The transfer portal opened a week ago, and Pat Kelsey and the Louisville Cardinals have expressed interest in some of its top players.
Louisville is coming off its best season in many years. The Cards finished 27-8, including making their first-ever ACC Tournament championship game and returning to the NCAA Tournament since 2019. The Cardinals lost some key players from last season, including their top three leading scorers.
Louisville will do its best to replace these key players from the transfer portal, as the Cardinals are expected to be one of the top landing spots this offseason. Kelsey is expected to spend around $10 million on the transfer portal and address the team's glaring weaknesses entering the 2025-26 season.
3 transfer portal focuses for Pat Kelsey and the Louisville basketball team
Pat Kelsey's 2024-25 team shattered multiple records and exceeded expectations last season. The Cardinals were projected to finish No. 9 in the ACC, and Kelsey's gritty squad was the ACC runner-ups.
Louisville had a massive year last season, but to break their eight-year NCAA Tournament win and 12-year Final Four drought, Pat Kelsey and his staff must address these three weaknesses in the transfer portal.
3. Consistent Shooters
Louisville basketball shot about 32 percent from beyond the arc last season. The Cardinals would shoot around 30 3-pointers per game last season, but their inconsistency is one of the big reasons they could not advance in the NCAA Tournament.
The Cards were led by Reyne Smith, who etched his name in program history when he splashed 107 threes last season, the second-most three-pointers in a single season. Unfortunately, Smith will not return next year as he is out of eligibility. The Cardinals lost their top three scorers: Smith, Terrence Edwards Jr., and Chucky Hepburn.
Louisville must target elite shooters in the portal and players who can take over from beyond the arc. Louisville just landed a massive recruit from beyond the arc in Adrian Wooley, but the Cardinals will need more to help him out.
Kelsey has already contacted many shooters in the transfer portal, but he must not just go after that big-name star. He needs to get spark plugs off the bench, including shooters who can give solid minutes. The Cardinals found out last season that they need more than just one shooter on a team to be successful. Kelsey must continue to go after elite 3-point shooters this offseason.
Click here to read five players Louisville basketball must land in transfer portal to fill this gaping hole.