Louisville basketball was bounced from the NCAA Tournament yesterday in the first round against Creighton. The Cardinals fell 89-75 and have been winless in March Madness since 2017.
Pat Kelsey and his Cardinals struggled to guard the outside and the pick-and-roll, which led to Creighton shooting above 50 percent from beyond the arc. The Bluejays secured a 19-2 run in the first half that was the nail in the coffin, and the Cardinals never brought the game back to single digits.
Louisville basketball will shift its focus next year and look to take another big step forward. The Cardinals want to secure their first NCAA Tournament win in eight years and make their first Final Four appearance since 2013. A key factor to reaching the Final Four is to land massive recruits from the transfer portal. Well, in recent news, it is reported the Cardinals are all in and are willing to do whatever it takes to win the 2026 National Championship.
Louisville basketball will do whatever it takes to win 2026 National Championship
Pat Kelsey has shown that he will do whatever it takes to win. The Cardinals' head coach is one of the best in the nation at rebuilding programs, as he has now successfully brought three programs back to life.
Pat Kelsey has shown that he will do whatever it takes to win. The Cardinals head coach is one of the best in the nation at rebuilding programs, having successfully brought three programs back to life.
The Cardinals will lose five key players this year, including Terrence Edwards Jr., Chucky Hepburn, and Reyne Smith. Louisville has 5-star recruit Mikel Brown Jr. coming in next season. Still, Louisville will need some experience, better defense, and a lethal shooter to replace their three leading scorers from this past season.
The spring transfer portal opens on Monday, March 24. Kelsey showed last season when he brought in 12 players from the transfer portal that this is his secret recipe for a successful season. Kasean Pryor, who suffered a season-ending injury in December, was their highest-paid player on the 2024-25 roster.
Kelsey and the staff are reportedly set on spending $8 to $10 million in the transfer portal for the 2025 roster, per On3.
NEW: Louisville is prepared to spend $8M to $10M in the transfer portal for next season's men's basketball roster, @PeteNakos_ reports🤯https://t.co/hS3q1crbhC pic.twitter.com/EvaOrxj4EY
— On3 (@On3sports) March 21, 2025
So, while Louisville basketball's 2024-25 season ends with a bitter taste in their mouths, it has sparked this staff to finally back Pat Kelsey and give him the supporting roster he deserves.
The Cardinals will return key players such as J'Vonne Hadley, Kasean Pryor, and Khani Rooths while bringing in McDonald's All-American Mikel Brown Jr. If this team is willing to spend $8 to $10 million on the transfer portal this year, then the Cardinals will look to run the ACC and earn their first National Championship since 2013.
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason, stay tuned.