Why is Louisville basketball the most underseeded team in 2025?

Bubba Cunningham What are you doing with Louisville basketball?

Most Louisville basketball fans are aware that the 2025 Tournament Selection Committee was led by Bubba Cunningham, the athletic director of the University of North Carolina. Cunningham earned a $68,000 gratuity when the Tar Heels made the field of 68.

When I initially learnt that Pat Kelsey’s 27-7, tenth-ranked ACC runner-up Louisville Cardinals, who had lost two games in three months, had been placed eighth in their NCAA tournament bracket, I assumed the committee was led by Mr. Flathead and Mrs. Philips-Head. Mr. Cunningham also makes sense, now that I think about it.

But I’m not upset because North Carolina gets to dance. In fact, I believe the bracket is better with them in it. The Tar Heels’ 24 point comeback in the second half against top-ranked Duke was a statement in and of itself, not to mention the fact that they play in the ACC and have a strong nonconference schedule. I’m also not ungrateful to be playing in the tournament: the last few years have demonstrated to Louisville citizens that having a blue blood program does not ensure membership in March Madness, unless, of course, it’s a Carolina-blue blood. Also, the fact that the Cards will play in the first round 70 miles from the Yum! Centre is a bonus. However, this is not the present that the squad has earned.

Bracket projections had Louisville at a 5-seed.

The committee dropped them to an 8. pic.twitter.com/aaEinVwQaG

— State of Louisville (@thestateoflou) March 18, 2025

Understanding the Committee’s Decision

The national rankings are often divided between two major polls: the AP and Coaches. Yes, there are many more, some of whom use complex analytics and computer diagnostics, but the AP and Coaches are the ones we often pay attention to during the year. The Associate Press Poll is judged by 62 sports journalists from throughout the country. The Coaches Poll voters are from each of the 32 Division One conferences that get an automatic trip to the NCAA tournament, with each coach submitting a top 25. First place receives 25 points, second place gets 24, and so on.

Teams change and move during the season. Climbing the polls and sustaining national standing require consistent success, and both are evaluated weekly. It’s not perfect, but it’s the most essential and widely acknowledged indicator of who is who for each sports year, at least for the most of the time.

It was all faulty.

Allow me to inform you about “The Matt Osbourn Selection Committee.” The committee’s members are the nation’s finest sports journalists and coaches; the criteria is each team’s performance during the season; and each team’s seeding in the tournament is determined by its national rating. This is not a replacement for current metrics, but rather a guidepost to keep the committee accountable. There should be a loose correlation between team evaluations throughout the year and their placement in the year-end tournament.

Well, there is. Mostly. The seeds numbered one through eight are listed below. On one side is the AP Poll, and on the other is the Coaches Poll, with each team’s seeding indicating how much they soared, fell, or stayed according on where either poll would have put them. The Matt Osbourn Selection Committee allows for a one-to-two seed margin of error. For example, consider Chucky Hepburn’s old squad, the Wisconsin Badgers. The selection committee ranks them 12th overall, with a 3 seed (in the third group).

They are placed 13th in the AP Poll and tenth in the Coaches Poll. So, in the AP Poll, they moved up one spot from their suitable seed, from a 4 to a 3, while in the Coaches Poll, their seeding was appropriate given their rating. The Top 25 teams in both surveys remain within a two-seed margin of error, save for three outliers.

** The AP and Coaches Polls rank the top 25 teams.

** NCAA seeding indicates each seed (1-8) in groups of four (for example, 1 seeds: Auburn, Duke, Houston, and Florida).

The math isn’t mathin.

As you can see above, all of the one seeds correlate to their respective positions, one through four in both surveys. All two seeds, from five to eight, also correlate. In fact, with two exceptions, every team in the Top 25 of both surveys is securely inside the margin of error, seeded within one or two seeds of their respective positions in both polls. Kentucky leaped three spots, ranking 21 in the Coaches Poll and obtaining a three seed.

