Pat Kelsey and Chucky Hepburn are becoming a duo that no Cardinals fans could have ever dreamed of.
Chucky Hepburn is now the single game free-throw leader in Louisville basketball history, as he knocked down 17 free-throws in Cardinals 89-81 victory over Florida State. His 17 free-throws is a new record, and broke his previous record of 16.
Louisville basketball improved to 21-6 in the regular season and 14-2 in the ACC. Their 14 wins this season in the ACC is now the second most wins in regular season in ACC play. They need two more wins to beat their program record of 15 wins in ACC back in 2019-2020 season.
Louisville basketball secured the sweep over Florida State, making it the second sweep over a team this season, which is first time since 2017-18. That isn't the only stat Pat Kelsey brought back to life, as a glaring stat from the past came to life from tonights win and if history is true, then Louisville basketball will be back in the Final Four for the first time since 2013.
Pat Kelsey and Louisville basketball secured a birth in Final Four if history is true
Pat Kelsey in just hist first season at Louisville is a top 15 finalist for the Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Watch List, and has now tied Louisville basketball program record for the largest turnaround in program history as they now have 13 more wins then last season.
Cardinals were 8-24 last year and last in the ACC, but thanks to the new head coach of Louisville basketball, Pat Kelsey, these Cardinals are 21-6 and shattering all program records. In the 111-year history of Louisville basketball, they have only improved their win total by 13 twice, and it was back in 1984-85 to 1985-86 and 2003-04 to 2004-05.
The 13 improved wins in a season is the most ever in program history, which means Pat Kelsey and his Cardinals need to just win one more win to beat that record. Cardinals have four games remaining in the regular season and three of those games are at KFC Yum! Center. In those two historic turnaround Louisville basketball seasons, UofL secured a trip to the Final Four in 2005, and a National Championship in 1986.
Louisville basketball are on pace to shatter the program record of 13 wins more than the previous season, and the history indicates that Cardinals will make a Final Four run. This Cardinals team has all the tools to make a Final Four run as well, the ability to catch fire and shoot from deep, but also play bully ball basketball with J'Vonne Hadley.
Pat Kelsey will lead the charge, but all the signs are indicating that this Louisville basketball has a great opportunity to repeat history and secure a birth in the Final Four.