Louisville basketball is having quite possibly one of their best seasons in program history. It sounds crazy, but this Pat Kelsey squad is etching their names in Cardinals history books daily at this point.
Cardinals improve to 23-6 on the season and increase their record of biggest turnaroun in program history by name 15 games. Entering the season, the biggest turnaround was improving by 13 wins in consecutive seasons, but Kelsey in just his first season brought in 13 new players and made an immediate impact.
Well, another game, and another history mark set by Pat Kelsey. Kelsey is a top finalist choice for the Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year, and this win over Pitt proves to why he should be heavily considered for the honor.
Cardinals secured their 16th win in ACC play this season, and it officially marks a new program record for most wins in ACC play in a single-season. Here are five glaring x-factors on how Louisville was able to accomplish this achievement.
Louisville basketball 5 glaring x-factors
5. The Pat Kelsey effect
Like stated above, Pat Kelsey is not only one of the best coaches in the nation, but he is a certified program builder. Kelsey won nearly 70% of his games as a head coach entering this year, and he has only improved that stat, as Louisville is 22-6.
Kelsey is a winner, google it. He has won 11 conference championships across his coaching tenure with Winthrop and Charleston, and has four NCAA Tournament appearances. It was no surprise that the Louisville basketball new head coach was able to flip this program around, but the surprise was just how successful his first season has gone.
Kelsey is the Cardinals 24th head coach in Louisville’s 111-year history, and he has now made his mark in the history books for impressive records.
4. Cardinals continue to rewrite history
Louisville basketball are winning and they are doing it is dominant fashion. Cardinals are controlling their paths as they now have won 17 of their last 18, including a ten game win streak and a seven game win streak.
Pat Kelsey and his Cardinals 16 ACC wins this season is a huge reason for these program changing win streaks. Cardinals were 6-5 and fans were thinking here we go again. However, Lousiville would go on to win 10 straight and now win 17 of their last 18.
3. Certified road warriors
Louisville basketball not only are dominating their opponents on the road, but they are breaking history as they do it. Cardinals have won five games by 20-points or more, which is the most in program history.
Not only is that impressive, but all those wins have come against ACC programs. Cardinals have nine wins on the road by an impressive total of 148 points, which means they win on the road by an average of 16.4 points per game. They have only won by single digits on the road in two of their nine wins.
Louisville nine wins on the road by 16.4 per game comes in ranked third in the country only behind Duke and Auburn.
2. Cardinals ability to catch fire
It is hard to win when teams trade two points for three, and that is what Louisville does to their opponents. Cardinals might not shoot the best split from downtown, as they shoot it from a 32.7% from beyond the arc which ranks No. 261 in the nation, but they make 9.7 a a game which ranks No. 33 in the nation.
Louisville attempts a whopping 29.8 three-pointers per game which is ninth most in the country. This team lives and dies from beyond the arc, and it has elevated them to the next level. Players like Reyne Smith who makes 3.7 threes a game, two in the nation, and has mad 104 threes this year which is third most in program history, and fourth in the nation.
Chucky Hepburn caught fire last night against Pitt and scored 37 points including going 6-6 in the first half and securing the final 18 points for Louisville. Cardinals ability to catch fire is second to none, and this team shooting ability is one of the main reasons they beat their ACC record.
1. Double-digit victories
Louisville basketball have been dominant all season long, as they have 17 wins on the season by 10 points or more, nine wins by 15 points or more, seven wins by 20 points or more, four wins by 25 or more, two wins by 30 points or more, and their biggest win coming by 48 points or more.
Pat Kelsey and his squad have a differential of +10.2 points on the season which comes in ranked No. 29 in the country, and third in the ACC. The Cardinals 16 wins in the ACC is by no miracle, this team wins, and they win by a large margin.
They are winning on the road in the ACC by 16.5 points, and have 11 double-digit road wins which leads the nation. Louisville has now won 17 of their last 18 and seven straight wins, which marks their second seven game win streak of the season.