Then there is Louisville basketball. Based on their standing in both surveys, the Cards were seeded five spots lower than they should have been. Five seeds: it’s an aberration, an outlier that much outweighs the association between any other program’s placement and position in the Top 25. It is not even close.

After what occurred in 2005, I guess we shouldn’t be shocked. Despite completing the season ranked 10th and 11th, obtaining an 8 seed does not seem logical. At what point do games no longer matter? Auburn concluded the season by losing three of their final four games. Louisville has not dropped three games in 2025, span.

Clemson received a five seed, which is unfair since they beat Kentucky and were previously rated 12th and 13th. However, we defeated Clemson twice and are still placed three spots below the Tigers. Three. If there were a slew of outliers, or even a handful, or even one akin to the Cards’ scenario, it would detract from my shoulder’s chip, but there aren’t; at least not among the seeded teams who made the tournament.

Just win!

Finally, there’s no use in regretting the seeding. It cannot be altered, and if the aim is to dance for as long as possible, your partner will eventually become a beast. I’m genuinely pleased that my alma mater is still playing basketball on Thursday. I just think Pat Kelsey and the Cards’ body of work this year ought to be acknowledged and valued a little more.

It’s time to win their respect. But those of us who love Louisville basketball and have followed them all year, and in previous years, know that they should already have it.

Pat Kelsey wants to compel the NCAA Tournament Committee to eat a hefty spoonful of crow

Pat Kelsey went on a local radio broadcast and discussed how unfair this seed is to his Louisville basketball team.

Fans expected Louisville basketball to be a 6-seed, despite projections ranging from 5 to 7 seeds.

Some people believed they’d be disappointed if they were seeded seventh, but no one considered being seeded eighth. The Cardinals were the third name given on Selection Sunday, and supporters had no idea what to do. Everyone’s eyes widened, their jaws fell, and they sat there in shock, even Pat Kelsey.

CBS showed the Cardinals cheering as their name was called, and viewers noticed Pat Kelsey sitting there stunned. The Cardinals’ head coach spoke on a local radio station about the disappointing outcome for the Louisville basketball team.

Pat Kelsey wants to compel the NCAA Tournament Committee to eat a hefty spoonful of crow

Pat Kelsey is the ACC Coach of the Year, a semifinalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year, and has set several program milestones in his first season as head coach of Louisville basketball.

The Cardinals finished 27-7, with a 6-6 record against Quad 1 schools, including two wins over one of the No. 5 seeds, the Clemson Tigers. Louisville basketball has won 21 of its past 23 games and advanced to the ACC Tournament Championship game, where everyone expected a higher seed, even Kelsey.

“To be absolutely honest, when that came up during the Selection Show, it hurt a little. “You felt slightly slighted.” Kelsey commented on the Cardinals’ seeding.

The Cardinals are now rated No. 13 in the AP Polls, and dropping to an 8-seed doesn’t make much sense. The Cardinals are only the second team to be rated 13th in the AP Poll and an 8th seed in March Madness.

“It’s what it is at the moment. You have the benefit of having no option, but I believe we should play a 12 or 11 seed. Every statistic under the sun, and all the experts, NET 23, which would place us in a hypothetical five-seed range, KenPom 23.” Kelsey stated.

He is correct that they don’t have a choice, and ideally, this warms up the squad and the Cardinals come out with revenge in mind. He is also correct that practically every analyst predicted the Cardinals as a 5-7 seed. The Cardinals received an average seed of 5.88 based on 180 predictions from the Bracket Matrix.

Did @MarchMadnessMBB get it right with @LouisvilleMBB as the 8th seed in the South Region?@patkelsey had some thoughts 🤔@KySportsRadio @MedcalfByESPN pic.twitter.com/2MRZ5oxcyQ

— ESPN Radio (@ESPNRadio) March 16, 2025

“Heck, guys, you’re Kentucky supporters. Kelsey commented on the Cardinals’ amazing winning run, which began on December 14 and has lasted three months. “We have lost two games. We finished 18-2 in the ACC, advanced to the conference title game, and fell to the nation’s top team. “It is what it is.”

