Helena Frye
The Louisville Cardinals are a college basketball team that has seen recent success in the 2024-25 season, with new head coach Pat Kelsey leading the team to a top 30 spot in the NET rankings. The team has a strong record across Quad I, II, III, and IV games, with a 4-7 Quad I record, an 11-1 Quad II record, a 7-0 Quad III record, and a 5-0 Quad IV record. In the 2024-25 preseason, the Cardinals were ranked 64th in the KenPom ratings, reflecting a wide variety of opinions on their performance. Louisville has welcomed 12 newcomers and demonstrated impressive roster management, filling all but one of their 13 open scholarships. Despite their successes, the Cardinals have faced challenges in cracking the top 25 rankings, with competitors like Clemson and Creighton jumping ahead of them. However, with a favorable schedule and strong performance, they are well-positioned to secure a top seed in the ACC standings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ranking in 247Sports' Way-Too-Early ACC Power Rankings | #4 |
| Ranking in KenPom Ratings | #64 |
| NET ranking | #30 |
| Quad-I record | 4-7 |
| Quad-II record | 11-1 |
| Quad-III record | 7-0 |
| Quad-IV record | 5-0 |
| Number of scholarship players | 8 |
| Number of Division I transfers | 12 |
| Number of high school prospects | 1 |
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What You'll Learn
Louisville Basketball's ranking in the ACC
Louisville's basketball team, the Cardinals, has seen some changes in the past year. Former head coach Kenny Payne was fired, and all 12 of the team's scholarship players from the 2023-24 roster entered the transfer portal. The new head coach, Pat Kelsey, has done a masterful job of roster management, bringing in 11 transfers and one high school prospect.
The Cardinals are welcoming 12 newcomers for Pat Kelsey's first year as head coach. Their only Quad 1 win so far has been against West Virginia in the Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals, with a rout of Indiana in the first round of the tournament as a Quad 2 win. Three other wins came against Quad 4 opponents: Winthrop, Morehead State, and Bellarmine.
The team is currently ranked 30th in the NCAA's first batch of NET rankings for the 2024-25 season, a big jump from the previous season when they finished 216th out of 362 Division I teams. They are currently among the top five in the ACC, trailing only Duke, Pittsburgh, Clemson, and North Carolina.
In the 247Sports' Way-Too-Early ACC Power Rankings, the Cardinals are ranked at No. 4, and with the new additions to the team, they are expected to be competitive in the upcoming season.
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Pat Kelsey's impact as head coach
On March 28, 2024, Pat Kelsey was named the head coach of the Louisville men's basketball program. In his first year, Kelsey took Louisville from the bottom of the ACC rankings to a second-place finish, with an 18-2 conference record. He led the Cardinals to several milestones, including their first victory at rival Virginia since 1990 and a return to the AP Top 25 rankings for the first time since 2021. At the end of the season, Kelsey was named ACC Coach of the Year, and he led Louisville back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2019.
Kelsey has been described as a "dominant winner" across his 13 seasons as a head coach, including his first year at Louisville, three at the College of Charleston, and the previous nine at Winthrop University. He has a proven track record of success, with a 288-130 overall record and 167-63 in conference games.
Kelsey's impact on the Louisville basketball program was immediate and significant. After former head coach Kenny Payne was fired, all 12 of the Cardinals' scholarship players from the 2023-24 roster entered the transfer portal. Kelsey and his staff quickly rebuilt the roster, bringing in 11 transfers and one high school prospect. This decisive action formed a competitive roster for the 2024-25 season, with Louisville ranked No. 4 in the ACC Power Rankings.
Kelsey's coaching abilities have been praised by many, including College of Charleston AD Matt Roberts, who said, "Louisville Basketball and the city of Louisville got an absolute gem today in Pat Kelsey. He will win and win big for the Cardinals. Not only is he a tremendous teacher, he is an even better person." Nick Nurse, head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, also commended Kelsey's dedication, innovative mind, and the respect he commands on and off the court.
Kelsey's success as a head coach can be attributed to his ability to build a strong culture within the team. He focuses not just on plays but also on fostering excellence and resilience among his players. His impact on the Louisville basketball program demonstrates his exceptional leadership and strategic skills, which have inspired those around him and led to significant improvements in the team's performance.
