Pat Kelsey and Louisville basketball must snatch former 5-star from ACC opponent

The transfer portal is beginning to heat up. Pat Kelsey’s Cardinals are anticipated to compete for elite talents from throughout the country when they enter the portal.

The Cardinals have approached many players, including Josh Dix and Nick Davidson. Kelsey is certainly working to enhance his team’s shooting from beyond the arc and depth. As additional names enter the portal, Louisville remains a favoured destination. Recently, a former recruit from 2023 has become available.

Kelsey must find a means to get this former 5-star recruit from an ACC opponent while also improving the team’s guard position.

Pat Kelsey and Louisville basketball must snag former 5-star from ACC opponent.

On3 revealed Friday night that the North Carolina star point guard had officially entered the transfer portal. Elliot Cadeau started 68 games in his first two seasons with the Tar Heels.

The North Carolina transfer is a former unanimous 5-star prospect from the 2023 class. All recruiting sites ranked the now-sophomore player as the nation’s second-best point guard in his class. 247Sports put him as high as No. 12 in the nation, and he was widely regarded as Missouri’s No. 2 player.

Cadeau has immense potential, since he was heavily targeted by the Cardinals back in 2023. Louisville was one of the few teams that the former 5-star evaluated before deciding on the Tar Heels. The Cardinals extended an offer to Cadeau in July 2022 and were one of the most faithful programs to the Missouri native. Cadeau visited Louisville in 2023, just before committing to the Tar Heels.

Despite a rough start to his collegiate career, Kelsey has demonstrated his ability to grow exceptional athletes into some of the best in the country. The former Tar Heels guard averaged 9.4 points, 6.2 assists, and 1.1 steals in 2024-25. The 5-star prospect is skilled on both ends of the court and took off this season after being given more opportunity.

Cadeau recorded six games with four or more thefts, including a season-high four steals in two games. On the opposite end of the court, he scored a season-high 18 points versus American and completed many games with 17 points. The former 5-star prospect is a top facilitator. He set a season best of 13 assists and added 12 assists in three games. He also recorded two double-doubles last season.

Last season, the 6-foot-1 guard from New Jersey improved his 3-point shot, hitting 29 of them for 34 percent. Cadeau might be the ideal guard to replace Chucky Hepburn’s productivity from previous season.

The two guards have similar qualities, but Cadeau’s potential exceeds Hepburn’s. Kelsey will have to strive to steal a unique talent from North Carolina: the ability to protect on one end, pass the ball, and score when necessary.

Louisville finally wakes up and will support Pat Kelsey with a huge amount of NIL money

Louisville basketball was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament after losing to Creighton in the first round. The Cardinals lost 89-75 and are winless in March Madness since 2017.

Pat Kelsey’s Cardinals struggled to cover the outside and pick-and-roll, allowing Creighton to score over 50% from beyond the arc. The Bluejays took a 19-2 lead in the first half, which was the final nail in the coffin, and the Cardinals never got the game back to single digits.

Louisville basketball will adjust its focus next year, hoping to take another significant stride forward. The Cardinals hope to win their first NCAA Tournament in eight years and reach their first Final Four since 2013. A significant aspect in reaching the Final Four is acquiring a large number of recruits through the transfer portal. According to recent reports, the Cardinals are all in and will do all it takes to win the 2026 National Championship.

Louisville basketball will do all it takes to capture the 2026 national championship.

Pat Kelsey has proven that he will do whatever it takes to win. The Cardinals’ head coach is one of the finest in the country at rebuilding programs, having successfully brought three back to life.

Pat Kelsey has proven that he will do whatever it takes to win. The Cardinals’ head coach is one of the finest in the country at rebuilding programs, having successfully brought three back to life.

The Cardinals will lose five significant players this season, including Terrence Edwards Jr., Chucky Hepburn, and Reyne Smith. Mikel Brown Jr., a 5-star prospect, is set to join Louisville next season. Still, Louisville will want some experience, improved defence, and a deadly shooter to replace their three best scorers from the previous season.

