The on-court start of the Pat Kelsey era was the complete antithesis of the Louisville basketball we’ve come to know.
It’s safe to say that Louisville basketball head coach Pat Kelsey could not have kicked off a new era any better as it pertains to off-the-court duties.
However, what Cardinals fans and the basketball world needed to see was the off-the-court success to translate to on-court success.
After forty minutes of exhibition competition, it’s safe to say that Kelsey’s squad is passing with flying colors.
Let’s dive into some major takeaways from Louisville basketball’s 111-59 win over Bahamas select.
“Every game and all season long”
That’s what Louisville basketball redshirt Kobe Rodgers said during the game when asked if the Cardinals will continue their frenetic style of play.
Kelsey’s Charleston squad was 51st in adjusted tempo last season. It was 29th in 2023 and 2nd in 2022.
It’s a fairly safe bet that this Louisville basketball squad will be among the nation’s leaders in tempo and possessions. In short, they will play fast and try to speed the game up on both ends of the floor- A stark contrast to the Kenny Payne era.
That was perhaps the most noticeable thing about this Louisville basketball squad on Tuesday night.
When inbounding, Cardinals would sprint to the ball, get it to a teammate, and it was off the races.
The ball moved sharply and with a purpose. Players passed up good shots for great shots. The ball hit the paint and quickly back out beyond the arc or into the low post. Every play with a purpose, every drive, pass, and shot within the flow of the offense.
Assisting at a record rate
Louisville basketball finished the night with 38 assists on 43 made baskets.
How good is that? Let’s put things into perspective.
Louisville had 20 assists at halftime. That is more than any full game in the Kenny Payne era. In fact, that is more than in any game Louisville basketball has played since February of 2020. The Cards hadn’t recorded that many assists in an entire game since BEFORE COVID. They were ranked 11th in the country during that game.
Thirty. Eight. Assists.
Uconn led the country in assists last year at 18.8 per game. The Huskies never reached the 30-assist mark in a game.
Louisville basketball had 38 assists on Tuesday. Regardless of opponent, that is wildly impressive just months into the Kelsey era.
Assimilating ahead of the curve
We have nearly 100 days until the start of the season, and yet this Louisville basketball team is already as cohesive of a unit as we’ve seen in the last decade.
When things went wrong, players communicated. When mistakes happened, they were immediately corrected.
Cardinals sophomore James Scott went in for a fast break slam and was fouled hard on the way up. Scott was understandably heated. Instead of letting Scott fume, Kelsey and Scott’s teammates immediately reasoned with him.
Super Senior Noah Waterman was sidelined with an ankle injury on Tuesday. He was the most talkative player on the bench, mentoring others.
True freshman Khani Rooths worked to get acclimated to the pace of competition. His teammates were in his ear all game, instructing and cheering him on.
There’s something special about this group. It’s apparent from afar.
Lethal depth
Louisville basketball is redshirting two players this season- Rodgers and Super Senior Aly Khalifa.
Yet, this team feels far deeper than any we’ve seen in quite some time.
All 10 active players played and saw significant time.
Most importantly, some of the best-perceived players on this squad struggled and the Cards didn’t miss a beat.
Terrence Edwards Jr. is likely the most NBA-ready talent for UofL, but struggled to get things going. He finished with 10 points. Similary, point guard Chucky Hepburn finished with just 3 points on 1-7 shooting. Sharpshooter Reyne Smith connected on just 4 of 15 attempts, including 1 for his first 7.
The Louisville basketball starters combined for just 47 of its 111 points- 43%.
This team could have 8 or 9 leading scorers throughout the season. It could field double-digit starting lineup combinations. And that’s the beauty of what Kelsey and staff do.
Overall, one could not have drawn up a better start to the season.
With over 3 months until games officially count, Louisville basketball fans should be extremely optimistic.
What were your takeaways from the Cards’ first exhibition? Leave a comment below, or hit us up on X @TheStateofLou.
