Can Pat Kelsey revive Louisville basketball in 2024-25? These 5 games are key

In Pat Kelsey’s grand vision, the Louisville men’s basketball rebuild he started in March will culminate in a tribute to the late Hall of Fame coach Denny Crum.

“When the time’s right and I feel like the revival is complete,” Kelsey told Crum’s wife, Susan, during a Sept. 17 event at the Frazier History Museum, “I’m going to call you and I’m going to ask for your permission to wear a red jacket for a game.”

Will Kelsey deliver that full-circle moment during Year 1 of his tenure? It depends on how the 49-year-old Cincinnati native defines success with the Cardinals coming off a dreadful 12-52 stretch under former coach Kenny Payne; because the bar is as low as it gets — just put a competitive product on the court and continue to galvanize a fan base desperate for a return to national prominence.

The thing is, neither Kelsey nor the members of his completely overhauled roster have shied away from the standards Crum set. Senior guard Chucky Hepburn, one of the 10 players who joined the team through the NCAA transfer portal, said they have ACC championship and national title aspirations.

“This is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity, especially because a lot of us only have one year here,” added J’Vonne Hadley, a fifth-year guard. “The energy has been one of a kind.”

If that’s the mindset, maybe ending an NCAA Tournament drought dating back to 2019 won’t be enough for Kelsey to don a red jacket. But it’s a major hurdle to clear in making his dream a reality.

With that in mind, here’s a look at five games on U of L’s 2024-25 schedule that will be pivotal on its quest to reach March Madness while also serving as good barometers for where the program stands under Kelsey’s guidance:

vs. Tennessee (Nov. 9, KFC Yum! Center)

Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes and his team are set to visit the KFC Yum! Center on Nov. 9.

To describe the urgency with which Kelsey and his staff worked upon arriving at Louisville in the spring, assistant coach Brian Kloman compared the program to a Ferrari: “You better…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/pat-kelsey-revive-louisville-basketball-000014117.html

Author : The Courier Journal

Publish date : 2024-09-25 00:00:14

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