Louisville basketball held its first press conference of the offseason, with head coach Pat Kelsey and four players available to answer questions from the media. Kelsey was the first one to take the stage and was seen happy and excited to be in front of everyone.
The Cardinals are expected to be one of the best teams in the 2025-26 season, and how the season ended last year and the fans and the program being left with that bitter taste in their mouth, Kelsey made it clear he wants to win.
Despite having a gruesome non-conference schedule, the Cardinals are poised to be a National Championship contender. The Cardinals will play some big-time programs from the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and, of course, the ACC, but Kelsey made it clear that it is all part of his bulletproof plan.
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Pat Kelsey's fiery message should have the rest of college basketball on high alert
Last season, Louisville went 27-9 and was the runner-up for the ACC regular season title and ACC Tournament Title. However, the NCAA committee completely disrespected Louisville's historic comeback season by placing them as the No. 8 seed, and they ultimately lost in the first round of March Madness.
Well, Kelsey is making sure that does not happen again. He was asked about the schedule they put together for the upcoming season, and he wants the nation to know that the Louisville Cardinals are not scared of anyone; they are here to make a statement this season.
"What I do want to do is make sure that when we get there, and the selection committee is looking at us, they know one thing, Louisville did not duck the smoke," Kelsey stated Wednesday morning. "They didn't duck the smoke. So, that was our approach this year."
The Cardinals' head coach's fiery message to college basketball has Louisville fans immediately saving this viral clip and holding it for when March comes around, because they know this team can survive their grueling schedule.
Kelsey is definitely right; they aren't ducking the smoke because Louisville's schedule is poised to battle-test them for sure. The Cardinals will play Kentucky on Nov. 11, at Arkansas on Dec. 3, at Indiana on Dec. 6, vs. Memphis on Dec. 13, at Tennessee on Dec. 16, and in Texas against Baylor on Feb. 14. They also know they will play Cincinnati, Ohio, but the dates have not been confirmed. The cherry on top is that they will play Kansas in an exhibition game and Duke twice in their ACC schedule.
This schedule is going to be one of the most thrilling but challenging schedules in college basketball. However, Kelsey is making a statement. He is letting the committee know that they won't have a choice but to give them the seed they deserve, because if this Louisville team can survive this non-conference schedule and dominate ACC play, and take care of business, then they are destined to be a top seed in March.
Kelsey and his Cardinals are on a massive revenge tour. They felt disrespected last year and now have that sour taste in their mouth. Louisville's schedule was a statement to the committee that they aren't afraid of anyone.
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For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.