Louisville basketball secured their 18th victory of the season, and have won 12 of their last 13 games.
Cardinals were without star guard Chucky Hepburn while he was sidelined with an apparent groin injury. Pat Kelsey and his UofL basketball squad rose to challenge without Hepburn, and defeated the Miami Hurricanes 88-78 on Feb. 8.
Cardinals were led by guards, Terrence Edwards Jr, and Reyne Smith as the two guards combined for 53 of Louisville 88 points. Edwards led the way with a season-high 27 points, and 10 assists. His double-double proved his capability of rising to the occasion and being able to help lead the charge for Pat Kelsey and Louisville.
Smith added 26 points where the shooting guard connected on six threes and went 6-6 from the charity stripe. Cardinals as a whole shot the ball at an impressive 49.3% from the field, and shot 11 for 12 (91.7%) from the foul line.
Louisville basketball controlled this game for most of the way and now shifts their focus to North Carolina State as Cardinals will play the Wolfpack on Feb. 12. Here are five quotes from Pat Kelsey's press conference that should make Louisville basketball fans believe they will win the ACC Tournament.
5 Quotes from Pat Kelsey that proves Louisville basketball will win ACC
Louisville basketball 2025 team glaring similarities with 2005 squad
Louisville basketball honored the 2005 Final Four Cardinals team at halftime during Louisville victory over Miami. Pat Kelsey spoke out on major similarities between that historic 2005 Rick Pitino team, and the current 2025 Louisville Cardinals team.
"I think this team mirrors the qualities of the 2005 team a lot because when I read it, they didn't have a million 5-stars, and all those things. It was just a bunch of tough gritty dude that fought and competed, and that is this team, the 2025 addition Lousiville Cardinals is all about."
Cardinals grit and resilience sets team up for greatness
There is no quit in this team, and Pat Kelsey and his Cardinals have answers to their opponents runs everytime. Pat Kelsey always makes sure his team isn't too comfortable and asks "what is the score" to where the players quickly answer "0-0" Pat Kelsey goes back to a quote he was taught, and hints that this team is destined for greatness.
"You find out really what's inside when you squeeze the orange. We get squeezed and their is juice in their man. Those guys are winners."
Next man up mentality
Pat Kelsey brought in 13 transfers this past off season, and not relying on 5-stars to get the production done. Cardinals are one of the more balanced teams in the nation as Chucky Hepburn is the start of the team, but averages only 15 points a game. UofL has five players averaging 10 points or more, and in win over Miami five players scored eight points or more.
"The next man up mentality was on full display, guys stepped up, and raised the level of their game, made contribution in different areas maybe that they don't normally do."
Louisville basketball suffered another starter to fall to the injury bug, as James Scott suffered a mouth injury and was taken to medical assistance. Scott played just seven minutes, but Cardinals depth proved this team is poised for a defining postseason. Khani Rooths stepped up and had nine points on 50% shooting from the field.
Cardinals grit and resilience sets team up for greatness
After starting the season 6-5, this Louisville basketball team has won 12 of their last 13 and are doing it at a dominant fashion. They have beaten their opponents by a combine total of 310 points, and winning by an average of 17.2 points. Kelsey is like a proud dad after Miami win and expresses how proud he is of this team.
"I am as proud of our team tonight as I have been all year long because they were just resilient and gritty and tough and found a way."
Cardinals demonstrate toughness and grit all game and season as they are seen diving for loose balls, crashing the glass on the offensive side and just never giving up on the play. This team has no quit in them and their energy is peeking at an all time high and right before postseason starts.
The ownership of the program isn't Kelsey or the players
Pat Kelsey is famously known for stepping on scores table and getting the fans excited in his past, but he didn't do that with Louisville, until today. Kelsey jumped on scores table and was electrifying the KFC Yum! Center after the win, and gave all the praise to the student body in his press conference.
"The student body is the heart and soul of a basketball program. I say all the time, it is not my program, it is not our players program, great college basketball program is when the student body has ownership of the program, and they were a factor today."
According to Kelsey, a team doesn't have success without the fans and student body, and this is another reason to show Cardinals fans that head coach Pat Kelsey has completely changes the culture of this historic program.