With the 2025 ACC Tournament being exactly one month away, Louisville basketball fans can't wait to see their team in March Madness for the first time since 2019
Fans have been through some of the programs worst years as the Cardinals program had a combine 12 wins over the last two seasons. However, they hired Pat Kelsey last spring and brought in 13 new transfers and has created the best Louisville Cardinals basketball team in a long time.
The Cardinals are rolling as they have won 12 of their last 13 games, and fans are starting to speculate who Pat Kelsey and Louisville might get in the ACC Tournament.
5 Things Louisville basketball fans should root for, 5 to root against to close season
There are a couple of different possibilities for Pat Kelsey and his Cardinals, and whoever they play in the ACC quarterfinals will be an exciting matchup.
Here are three things that Louisville basketball fans should root for, and three things they should root against to close this last month of the season.
6: For: Cardinals end their injury bug
Cardinals got hit with the injury bug fast. They are already without Kasean Pryor and Koren Johnson for the season as the two Cardinals suffered season-ending injuries earlier in the season. Now, Cardinals played without their star guard Chucky Hepburn last game due to a hip injury, and their main paint presence, James Scott exited the game after just 11 minutes of action.
Chucky Hepburn and James Scott are two players this Pat Kelsey Cardinals squad can't afford to lose for a long time. It sounds like they are trending in right direction, and there is a possibility both play against the Wolfpack.
However, the trend of injuries needs to stop as soon as possible, and Louisville basketball needs to continue this dominant streak.
5. Against: Clemson grabs the No. 1 seed
As things stand now, the Duke Blue Devils are in control to take the crown for the ACC, but just one game back from them is Clemson, who is tied with Louisville. If Clemson jumps Cardinals in ACC standings it would not be the ideal situation for UofL fans.
Tigers just upset the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday, and have won 12 of their last 14 games. If Tigers continue this win streak then they have a possibility to not only jump UofL in the ACC but possibly win the conference if Duke slips up again.
Louisville basketball is currently the No. 2 seed in the ACC if they can win tonight against the Wolfpack as they would have a 19-6 record. If they continue to play at an elite level, and win out then they would most likely be the No. 2 seed. They would play either UNC, Notre Dame, or Pitt if standings stay how it is today, and then would have to play No.3 seed in the semifinals.
Looking ahead, Louisville would possibly have to play Duke in the semifinals rather than the ACC Championship game, if Clemson wins out and Blue Devils slip up again.
Avoiding Duke until the ACC Championship game could be big for Louisville, as they seem to be the biggest thing standing in Cardinals way from making history and securing their first ACC Championship. The Blue Devils are undoubtedly the best team in theACC, and playing Clemson in the semifinals rather than Duke would work in Pat Kelsey and Louisville basketballs favor.
4. For: Pat Kelsey Coach of the Year
Pat Kelsey name is kind of flying under the radar, but when talking about Coach of the Year, Pat Kelsey's name has to come up.
This season, Kelsey has led the Cardinals to their first winning season since 2019. Cardinals had a 12-52 record under Kenny Payne in his two years at UofL, including 8-24 this past season, and 4-28 the year prior. Payne was released from Louisville, and would be replaced by current head coach, Pat Kelsey.
Pat Kelsey has made an immediate impact on Louisville basketball program as the Cardinals started out 6-5 but rattled off 10 straight, and are now 18-6 and have won 12 of their last 13.
Louisville is one of the most dangerous teams from beyond the arc as they shoot on average 30.7 threes a game which is sixth most per game in the country. Cardinals have shot a total 737 threes, which is 10th most in country, and have made 237 of them. Louisville has the most threes made in the ACC and it is not even close as next team is Duke with 620
The culture change from last season with Payne to this current season with Kelsey is one of the main reasons this Cardinals team is winning so quickly.
3. Against: Pat Kelsey makes any big changes in rotation minutes
Louisville basketball has won 12 of their last 13 games and have just seven games left, and there is no need to make any huge changes to the rotation with this little time left in the season.
The Cardinals will get Scott and Hepburn back shortly, but when they return it is vital that the Kelsey keeps this hot streak for Edwards alive, as his ability to take over the game and get a bucket whenever he wants has been on full display recently.
There is no need to try and change up lineups or tease a lineup for postseason. Kelsey squad is gaining chemistry at the perfect time, and despite missing Hepburn, this team is beginning to find their true identity.
Noah Waterman has returned from his injury, but once Hepburn and Scott come back, it wouldn't be surprising to see his minutes go back down. This team main identity is the ability to shoot from deep, and Kelsey has put out at times a small-ball lineup that has worked wonders.
2. For: SMU to secure a top four seed
Louisville basketball wants to avoid any chance that Clemson may win the ACC Championship game. SMU and Clemson play each other Feb. 22 in Moody Coliseum.
If SMU can continue and win and then defeats Clemson, Louisville will lock up the No. 2 seed. Cardinals would also rather play SMU in the semifinals rather then Clemson, as the Tigers streak as of recent shows the potential.
Also, Cardinals matchup with the Mustangs favors Louisville much for then if they were to play Clemson. UofL defeated SMU 98-73 back in their 10 game win streak. If SMU defeats Clemson, they have a good chance to end up as the three seed, and bumping Clemson to either four or five seed depending on Wake Forest.
UofL controls their own destiny for the No. 2 seed, but just to be safe, a Tigers slip up would help a lot, and then would help their path to ACC Championship game.
1. Against: The Duke Blue Devils in every game
The difference between Louisville basketball and the Duke Blue Devils in the ACC standings is just one game, and Cardinals fans should be rooting against Duke in every game that they play in.
If UofL can take care of business in all of their games then they will have the No. 2 seed in worst case scenario, but getting some help with some more Duke Blue Devil losses would open up Pat Kelsey and Cardinals etching this team in program history, and winning the ACC crown. There is no room for error in the top four of the ACC standings right now, and Duke poses as the biggest threat to Louisville right now when it comes to if this team can win the ACC.
If Louisville can win out, then Clemson, SMU and Wake Forest would fight for the No. 3 and 4 seed, and Cardinals would most likely play UNC. That would be the second time UofL squared up with UNC this season, as the Cardinals beat UNC 83-70 earlier in the year.
Duke losing and Louisville winning would set up a perfect rematch for the Cardinals, as they would play SMU or Wake Forest in the semis most likely. The next few weeks will be crucial for Louisville, as main priority is to just win, but for the fans it is important to watch Duke games and pray they slip up a couple in this final month.