The spring transfer portal starts on Monday, March 24. Kelsey demonstrated last season, when he brought in 12 players through the transfer window, that this is his secret formula for success. Kasean Pryor, who had a season-ending injury in December, was the highest-paid player on the 2024-25 squad.

According to On3, Kelsey and the staff want to spend $8 to $10 million on the transfer portal for the 2025 roster.

NEW: Louisville is prepared to spend $8M to $10M in the transfer portal for next season’s men’s basketball roster, @PeteNakos_ reports🤯https://t.co/hS3q1crbhC pic.twitter.com/EvaOrxj4EY

— On3 (@On3sports) March 21, 2025

So, while Louisville basketball’s 2024-25 season leaves a bad taste in their mouths, it has inspired this staff to finally back Pat Kelsey and provide him the supporting roster he needs.

The Cardinals will re-sign important players J’Vonne Hadley, Kasean Pryor, and Khani Rooths while adding McDonald’s All-American Mikel Brown Jr. If this team is ready to spend $8 to $10 million on the transfer portal this season, the Cardinals will try to dominate the ACC and win their first national championship since 2013.

Louisville coach Pat Kelsey describes what went wrong for the Cardinals in their NCAA Tournament defeat.

Lexington, Kentucky — The Louisville men’s basketball team has lost at Rupp Arena for the second straight season in 2024-25.

The Cardinals’ first setback, a Dec. 14 matchup to Kentucky, proved to be a turning point for them. U of L went on to win 21 of its next 24 games.

However, the second defeat, an 89-75 loss to Creighton in Lexington on Thursday afternoon, ended the season for the University of Louisville.

Eight-seed Louisville lost to 9th-seeded Creighton in the first round of the 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena.

Pat Kelsey’s first season as head coach of the Cardinals ended on a down note. The Cardinals trailed for more than 37 minutes in their first-round loss to the Bluejays, who shot 45.8% (11 for 24) from three.

Louisville’s first appearance in the national postseason since 2019 was marred by a number of additional setbacks.

Kelsey received a technical foul in the second half. Reyne Smith, a senior guard at the University of Louisville, reaggravated a right ankle ailment that had sidelined him since March 5. Smith walked off the floor with 11:37 remaining in the game on Thursday, returning to the Louisville bench on crutches and his right shoe off.

Overall, it was a horrible day at work for Kelsey and company, as Louisville’s season concluded with a 27-8 record.

Louisville hasn’t won in March Madness since 2017.

Here’s everything Kelsey said at his news conference following the season-ending loss.

– Opening statement.

I want to congratulate Coach McDermott and Creighton. They performed quite well today. They were the superior team today. We played in a really challenging atmosphere since it was directly down the road from our school. Give them plenty of credit. We’re proud of our guys. It’s been a long trip since June 5, when these boys first met for summer school. Players with zero scouting reports.

Built the complete team in a very short period of time. They bonded fast. We wanted them to love one other from the start, and these boys gave everything they had to do what I asked of them. For the next ten months, as well as the remainder of my life and career, I will remember this group as one of the most remarkable groups I’ve ever taught. I know they are clever and experienced. They are clever, hard-working, and devoted.

It was just a really wonderful bunch. I told them in there that it would hurt really today. It will ache for a few days. It’ll ache for a while. But when they are able to get perspective and see the big picture of what they have done and accomplished, they have done some very remarkable things.

— A question on how this season’s Louisville squad laid the groundwork for Pat Kelsey’s future U of L teams.

Yes, it hurts terribly when it ends, and it does so quickly. You put so much effort into your preparation. You work really hard every day. You never believe it would end. And when it’s over, it’s incredibly hard. When you look at those men in the locker room and see how disturbed and sad they are, a flood of emotions comes over you, and you begin to reflect on all you’ve gone through with this group.

