Louisville basketball came up just short against the No. 1 seed Duke Blue Devils in the ACC Tournament.
However, the Cardinals' loss in the ACC Tournament doesn't take away just how dominant of a season it has been so far and how thrilling their ACC Tournament run was. The Cardinals secured two wins over teams with 20-plus wins on the season, including a win over the No. 10 team in the country.
It is clear that their win over Clemson and this ACC Tournament run means more to the 25-strong than any other wins from this season. Louisville basketball is back, and the win over Clemson was a statement win that the Cardinals are securing a spot back in the elite conversation and are ready to compete for National Championships again.
The Cardinals brought in 13 new players this season and one of the best program-building coaches in Pat Kelsey. This team culture and swagger are better than ever, and the Cardinals' historic season has not only brought smiles to the loyal Cardinals fans but has also set the tone for the future that the Louisville basketball program is here to stay.
Louisville basketball's wild ACC run shows Cardinals faithful were right all along
Despite last night's loss, the Cardinals are no longer a team that college basketball can disrespect or mock. Louisville basketball has had to overcome years of adversity and trial and error, and the Cardinals are clearly on the rise.
Many Duke fans seem to be still upset about the Cardinals securing the Coach of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards, but what they may not remember is how much this team has been through up to this point. This Louisville basketball team has fought through so many season-ending injuries. Louisville has lost three rotation players to injury for the season and then played without Reyne Smith in the ACC Tournament.
The Cardinals started the year 6-5, and while that isn't how the fans wanted the year to start, they never gave up on their Cardinals. The Cardinals Nation was led by Pat Kelsey and this program the whole way, and it was a key reason this Louisville team broke so many records this season.
Pat Kelsey and his coaching staff have had one of the best seasons in this historic program for 111 years. This team is achieving something that Cardinals fans have been waiting for for nearly 11 years. Louisville's basketball win over Clemson was their first win over an AP top 10 team since their win over No. 3 Duke back in January, 2020. Their win snapped an eight-game losing streak to the top 10 teams.
While the Cardinals came up short against Duke, the fans are waking up on Selection Sunday with a smile. Louisville fans are beyond proud of this Pat Kelsey team, and now they will look to hear their names called today and wait to see who they play in March Madness.
This Cardinals squad's job isn't finished. They will find their path to their first National Championship in over 10 years. Pat Kelsey took this job back in March of last year, and he understands how much Cardinals basketball means to the city of Lousiville. Kelsey brings a type of passion and swagger that Lousiville basketball fans haven't seen in a long time, if not ever.
He is a semifinalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year award, has secured the ACC Coach of the Year award, and continues to shatter records in his first year at Louisville. The Cardinals broke their ACC win total in a single season, most conference wins in a single season, the most significant turnaround in a single season, most wins by a first-year head coach, and many more.
Kelsey deserves all the spotlight he is getting. The Cardinal's head coach brought this program back to life with his passion for the game and for the fan base. Louisville basketball is here to stay, and the Cardinals will look to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.