Pat Kelsey went viral this summer when he addressed the media for the first time and sent the NCAA a statement message voicing that they aren't going to duck the smoke. Louisville basketball's 2025-26 schedule is one of the most challenging schedules in the nation, and Kelsey is making it clear he wants to have a statement season.
Kelsey loaded his schedule with legit National Title contender teams and SEC giants, while also reviving old rivalries. Louisville found out Thursday afternoon two more opponents for their non-conference schedule, and Kelesy absolutely aced these two additions.
Related: Pat Kelsey's fiery message just set the tone for Louisville's championship push
Montana and South Carolina State are perfect for Louisville's non-conference schedule
Kelsey doesn't want to duck smoke, and he wants to play the best of the best to prove to the NCAA that they are one of the best teams in the nation. The glaring reason for this is that when March comes around, the Cardinals will be given the seed they deserve and not a disrespectful seed like the No.8 seed after making the ACC Championship game and winning 27 games.
Well, yesterday the Cardinals reportedly added Montana and South Carolina State to their non-conference schedule, according to Brooks Holton. At first glance, it might just sound like two cake walks for opponents, since they aren't in a Power Four conference, but both opponents were champions of their conference last season, and Montana even made it to the Big Dance.
Even for the easier opponents, Kelsey is making it clear that he wants to play real opponents. Montana went 25-10 last season and went on to win the Big Sky Conference Tournament. This was the Grizzlies' first time in the NCAA Tournament since 2019, and entering the Big Dance, Montana was one of the nation's sleeper picks to upset the No. 3 seed Wisconsin Badgers.
Louisville adding Montana was a massive success for Kelsey's 2025-26 schedule. Adding a 2025 National Tournament team and a conference champion is a slick move by Kelsey to improve his schedule, but it is also a game the Cardinals should cruise by and blow out. It is the best-case scenario for Louisville.
As for South Carolina State, they should be a dominant win for Louisville, but it is worth noting that they were MEAC's regular-season co-champions. They lost to Norfolk State in the quarterfinals of their conference tournament, but adding a regular-season conference champion to their resume is much better than adding DII schools or someone else.
The Cardinals now have twelve of their 13 non-conference games scheduled. Louisville's first game of the schedule, currently, is their blockbuster showdown with Kentucky on November 11. Louisville will have one or two more games before that game, as college basketball fans learned the season opens on November 3.
Related: Louisville basketball's 3 biggest non-conference games in 2025
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