And you realise how amazing it has been and how exceptional they are. We have the best fan following in the country, and I don’t think it’s close. You saw how filled the arena was tonight. There were thousands of admirers at our hotel before we departed, and they have rallied around this unique bunch of young guys.

I hate it for our supporters. I feel bad for our fan base since we weren’t able to complete it today. These players wanted so badly to give these supporters what they deserved: to place Louisville in the national limelight and advance in the national tournament. We just came up short tonight. The disappointment of today will not detract from the memorable season they had, but as we already stated, it will hurt for a time.

– A question regarding being called for a technical foul in the second half.

I got upset and said something I shouldn’t have, and he set me up, you know. I know that this is far from an ideal moment to get technical.

So that is what it is.

— Comment on Kelsey restoring grace and dignity to the Louisville basketball program.

That means a lot coming from someone as legendary as you. We brag about our tremendous fan following, but our past is wild. I mean, you are a part of a national championship. We have several All-Americans.

I came in as an outsider, and no one knew who I was, so receiving a compliment like that from one of our previous greats meant everything to me. So, thank you. These people worked hard every day to make you proud. Thank you.

— A question regarding Creighton’s offence extending their advantage in the first half.

That was an enormous reach. I understand it was early in the game, but that was a 12-0 bombardment that we struggled to recover from. They obtained them in a variety of ways, but I believe it all started with transition. They binge score, as I prefer to call it. We teach our players that you may be on transition for five, six, or seven minutes, then relax for one second, and the ball comes out of the net or off the rim, into their hands, pitch forward, and they get threes. When they missed, they were given second chances and a few of kick-out threes.

That was a tremendous stretch. Our men continued to fight. They are an excellent team. They are quite well-coached. They operate one of the greatest centres in the country. They have a great point guard. Big child. I always mention numbers, and this is not meant to be disrespectful, but if we were facing the 1996 Bulls, I would say 23 for Chicago, but 11 is a load. Makes you make some really, very tough decisions about what you’re doing with pick-and-rolls because he’s one of the top lob threats in the country, and the shooting around him requires you to make tough choices.

We were attempting to drop the pick-and-roll, fight over the top, and go physical with the roll, but they were screening us and rounding the corner to get to the rim. So we decided to be more aggressive with the pick-and-roll and hedge more. No. 1 is a surgeon, and he can really pick you apart. If you stay in the low position to prevent the roll, he does an excellent job of throwing back and finding shooters. They got loose a few times.

Nonetheless, our men fought on. We trimmed it to 10 or 12, whatever it was, and the knucklehead head coach got a technical, which didn’t help.

Again, give them a lot of credit. They were the superior team today.

— A question regarding Louisville’s strong season despite injuries and other setbacks.

All I can think about right now is the loss, and it aches so deeply. I wanted it so much. Our guys want it so much. Our fans wished for it desperately. They answered the phone. There was a lot of red there. There was a lot of passion. There was a lot of noise.

Right now, all I can feel is that, and it aches terribly. There will come a moment when we can look back and appreciate it a little more. But now is not the moment. We have a lot of injured men in the locker room. Some of our players will never wear another shirt again. We have several individuals that will go on to play professionally.

I actually like to think, and while this may seem cliché and coach talk, I truly believe it. I believe that being a part of this journey for the last ten months, even if those guys were only in a Louisville uniform for a year, has taught them life lessons that will help them in every aspect of their lives in the future, which is something I am passionate about, as is my staff.

— A question concerning Louisville’s roster construction intentions for next season.

Now is not the right moment.

We’re enthusiastic about what’s coming up. We’ll perform an excellent job of recruiting and managing the transfer portal, assembling a fantastic team that will battle for the title. I am completely confident that this will happen.

That is not for this news conference. Just not right now.

— A question regarding how Creighton protected Chucky Hepburn in the second half.