Pat Kelsey was simply expressing the truth here. It’s crazy to see where the Cardinals were seeded, to watch North Carolina enter the NCAA Tournament and gain respect, and then to see Louisville fall to a No. 8 seed, three seeds below Clemson; it simply doesn’t make sense.

At the end of the day, this will be incentive for the Pat Kelsey squad, as he mentioned in his concluding words.

“If anything, to a competitor, to our guys, and to me, it puts a little fire in your belly and gives you a little added chip on your shoulder,” Kelsey told me.

The finish is fantastic for fans, and ideally, the Duke defeat stings a little bit, and the committee’s contempt just serves to propel this squad to the next level. Louisville basketball must now prove the committee wrong and show that this Louisville Cardinals team is the genuine deal.

The Cardinals will face Creighton on Thursday in Lexington, Kentucky. Louisville basketball supporters want to paint Rupp Arena red, as it is only one hour away from the KFC Yum! Centre.

BOZICH | Kelsey ‘hurt’ by Cards’ NCAA 8-seed, but Heird encourages supporters to turn Rupp Arena red

Louisville, Kentucky (WDRB) – Pat Kelsey, the head coach of the University of Louisville men’s basketball team, said ESPN Radio that it “hurt a little bit” to discover that his team got an 8-seed rather than a 6-seed for their first-round NCAA Tournament game against Creighton.

However, Cards’ athletic director Josh Heird, who worked on the selection committee for the women’s tournament, pushed his team and supporters to seize the chance to play in Lexington and pack Rupp Arena.

“We said from the beginning of the season that one of our goals was to put this program back in the NCAA Tournament, and we get to do that 70 miles down the road,” Heird told reporters.

“We requested to be sent to Lexington. Okay, we’re in Lexington. Let’s get 20,000 fans in the building and make it red on Thursday.”

The Cards’ 8-seed ranking was one of the more stunning surprises in the men’s bracket release.

They will face Big East runner-up Creighton, who was also seeded ninth. If the Cards win, they will likely face Auburn, the tournament’s overall top seed.

Most bracketologists predicted Louisville as a 6-seed. The Cards’ computer metrics—they’re placed 23rd in the NCAA NET system and Ken Pomeroy, as well as 19th in Bart Torvik’s calculation—also forecast as a six-seed.

Despite Louisville’s 27-7 overall record and 18-2 Atlantic Coast Conference record, the men’s committee appears to have voted them down due to defeats to four Southeastern Conference schools – Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

Kelsey told ESPN Radio’s Matt Jones on Sunday night:

“First and foremost, I’d want to express how privileged and delighted we are to be participating in the national competition, representing our school and community.

“You know, I’ll be fully honest with you: during the Selection Show, when it came up, it stung a little bit. You feel little slighted.

“You know, it is what it is right now. You benefit from having no option. But, you know, I believe we should be playing a 12- or 11-seed. Every statistic you look at, and all the experts, NET, we’re 23rd, which puts us in the region of a possible five seeds.

“Ken Pom, (we are) 23.” You know, guys, you’re Kentucky supporters. We’ve lost two games in the three months since the December 14 game (in the United Kingdom). We finished 18-2 in the ACC. We went to the conference championship game and fell to the nation’s number one team (Duke on Saturday night).

“So that is what it is. It, if anything, gives a competition, our players, and me a little fire in their belly and a chip on their shoulder.

“But, you know, we have to do a tremendous job of preparing over the next few days, because Creighton is an explosive, dangerous, and really well-coached team, as you all know. We are looking forward to getting to work.”

Heird believes Cardinals fans should be excited. He stated that the Cards’ NCAA ticket allotment is 350, with a possibility to purchase an additional 200. He predicted that most fans will have to rely on the secondary market to obtain tickets.

