Entering the 2025-26 season, Pat Kelsey and this Louisville basketball program are one of the most talked-about programs in the nation. The Cardinals are coming off a historic season, in which Kelsey led Louisville to 19 more wins than the previous season, breaking a school record. The Cardinals won 18 conference games, also breaking a school record, but unfortunately, Louisville still was unable to secure a March Madness win.
However, Kelsey hit the Transfer Portal hard, and Louisville is now led by three elite transfers and a 5-star commit, Mikel Brown Jr. The Cardinals were one of the most talked-about programs this offseason, and the fans are all-in on Kelsey and his culture.
With Louisville having one of the best odds to win the ACC and the National Title, the fans feel pretty good just weeks away from their first showdown of the season. Well, the AP Poll was released yesterday, and the Cardinals were disrespected, hoping that it will light a spark in them and set up their gauntlet of a non-conference schedule.
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Louisville's preseason ranking will spark this Cardinals team before the season
The Louisville Cardinals enter the 2025-26 season ranked No. 11 in the nation. And while some may think that is good, and Louisville is ranked highly at the beginning of the season, others are outraged for being left out of the top 10.
This team has shooters, depth, two-way stars, athleticism, leadership, and future NBA stars. The Cardinals' backcourt is one of the best in the nation. Brown is joined by three elite transfers who all made 70 3-pointers or more last year, and shot above 40 percent from beyond the arc.
All offseason, Louisville has heard how elite and deep this team is, and while the fans believe they are being disrespected by being ranked No. 11, it is now up to Louisville to make a statement and prove they should be ranked higher.
The Cardinals' non-conference schedule is no joke, and the AP voters just set Louisville up for a massive run. After Louisville is ranked No. 11, Kelsey is going to light a fire in this unit and ensure they don't let up on anyone, continuing to face the challenges head-on.
The Cardinals are going to face No. 9 Kentucky, No. 14 Arkansas, No. 18 Tennessee, and No. 19 Kansas in a preseason showdown. Louisville will have plenty of opportunities to jump up in the rankings, but the AP Poll just unleashed a beast, and this program is about to have a statement run to prove they will get the respect they deserve, especially after earning the No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
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Louisville will look to prove the AP Polls wrong in their blockbuster showdown with No. 19 Kansas on Oct. 15 from KFC Yum! Center.