Louisville Cardinals secured history Saturday afternoon, as they picked up their 14th ACC win this season, and their 21st overall win.
Cardinals 14th win is now the second most ACC regular season win in program history, and their 21 wins marks 13 wins more than last years win total, which ties their program history for best turnaround in two seasons.
Cardinals are led by first year head coach, Pat Kelsey, as he was recently notified he was a finalist for the Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Watch List. Kelsey has sparked a fire into this Louisville basketball program, and in his press conference following the game he gave a fiery message.
Pat Kelsey's fiery message defines Louisville basketball's true mission
Louisville Cardinals are soaring at the right time, as they have won 15 of their last 16 and are currently are on a five game win streak.
Pat Kelsey is getting deserving media attention, but when he was asked about what it meant to him to be a top 15 Coach of the Year he of course was humble, but he also gave a fiery message to Cardinals nation that should give the fans goosebumps.
"Our GA's, our student managers, our strength coach, our trainer, our scout team point guard, they think, because I believe it, that in order for us to be great, they have to be the best in the country at what they do." Pat Kelsey stated on what makes this team so historic. "It is that mentality, and it is my staff and the belief I have in them and trust I put in them, and the job that they do and the excellence they go about everyday. I believe if everybody in the organization is that way, results take care of themselves for the better part of this year they have."
Yes, the 13 transfers help, and Chucky Hepburn is a top point guard, but Kelsey's culture he is building at Louisville is instantly effecting this Cardinals basketball program, and it is evident in his intense message.
"That is power of the unit." Kelsey stated. "We are really good, and obviously I am the guy who that sits at the podium that you guys want to talk to, and they put me on some list or something like that. It is the power of the unit." Kelsey stated as he taps the table aggresivley.
Pat Kelsey might be one of the most humble coaches in all of college athletics, and the love and care he has for his staff and team is second to none. Kelsey has shown support to his full staff and he praised all of them again Saturday afternoon, referring to them as "25-strong".
"It is 25-strong. The student managers role and job, and I know you guys are sick and tired of me and hearing that, but it as important, and it is not more important or less important than mine, and it is everybody in that organization having a smile on their face and doing their job." Kelsey stated after the Cardinals 89-81 victory.
Kelsey said multiple times he wished that when they released the Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Watch List, they put the whole organization and not just his name. It is something Cardinals fans love to hear. It is chilling, as Kelsey message is a glaring reason to why they have had such a huge turnaround this season.
"It is a joke that I am even on their with some of those names, like are you kidding me? Those names? I don't worry about that." Kelsey stated raising his voice into the mic. "I give all the credit to the people of the organization that pour themselves into their job everyday, and that is why we are good. Period."
Pat Kelsey give praise to his players and assistant coaches but his full staff, including the Graduate assistants, and student managers and the scout team. A coach with full respect and trust in his "25-strong" is one glaring reason why this Louisville basketball team has had a historic turnaround.
Cardinals have just four remaining games and are brink of history, as one more win secures the biggest turnaround in program history and ties a program record for most ACC wins in a single season.