“Getting back to the tournament has been one of our goals and now we want to advance,” Heird replied.

“I haven’t seen a coach snubbed like this since Coach K”: Duke criticises ACC when Pat Kelsey wins Coach of the Year

Following Louisville’s Pat Kelsey’s selection as the 2024–25 ACC Coach of the Year, the Duke Blue Devils blasted the Atlantic Coast Conference on Monday. On its X (formerly Twitter) account, Duke expressed support for coach Jon Scheyer by citing a number of reasons why Coach K’s replacement was deserving of the recognition.

In their post, Scheyer was tagged by the Blue Devils, who likened his Coach of the Year rejection to what Mike Krzyzewski went through in his final 22 seasons at Duke, despite his many achievements. They emphasised Coach K’s accomplishments throughout that time.

“Haven’t seen a coach snubbed for ACC COTY like this since Coach K didn’t win it once over his final 22 seasons, which included 3 national titles, 10 ACC Tourney titles, 5 ACC RS titles and 11 30-win seasons,” Duke said on X.

After showcasing his accomplishments from the 2024–25 NCAA season, the Blue Devils then commended Jon Scheyer. In addition to leading Duke to its biggest victory ever in four ACC road locations, he led the team to 10 ACC victories by at least 25 points, the most in program history.

Additionally, Scheyer guided the Blue Devils to the ACC’s best regular-season record of 19-1, the highest since the league switched to a 20-game schedule in the 2019–20 season. The Blue Devils’ plus-434-point margin, the largest by a major conference club in seven decades, allowed them to impress their class versus ACC opponents.

Additionally, Scheyer helped Duke achieve the second-best scoring margin in conference history (22.1 points per game) by leading the ACC in both offensive and defensive scoring. The Blue Devils also recorded the greatest adjusted offensive rating (129.1) of any ACC team in over 30 years.

Pat Kelsey wins the 2025 ACC Coach of the Year Award against Jon Scheyer of Duke.

Despite all of Jon Scheyer’s achievements with the Blue Devils this season, Louisville’s Pat Kelsey was named the ACC’s Coach of the Year. In the 2024–25 regular season, he guided the Cardinals to a 25–6 record, which was a significant improvement over the 12 victories they had earned over the previous two seasons combined.

Louisville Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey calls out instructions during the first half against the California Golden Bears at KFC Yum! Center. Photo: Imagn

Since Rick Pitino in the 2004–05 season, Kelsey was the first Louisville coach to win a league Coach of the Year honour. When the Cardinals were still in Conference USA, Pitino received his honour.

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Stanford men’s basketball loses to the No. 14 Cardinals in a feisty Louisville clash

Stanford men’s basketball (19-12, 11-9 ACC) suffered a 68-48 loss against the No. 14 Louisville Cardinals (25-6, 18-2 ACC) at the KFC Yum! Centre on Saturday. Stanford’s struggles with rebounds and finishing in the paint were damaging to their success.

The Cardinals were on a nine-game winning run and playing Stanford on their senior night, so the excitement in Louisville, Kentucky, was high going in. Stanford, on the other side, hoped to rebound from their 54-56 setback to Notre Dame on Wednesday.

The first few minutes of the game were a fight for possession. Stanford traded points with Louisville but was able to maintain a tie. However, Louisville demonstrated their superiority as they began to drive to the basket. The dynamic team’s combination of dazzling finishes and intensity made it tough for Stanford to contain them at the basket. Stanford fell down 10-20 with nine minutes remaining in the first half, as Louisville capitalised on their momentum.

Stanford failed to keep up with Louisville’s shooting accuracy. The Cardinal’s field goal percentage at the end of the game was 26.7, while Louisville’s was 42.6. This was due in part to scoring troubles by junior guard Oziyah Sellers and graduate guard Jaylen Blakes, who only scored 8 and 5 points, respectively, significantly below their season averages.

