Louisville basketball’s 2025-26 season concluded Saturday afternoon in the second round of the Big Dance. The Cardinals will have a lot to replace as they lose many key seniors this offseason. With them landing zero commitments in the 2026 recruiting class, Pat Kelsey is expected to go all-in on the Transfer Portal for the third straight season.
3 players Pat Kelsey and Louisville basketball must bring back next season
The Cardinals' second year under Kelsey was a roller coaster type of a season, as there were high moments early on when they defeated Kentucky for the first time after losing three straight, but the Cardinals had higher expectations than losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
But Kelsey will try to rebuild this team, shift his focus to next season, and try to get this Cardinals team to snap its Sweet Sixteen and Final Four drought. Louisville is expected to be an aggressive team in the Transfer Portal this offseason, as the Cards will lose multiple starters and key bench pieces
So, with multiple players losing eligibility and some moving on to play basketball professionally, here are five Louisville basketball players who definitely won’t be back next season.