It won’t endure forever.’

Smith, who had lived and breathed Kelsey’s culture for three years, came into the 2024-25 season as an expert at maintaining a forward-thinking attitude. But he was also acutely aware of the wider picture: time was of the essence.

“You kind of go in every day just with a different appreciation,” Smith claimed, “and understanding that it’s not lasting forever.”

Smith, as Kelsey mentioned after the Notre Dame win, had a smooth adjustment from the Coastal Athletic Association to the ACC. Entering March, he was nine 3s away from breaking his career high of 112 from 2023-24 and 19 shy of overtaking Taquan Dean’s 122 from 2004-05 for the top place in the U of L record book.

“His light is neon,” Kelsey explained. “Name a (shade) of green that’s greener than green and he’s got it.”

“When a play gets called for him, and you’re on the end of the screen, you just really want to do your job,” said sophomore forward James Scott, who played with Smith at Charleston before following him to the Cards. “Because you know that, if you do your job and he gets any type of space, he’s going to hit the shot.”

 

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Smith’s 3.71 triples per game stood second in DI entering March and, if he continues at this rate, will be the highest by an ACC player since JJ Redick averaged 3.90 for Duke in 2005-06. He was also on track for the second-best conversion rate from outside the arc of his career, at 38.5%. Then there were his career-best 81 rebounds and career-low 20 turnovers.

“He’s a really good all-around player,” Kelsey explained.

Although he will soon leave Kelsey & Co. behind, Smith’s playing career is far from done. Snipers with his range are likely to find a home in the professional ranks, and he should be called upon to represent Australia in international events, including as the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup. But when the ball stops bouncing, he wants to be a coach. He replied that teaching the game is too much pleasure to give up totally.

“He’s a great leader; he’s unbelievably bright basketball-wise; he’s got a dynamic personality,” Kelsey told me. “I’ll try to talk him out of this ridiculous racket, but what’s in your blood stays in your blood. Typically, you have no control over the situation.”

Kelsey’s regimen is also having an impact on him.

“I’m forever in debt to this staff for what they’ve done for me — for not only my basketball career but also for me as a person; kind of shaping my life so, when I leave the program, I’m not only a better basketball player but also a better man,” Smith said. “They always talk about how proud they are of me, but the feeling’s mutual.”

Brooks Holton, a Louisville men’s basketball reporter, may be reached at bholton@gannett.com and followed on X at @brooksHolton.