Louisville basketball dominated its second game of the 2025-26 season as the Cardinals defeated Jackson State 106-70. Louisville fans saw Kasean Pryor make his highly anticipated return to the floor after recovering from a torn ACL from last season. Louisville fans were pleased again with the Cardinals' dominant performance, as Pat Kelsey has this team not letting up and playing with high intensity, getting them ready for a long-awaited game on Tuesday.
Louisville quickly turns to Kentucky as the Cardinals and the Wildcats will tip off from the KFC Yum! Center next Tuesday, Nov. 11. As the fans now wait about six days for the rivalry showdown, they are a bit worried about one of their best players, J'Vonne Hadley, after he missed last night's game due to concussion protocol. After the game, Kelsey addressed the media and provided an unclear update on Hadley's status for the blockbuster showdown.
Pat Kelsey 'hopes' Hadley is ready for Kentucky matchup
Kelsey addressed the media after the game last night, and when the press inquired about Hadley and whether he would be available for the Cardinals' big game against the Wildcats, Kelsey's update was brief and unclear.
"I hope so, we are hoping so, I don't have an update on him," Kelsey stated on if Hadley will be available for the Kentucky game Tuesday night. "We're just being very cautious with it. It's a long season, obviously, those are things you don't want to mess with, so we are just kind of being careful with him tonight.
Hadley has a massive role on this team, as he not only led Louisville in rebounds a season ago but has also stepped up this offseason and become a team leader. Hadley is a crucial two-way player who can guard any position and plays with tremendous grit, really embodying Kelsey's culture.
The 6-foot-6, 215-pound wing moved from shooting guard to forward when he transferred to Louisville from Colorado, and now he is Kelsey's starting power forward. He scored 13 points and had a team-high nine rebounds in Louisville's first win over South Carolina State.
With the nation's eyes now on Louisville and Kentucky as these two rivals gear up for this intense showdown a week into the season, Hadley's availability is going to be crucial. Louisville has lost the last three to the Wildcats and has just a 2-8 record in the previous 10 meetings. The Cardinals fans are starving for a win against their rival, and with the game at home and the team Kelsey has, many believe this could be the year Louisville flips it around.
Hadley's health and availability are going to be a big story leading up to it, but for now, Kelsey remains hopeful that he will play, but has no real update.