Furthermore, Stanford struggled to rebound, both defensively and offensively. Stanford allowed 14 second-chance points and 13 offensive rebounds. This allowed Louisville to drive the ball down the floor, resulting in easy finishes on the other side of the court. Stanford was not far behind the Cardinals in terms of defensive rebounds, but they struggled to convert due to Louisville’s speed and athleticism.

The Cardinal fought in front of a boisterous Louisville crowd that tried to distract them during foul shots and offensive possessions. With five minutes left in the half, Louisville extended its lead to 11-29, their second-largest of the game.

At halftime, the Cardinal were behind 15 points, 18-33. Stanford came out of halftime determined to reduce the difference, concentrating on battling for rebounds and boosting ball movement while in possession.

Stanford had back-to-back defensive stops, allowing junior centre Chisom Okpara to go to the hoop for two layups, reducing the margin to 51-41 with eight minutes remaining. While it appeared like Stanford would be able to capitalise on this, Louisville made sure to break the momentum, driving to the hoop for a dazzling finish that elicited a shout from the crowd and put an end to Stanford’s developing surge.

While Louisville was able to score the majority of their points in the paint, Stanford struggled to finish at the basket. However, the Cardinal attempted to score outside the arc, scoring 21 points to Louisville’s 15.

The game concludes Stanford’s regular season and first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Overall, Stanford improved significantly this season, going from 14-18 to 19-12, despite the challenges of transitioning to a new league and adjusting to a new coach.

Head Coach Kyle Smith expressed his delight in his team’s performance this season, particularly in light of the ACC’s estimate that they would place 17th in the rankings.

“We didn’t really pay much attention to it; we just talked about the process and doing our best every day,” Smith told The Daily. Smith also lauded the team’s focus in the midst of media hype and forecasts. “They did a really good job of staying present and trying to improve,” he told me.

The 7th seeded squad will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina on Wednesday (Opp. TBD) to begin the ACC Tournament.

At the ACC Coaches Call, Pat Kelsey talks about the ACC tournament and gives a preview of Cal

This week, No. 14 Louisville (23-6 overall, 16-2 ACC) will play two of the ACC’s newest members at home to wrap off the regular season. Before Stanford (19-10, 11-7) visits for a Saturday afternoon match, Cal (13-16, 6-12) will make an appearance at the KFC Yum! Centre on Wednesday night.

During his appearance on the ACC Coaches Call on Monday, UofL head coach Pat Kelsey talked about the upcoming game versus Cal, the ACC Tournament, and other topics.

This will just be the second time the two programs have met. The previous matchup occurred when Cal defeated Louisville, 77-62, to terminate the Cardinals’ season in the first round of the 2009–10 NCAA Tournament.

Cal defeated Boston College 82-71 at home on Saturday to end a five-game losing streak.

PK’s rigorous challenge will make or break Louisville’s basketball season

Pat Kelsey emphasised that the season is far from done, therefore there is no time to ponder. His squad is unable to linger on the past or guess on what lies ahead in the coming weeks, as the Cardinals play a big game against Pitt on Saturday. Kelsey is laser-focussed on ensuring that his squad is completely prepared for that game, and just that game.

Louisville basketball won only eight games last season and four the year before. Pat Kelsey has recently been asked a number of questions regarding his team’s performance, comeback, and what he has to say about the Cardinals’ success. Kelsey, on the other hand, does not enjoy reflecting on the season and has challenged the entire Cardinal population to do the same.

“There probably come a time in the offseason you can get above the trees and look back and appreciate the type of season that we’ve had, but now is not the time because we got three really tough games remaining at home, and the one we only care about is the one on Saturday.” “Kelsey stated Tuesday night.”

During their historic turnaround season, Kelsey repeatedly emphasises the significance of remaining present. While the team’s extraordinary trip is something to be proud of, he made it plain that now is not the time to reminisce. Kelsey’s approach is to focus on the present work at hand and to urge everyone not to get too caught up in the moment, remembering that there are still many games to be played.

