Pat Kelsey's three word message has Louisville ready to make a statement vs Indiana

Pat Kelsey gives a fiery message to Louisville basketball after the Cardinals lost to Arkansas on Wednesday night.
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Louisville basketball recently lost to the Arkansas Razorbacks 89-80 on Wednesday in Fayetteville. It was Louisville's first road game of the season, and the Cardinals' first game of this gauntlet of this four-game stretch. Louisville made it a game in the second half, outscoring Arkansas 51-42, but it was the first half when Louisville had most of its problems.

The Cards went down 18 after the half, were living and dying from the 3-point line, and got themselves in a massive hole. While Louisville showed a lot of grit and fight in the second half, the first half is where the fans and Pat Kelsey were disappointed in the Cardinals. After the game, Kelsey revealed his message to the team, and this three-word message should get this team fired up to make a statement against Indiana tomorrow afternoon.

Related: 5 crushing observations from Louisville’s disappointing road loss to Arkansas

Pat Kelsey gives a fiery message to Louisville basketball after Arkansas loss

Louisville's loss to Arkansas was disappointing, but they have a chance to prove they had just a bad game. They have to put this performance behind them and quickly move on to the Hoosiers. After the loss, Kelsey shared his message with the team, and three words stood out.

"It was unacceptable," Kelsey stated in his press conference. " On both ends of the ball, the things we value, and we hold our guys accountable on the offensive and defensive end just wasn't good enough. The rebounding and undisciplined fouling. There's a ton to clean up."

The Cardinals were outrebounded 46-36, with Arkansas earning 18 offensive rebounds. Louisville's first half was just too big for the Cardinals to overcome, and Kelsey made it clear in the press conference that rebounds and fouls were the biggest issues. The Razorbacks didn't shoot it well from the stripe, but Louisville put Arkansas on the line 28 times, with the Razorbacks making 18 of them.

The Cardinals have to move past this loss quickly and try to get back in the win column tomorrow afternoon as they face No. 22 Indiana on the road at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 2:15 local time. Louisville has a 68.5 percent chance of winning that matchup according to ESPN Analytics, and it is clear that Louisville has to play more like that second half if they want to win.

The Cards turned the ball over six times in the first half against the Razorbacks and had just six assists. However, in that second half, Louisville played much cleaner basketball on offense, turning it over just three times and earning seven assists. Louisville showed a lot of fight in the second half, and while no one likes moral victories, fans are hoping that the second-half comeback and fight can carry over into tomorrow afternoon, and that the loss will light a fire in them to make a statement against the Hoosiers.

For all the latest news and updates on Louisville basketball's 2025-26 season and recruiting, stay tuned.

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