Louisville basketball was projected to be anywhere between a 5-seed and a 7-seed, but fans were pretty confident they would be a 6-seed.
Some did think they might be a little slighted and get a No. 7-seed, but no one even thought about being an 8-seed. The Cardinals were just the third name to be announced on Selection Sunday, and fans didn't know what to do. Everyone's eyes got bigger, their jaws dropped, and they just sat there in disbelief, Pat Kelsey included.
CBS showed the Cardinals celebrating when their name was announced, and fans saw Pat Kelsey just sitting there in shock. The Cardinal's head coach went on a local radio show and broke down just how disrespectful this outcome is for his Louisville basketball team.
Pat Kelsey aims to force NCAA Tournament Committee to eat a heaping helping of crow
Pat Kelsey is the ACC Coach of the Year, a semifinalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year, and has broken multiple program records in just his first season as Louisville basketball's head coach.
The Cardinals secured a 27-7 record with a 6-6 record against Quad 1 teams, including two wins over one of the No. 5 seeds, the Clemson Tigers. Louisville basketball has won 21 of their last 23 games, and made a run to the ACC Tournament Championship game and everyone was expecting a higher seed, including Kelsey.
"I'll be completely honest with you, when we were watching the Selection Show and that popped up, it hurt a little bit. You felt slighted a little bit." Kelsey stated on the Cardinals seeding.
The Cardinals are currently ranked No. 13 in the AP Polls, and to be ranked that high but then fall to an 8-seed doesn't make much sense. The Cardinals are just the second team to be ranked No. 13 in the AP Poll and to be an 8-seed in March Madness.
"It is what it is at this point. You have the advantage of no choice, but in my opinion, we should be playing a 12 or an 11-seed. Every metric under the sun that you look at, and all the experts, NET 23, which would put us in a possible five-seed range, KenPom 23." Kelsey stated.
He is right that they don't have a choice, and now, hopefully, this fires the team up, and the Cardinals come out with vengeance on their minds. He is also right that almost every expert had the Cardinals around a 5-7 seed. Bracket Matrix had 180 predictions gathered, and the average seed for the Cardinals was a 5.88-seed.
Did @MarchMadnessMBB get it right with @LouisvilleMBB as the 8th seed in the South Region?@patkelsey had some thoughts 🤔@KySportsRadio @MedcalfByESPN pic.twitter.com/2MRZ5oxcyQ
— ESPN Radio (@ESPNRadio) March 16, 2025
"Heck, fellas, you are Kentucky fans. Since that December 14 game, that's three months ago, three months," Kelsey stated on the Cardinal's impressive winning streak. "We've lost two games. We went 18-2 in the ACC, went to the conference championship game, and lost to the No. 1 team in the country. It is what it is."
Pat Kelsey was just speaking the truth here. It is absurd to see where the Cardinals got seeded and to see North Carolina make the NCAA Tournament and gain respect but then Louisville fall to a No. 8-seed and three-seeds behind Clemson; it just doesn't add up.
At the end of the day this will be motivation for this Pat Kelsey squad and that is exactly what he stated in his closing remarks.
"If anything, to a competitor, to our guys, and to me, it puts a little fire in your belly and gives you a little added chip on your shoulder," Kelsey stated.
The ending is great to hear for fans, and hopefully, the Duke loss stings a little bit, and now the disrespect from the committee just sparks this team to that next level. Louisville basketball now has to prove the committee wrong and that this Lousiville Cardinals squad is the real deal.
The Cardinals will go head-to-head with Creighton on Thursday from Lexington, Ky. Louisville basketball fans are planning to paint Rupp Arena red, as the drive is just an hour away from KFC Yum! Center.