“We really never talk about that.” Pat Kelsey commented on his team’s amazing comeback season. We do not talk about the past. We honour our past. We honour our past, as well as the outstanding players, teams, and championships that have emerged from this great school.

“When people claim the record was set last year, we never, ever discuss it. We constantly talk about ourselves, the present, and what we plan to do in the upcoming game.” Kelsey stated.

The Cardinals’ next game is March 1 at 6:00 p.m. local time versus Pitt. If the Cardinals win, they will be on a seven-game winning streak, have won 17 of their past 18 games, and will have the most ACC victories in a single season.

Nate Ament’s update provides an exquisite wider picture of Louisville basketball

Louisville’s basketball program is becoming a destination for four and five-star recruits, and this is becoming increasingly clear as the recruiting season progresses.

Louisville basketball is still among Nate Ament’s top five colleges, as reported yesterday.

The 6-foot-9, 185-pound small forward is a consensus 5-star recruit in the 2025 class, ranking unanimously fourth overall and second among shooting guards. The only tiny forward Ament trails is the top overall prospect, AJ Dybantsa.

Ament had a great junior season at Highland School, averaging 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.0 blocks, and 3.7 assists per game. Louisville basketball, even among Ament’s last five institutions, is an accomplishment in and of itself.

Nate Ament’s desire in becoming a Louisville Cardinal offers a larger picture about Pat Kelsey and his program, and it is invaluable.

Louisville basketball has finally become an appealing destination for elite players.

Louisville’s basketball program is becoming a destination for four and five-star recruits, and this is becoming increasingly clear as the recruiting season progresses.

Louisville basketball signed 5-star talent and McDonald’s All-American Mikel Brown Jr., who is ranked eighth overall by On3 Sports, seventh overall by 247Sports, and eleventh in ESPN’s 100. Brown Jr. was the first domino to fall, and Cardinals supporters began to fantasise about the ideal pairing of Mikel Brown Jr. with Nate Ament and others.

Brown Jr. chose Pat Kelsey and his Cardinals over blue-blood institutions such as Kentucky and Kansas, as well as Alabama, the country’s current number four team.

Brown Jr. is excited to be a Cardinal, and he hopes to be one of the driving forces behind restoring Louisville basketball’s rich tradition. Brown’s pledge broke the prevailing notion that Louisville’s basketball program is no longer relevant or appealing to some of the finest prospects in the country.

UofL is on track to sign Tyran Stokes, the top recruit for the 2026 class. According to On3Sports, the Cardinals have a strong 66.8% probability of acquiring the consensus number one prospect.

Stokes had one official visit to Louisville in October 2024, and he went on to compete for Team USA U17 World Cup throughout the summer. During the World Cup, the 6-foot-7, 230-pound power forward averaged 12.3 points, seven rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks, earning All-Second Team honours.

Nate Ament has fuelled the trend of 5-star recruits wanting to play under Pat Kelsey and his Louisville Cardinals. Ament is one of the top emerging players in high school right now, with a chance to be a first-round NBA Draft choice in 2026.

Louisville basketball has fully shed its current stigma from the previous five years and is returning to prominence. The Cardinals’ turnaround in this recruitment area should lead to continued excellence for many years. Louisville basketball appears to be going back to the 2010s and being national title contenders, and Pat Kelsey and company have helped reclaim that narrative.

The University of Louisville’s ability to draw 5-star recruits is making it a top collegiate basketball destination. Ament allegedly wants to be a part of this squad because of Coach Carr and Pat Kelsey’s “enthusiasm” and the opportunity to collaborate with fellow 5-star prospect Mikel Brown Jr.

Even if Ament does not choose the Cardinals, the fact that he contemplated the school demonstrates that Pat Kelsey and the Louisville basketball program have a bright future ahead.