Louisville basketball is expected to be one of the top teams in the nation this upcoming season, thanks to the massive portal haul Pat Kelsey brought in. The Cardinals landed the No. 1 Transfer Portal class after landing six transfers, including two top-20 transfers in Flory Bidunga and Jackson Shelstad.
The Cardinals were supposed to be a Final Four contender this past year, but they struggled a lot against ranked opponents because of their physicality and toughness. Louisville lost in the second round to Michigan State and, on the year, would go down big against big-time opponents, like when they lost by 31 to Duke.
Recently, Kelsey was asked about Louisville’s identity for this upcoming season, and the Cardinals head coach made it clear he wants this team to be physical, tough, and to dive for every loose ball.
Louisville basketball fans can expect a physical and tough Cardinals team
Louisville went just 3-7 against teams ranked in the top 25 this past year and 1-6 against teams in the final AP top 25. The Cardinals had an even harder time against the elite teams, finishing 0-4 against teams ranked in the top 15.
It was clear that the Cardinals' glaring weakness was their frontcourt and Louisville’s physicality in these rank-vs-rank showdowns, but Kelsey hopes that will be different this upcoming season. Louisville’s head coach was on a show with 247Sports' Kyle Tucker, and Kelsey revealed what he hopes the Cardinals' identity is this year.
“I like to think every team that I coach, if it isn’t a tough, nasty hard-playing team, I haven’t done my job,” stated Kelsey. “We got a group of guys; I say a team takes on a personality of their coach, and I sure as heck wasn’t the best player in the world, but I was going to tear your face off for a loose ball. And that is what I want Louisville basketball to always be about.”
If you are a Cardinals fan, this is the exact message you want to hear from your coach. Last year, Louisville wasn’t known for its physicality or its ability to play against athletic teams, but this statement makes it seem like Kelsey is much more confident in this new-look Cardinals. Kelsey made some major adjustments this offseason, adding a physical center and one of the best rim protectors in Bidunga, as well as an athletic wing who can defend and shoot from beyond the arc in former 5-star Karter Knox.
Louisville fixed its frontcourt this offseason, and if the Cardinals are as physical as Kelsey wants them to be, this team should be able to contend and keep games much closer this upcoming season. Louisville’s roster is too expensive to be losing by 31 to Duke and 21 to Tennessee.
The time is now for the Cardinals. The time is now for the Cardinals. The talent is there, and now it will come down to their physicality and toughness against these good teams. If Louisville can fix one of its glaring weaknesses from this past season and develop the identity Kelsey is preaching, then they can truly be a Final Four contender.
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