Louisville basketball is trending in the right direction for the 2025-26 season, as the Cardinals are emerging as one of the top teams in college basketball. The Cardinals took a massive step last season, shattering multiple program records and making their first NCAA Tournament appearance in quite some time.
The addition of Pat Kelsey as head coach was an immediate success, and he elevated this program on and off the floor. Louisville was able to land elite recruits out of high school and from the transfer portal.
Kelsey was recently on ACCPM back in May, and he discussed his 2025-26 roster, which fired up all Louisville fans. Kelsey is clearly excited for this upcoming season, and he made sure that the Cardinals fans know they are eyeing a Final Four run.
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Pat Kelsey sends fiery message that reveals Louisville basketball’s true mission
The Cardinals currently have the tenth-best odds in the nation to win the 2026 National Title. Louisville is eyeing a Final Four run next season, as Kelsey stated in the interview that the fans and the program are craving to cut down some nets.
The Cards' roster was recently ranked the best overall roster by Sleeper Media, and Kelsey clearly agrees. The Cardinals' head coach was asked about his roster and the success he had in recruiting, and he is fired up for next season.
"We are excited. We love our team," Kelsey stated on his roster. "We have a great core group coming back from the group we had last year. What we added in the portal we are excited about."
Louisville guards are among the best in the country, having brought in multiple 5-star recruits, multiple 4-star recruits, and key returners. The head coach delivered a fiery message to the Cardinals faithful, emphasizing why they should be 110 percent committed to the upcoming season and why Louisville is poised for a deep run in April.
""If you look at those first three transfer portal guys that we signed, the first one was Adrian Wooley, who was one of the best freshmen in the entire country. 50/40/80 splits as a freshman. Just going to be a phenomenal player. Ryan Conwell and Isaac McKneely were like boom, boom, right after each other. Isaac is one of the best shooting guards in the entire country, and Ryan Conwell is First-Team All-Big East and an absolute weapon. Our frontcourt, we have signed Mikel Brown. The makeup of our frontcourt is as good as any in our country. You add a veteran like Kobe Rodgers, who we brought in from Charleston, who sat out last year. Aly Khalifa, who is one of the best passing bigs in the world, Kasean Pryor, coming off that knee injury, J'vonne Hadley, who is just a winners winner, the ultimate Pat Kelsey type guy, Khani Rooths, who we think has a huge upside.""Pat Kelsey
This Cardinals roster is stacked, and someone Kelsey forgot to mention is 4-star commit Sananda Fru. The 6-foot-11 center has elite athleticism and has the potential to start next season.
The Cardinals head coach's fiery message makes it clear that Louisville eyes a Final Four run. He stated in the interview the city is buzzing, and fans are screaming for a Final Four run, and he has a simple response to all Louisville basketball fans.
"Let's go do it." Kelsey stated.
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For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.