… So their defensive strategy revolves around positioning one of the finest rim defenders in the country near the rim, and he doesn’t move much. What they attempt to do is direct everything to him, whether it’s an off-ball screen or a ball screen. It’s as if they’re just playing on your emotions and forcing you to go somewhere.

In modern basketball analytics, the mid-range shot has one of the lowest percentages in the game. Although No. 5 defied all human nature in terms of basketball numbers today because that young kid was shooting from the mid-range, and I give him a lot of respect. Tip the hat. He had an amazing game. I mean, he had 29, 12, and six assists, several of which were difficult shots.

That is also what I would say about Creighton in general. Every time we gained momentum, it seemed like a dagger shot, whether it was No. 11’s long three or No. 1’s three from, what appears to be, another county down the road. That was a really large one.

And No. 5 was hitting such hard dagger middies that every time you glanced around, you were like, “Wow.”

They move a lot on offence. Chucky uses a lot of energy chasing No. 1 around. He and Chucky are both always on the move. That was a great matchup and battle.

We tried to improve our ball movement and people mobility in the second half, because the first half was much more dribble, dribble because we were establishing middle pick-and-rolls and they were forcing us down to the huge. And we were attacking him, getting some middies and some shots at the basket.

So I think we did a better job, and our percentages showed that in the second half, with more fluidity and movement, as well as cutting and screening in our offence.

– A question regarding a water bottle thrown on the floor in the second half after Kelsey was penalised for a technical foul.

To be completely honest, I did not notice it. I just got the technical, and I’m talking to my team, and they keep cleaning things up on the other end, and I’m like, what the heck is going on, and someone says, tossed a water bottle on the court. It is unfortunate. It occurred.

Copyright 2025 Lexington Herald-Leader. Visit Kentucky.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Louisville extends Pat Kelsey’s contract, but his salary lags below his predecessor

The NCAA Tournament field is decided, and the Louisville Cardinals have had a stunning turnaround. Only a year ago, Louisville was in turmoil. They finished last in the ACC for the second straight season, with a 12-52 record at that time. The squad realised a change was necessary, so they fired head coach Kenny Payne and hired Pat Kelsey.

The move yielded instant results. Kelsey led the Cardinals to a 27-7 record, winning 18 conference games and finishing second in the ACC. This performance earned Louisville its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019.

As a result, Kelsey’s contract was extended for another year, currently lasting through 2030. He also received a bonus of at least $50,000 and a $25,000 incentive for earning the ACC Coach of the Year award. Despite his accomplishment, Kelsey’s compensation remains lower than that of Payne, whom he succeeded. Payne, who is currently an associate coach at Arkansas under John Calipari, received a basic salary of $3.35 million, while Kelsey got $2,367,418. However, Kelsey still has the option to boost his wages through performance-based bonuses.

If Louisville wins their first-round game, he will receive $100,000, with each consecutive victory adding $50,000 to his total. A national championship victory would result in an extra $500,000, potentially pushing Kelsey’s compensation much above Payne’s.

Pat Kelsey’s first season at Louisville has been nothing short of impressive. He has demonstrated his ability as a coach by turning around a troubled school and taking the Cardinals back to the NCAA Tournament. While his compensation may not yet reflect his accomplishment, the possibility of performance bonuses suggests that he’s on the rise. Louisville’s future is bright under Kelsey’s guidance, and his stunning turnaround will most certainly lay the groundwork for continuing success in the years to come.

Finance Monthly is a comprehensive website for persons interested in consumer finance and money management. It provides news, discussion, and in-depth analysis on important themes for personal financial management and decision-making. Whether you’re looking to budget, invest, or understand market trends, Finance Monthly has useful information to help you negotiate the financial elements of your daily life.

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.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Reyne Smith (@_reynesmith)

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.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Reyne Smith (@_reynesmith)

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.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Louisville Men’s Basketball (@louisvillembb)

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.