The 2024-25 season ended on Thursday for Louisville basketball as the Cardinals fell short to the Creighton Bluejays. Pat Kelsey earned one of the greatest seasons for this Louisville basketball program in recent years, as they shattered multiple program records.
Louisville may have lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but the season was nothing short of remarkable for the Cardinals. The Cards' were projected to finish No. 9 in the ACC. Louisville would go on to finish with the program's most ACC wins in history and secure their first berth in the ACC Tournament championship.
Louisville proved to the media and the nation that they are back and will be contenders for years to come.
5 mistakes that doomed Louisville basketball from a successful March Madness
Louisville basketball entered the NCAA Tournament, winning 21 of its last 23 games, including two 10-game winning streaks. The Cardinals had one of their best regular seasons in recent memory, as their last two seasons combined for 12 wins.
The Cardinal's season was one for the ages, but all good things must end, and this may have ended sooner than some thought. Here are five mistakes that doomed Louisville basketball from a successful March Madness.
5. The Cardinals perimeter defense
Creighton Bluejays dominated the Cardinals from beyond the arc. The Bluejays shot 45.8 percent as they splashed 11 threes. Creighton was led by their lethal shooter, Steven Ashworth, from beyond the arc. Ashworth splashed four threes on seven tries and ended the game with 22 points.
Five players made a three-pointer for Creighton in their win over the Cardinals. The Bluejays would make deep and tough shots, but the Cardinal's defense was not impressive. The Cardinals were pinching the paint to try and limit the Bluejays All-American center, Ryan Kalkbrenner. Creighton dominated the paint early and scored 16 of their first 23 points from the paint.
Creighton's dominant start caused Louisville to focus on the paint, opening up the shooters. Creighton secured a 12-0 run in the first half, and the Bluejays' would never look back. Jackson McAndrew ended the game with three 3-pointers himself, and Jamiya Neal added two as well.
The Cardinals perimeter defense must be an area they improve this offseason if they want to secure their first NCAA Tournament win since 2017.
4. The Cards shooting struggles
The Cards streaky shooting caught them. Louisville has been one of the streakier teams this season, as the Cardinals had multiple games shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc but also had multiple games shooting 20 percent from beyond the arc.
Pat Kelsey and his roster got cold towards the end of the season, which was a glaring reason why their March Madness run was short. Louisville averaged nearly 30 shots from downtown in their final five games but was shooting 27.8 percent. The Cardinal's streaky shooting wasn't just against Creighton; it seemed to be a theme against good opponents.
Louisville basketball went up against eight eventual NCAA Tournament teams in 10 different games and shot just 27 percent from downtown in those matchups. Louisville basketball's best shooter, Reyne Smith, ended the season shooting around 30 percent from downtown, and Chucky Hepburn was a little above 20 percent.
The Cardinals 3-point shooting has to improve next year and be more consistent.
3. Louisville's lack of depth
It is hard to win in March when only eight players are playing. The Cardinals starters were averaging above 30 minutes a game, and Terrence Edwards Jr, Chucky Hepburn, and J'Vonne Hadley were all playing 35 minutes or more late in the season.
This is mainly because of the injuries they suffered, but it is a key reason why the Cardinals lost this early in March. Noah Waterman became a starter after Smith's injury, but he came off the bench for the majority of the season. Waterman was the Cardinals' best piece off the bench in the NCAA Tournament, but he shot 36.5 percent from the floor and 28.9 percent from downtown on the year. Waterman, Aboubacar Traore, and Khani Rooths were the Cards coming off the bench, but their production was not all that productive.
Pat Kelsey simply needed more results from his bench. The Cardinals bench averaged 14.1 points per game. Rooths will be a valuable piece in the future, as he was just a freshman this season and showed glaring potential. Waterman and Traore will move on as they are out of eligibility.
The Cardinals must attack the transfer portal this offseason, not just for 5-stars, but for much-needed depth.
2. Louisville defensive struggles
A huge area Pat Kelsey must work on this offseason is defense. The Cardinals could not guard the pick-and-roll against Creighton whatsoever. Louisville's was seen lost almost every time the Bluejays ran this simple play.
After Creighton's hot start from the pain, they utilized Jamiya Neal in the pick-and-roll, and once he got hot, he couldn't miss. Neal finished with a season-high 29 points while shooting 68.8 percent from the floor.
The Cardinals' ACC Defensive Player of the Year can only do so much as Chucky Hepburn was trying to help lead his team to victory. However, James Scott has areas to improve on the defensive side. The Cardinals' forward must get better at hedging the screen and dropping back.
Louisville guards' were often screened and then standing still. Creighton exposed the Cardinals' defense this game, but it has been their weakness the entire season. The pick-and-roll was a glaring reason Creighton dominated the Cardinals yesterday. Louisville basketball must continue to improve on the defensive side heading into next year, as the Cardinals will need to be a little sharper on the fundamentals.
1. Injury bug strikes again
The Cardinals' depth was a huge issue the entire season. Louisville basketball got hit by the injury bug early in the season, as three Cardinals had season-ending injuries. Louisville was without crucial pieces like Kasean Pryor and Koren Johnson for the majority of the season. Then Reyne Smith hurts his ankle and misses the whole NCAA Tournament.
Smith would go on and return in March Madness but reinjured his ankle early in the second half and didn't return. The Cardinals were trying to make a comeback in the game and inch closer to the Bluejays,' but they needed their star shooter on the court to help space the floor.
The Cardinal's injury bug was a huge hit not only in their NCAA Tournament but also in their season as a whole. It is rare for a team to have that next-man-up mentality and to go as far as Louisville did this year. However, Smith not being 100 percent healthy was a crucial blow to this team and was a clear reason why this team couldn't find a way to beat Creighton.
Louisville basketball season took a massive step in the right direction this seaosn. Pat Kelsey has this program ready to be back in the elite category, and with Mikel Brown Jr. coming next year, Louisville will look to make a Final Four run.