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The team's roster changes
The Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team has seen significant roster changes in the past year. After the firing of former head coach Kenny Payne, all 12 scholarship players from the 2023-24 roster entered the transfer portal. This prompted new head coach Pat Kelsey, who was named to the position on March 28, to rebuild the team through the transfer portal. As a result, Louisville's roster for the 2024-25 season includes 11 transfers and one high school prospect.
Some of the notable additions to the Louisville Cardinals roster for the 2024-25 season are:
- Terrence Edwards Jr., a senior guard from Tucker High School in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Reyne Smith, a 5th-year forward from the Australian Institute of Sport in Ulverstone, Australia.
- Kasean Pryor, a freshman forward from IMG Academy in Chicago, Illinois.
- Khani Rooths, a senior guard from Saint Xavier HS in Cincinnati, Ohio.
In addition to the new additions, the Cardinals also welcomed back several returning players, including Cole Sherman (#5, G/F) and Danny Vranes. The team's roster management has been praised, and the Cardinals are currently ranked among the top ACC teams in the first NET rankings of the 2024-25 season.
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Louisville's Quad wins
As of the 2024-25 season, Louisville's Quad 1 record is 4-7, with their only Quad 1 win coming against West Virginia (No. 29) in the Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals. Their victory over then-No. 15 Indiana (No. 71) in the first round of the eight-team tournament is considered a Quad 2 win. Louisville has an impressive 11-1 record in Quad II games, a 7-0 record in Quad III, and a perfect 5-0 record in Quad IV.
The NCAA uses a quadrant system to evaluate the quality of wins and losses for college basketball teams. The system takes into account the opponent's NET ranking and the location of the game. Quadrant 1 includes home wins against a top-30 team, neutral-site wins against a top-50 team, or away wins against a top-75 team. Quadrant 2, 3, and 4 have similar breakdowns, with higher rankings indicating lower-quality wins.
Louisville's performance in the 2024-25 season has been impressive, with head coach Pat Kelsey being credited for his roster management skills. The team has welcomed 12 newcomers, including 11 transfers and one high school prospect, filling all but one of their 13 open scholarships. Despite facing injuries and a season-ending ACL tear for Kasean Pryor, Louisville has managed to secure several quality wins and maintain a strong record across all quads.
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The AP rankings
Louisville's absence from the AP rankings was surprising to many, given their dominant streak and impressive record. At the time, Louisville held an 18-6 record for the year and an 11-2 record in conference play. They had also recently defeated Clemson 74-64 with a standout performance by J'Vonne Hadley, who scored 32 points and had 10 rebounds. Despite this, Louisville was unable to break into the top 25.
One possible explanation for Louisville's absence from the AP rankings is the perception that they had an easier schedule compared to other teams. It's worth noting that Louisville had the easiest schedule among all Power Four conferences. However, this shouldn't detract from their impressive winning streak. Louisville's performance and record suggest that they are a competitive force to be reckoned with.
While Louisville has faced setbacks in the AP rankings, there is a silver lining. If they can maintain their winning streak and finish the season with a strong record, they still have a chance to secure a top seed in the ACC standings. According to predictions, if Louisville finishes with a record of 25-6, they will be in contention for a top-two seed, and if Duke stumbles, they might even secure the top seed. So, while the AP rankings are important, Louisville fans can take comfort in the fact that their team is still in the running for a favourable position in the ACC standings.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Louisville basketball is ranked. In the 2024-25 preseason KenPom ratings, they were ranked No. 64. In the first NET rankings of the 2024-25 season, they were in the top 30. In the ACC Power Rankings, they were ranked No. 4.
Pat Kelsey is the head coach of the Louisville men's basketball team.
There are 12 newcomers on the Louisville basketball team for the 2024-25 season.
The Louisville basketball team's record varies depending on the ranking system used. In the NET rankings, they have a 4-7 Quad I record, an 11-1 Quad II record, a 7-0 Quad III record, and a 5-0 Quad IV record. In the AP rankings, they had 53 votes but did not crack the top 25.
There are varying opinions on how the Louisville basketball team will perform in the 2024-25 season. Some predict that they will be ACC title contenders, while others believe they will be a fringe NCAA Tournament team.
