Brooks HoltonLouisville Courier Journal
Before setting off to enjoy an afternoon of waterslides and jet skis, Pat Kelsey urged against overreacting to his Louisville men's basketball team's dominant exhibition tour of the Bahamas.
That's easier said than done, considering how impressive the Cardinals looked during their two convincing wins (against inferior competition) in the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League and how low the bar was coming off the program's worst two seasons in modern history under former coach Kenny Payne.
If there was ever a time for unbridled optimism, it's now. Kelsey just doesn't want the hype going to his players' heads.
"Guys are going to look at their phones, and people are going to be telling them that they're the greatest thing since sliced bread and they're the '84 Lakers and things like that," he said. "We're going to be really good. We're not good yet; we've got a long, long, long way to go."
It's in that spirit we begin the second edition of The Courier Journal's Louisville men's basketball mailbag by playing a little Devil's advocate:
Talk me down from thinking this team is going to run the table — James Nold Jr.
Well, for starters, that hasn't happened since 1976.
Secondly, as Kelsey pointed out, there's a long, long, long way to go.
Louisville's nonconference schedule is daunting, and there are several opportunities for the Cards to fall short of those pie-in-the-sky expectations. The good news is two of those games are at home, against Tennessee and Ole Miss, and Kelsey's veteran-heavy roster appears up for any challenge; including trying to beat archrival Kentucky at Rupp Arena for the first time since 2008.
But there's also the tall task of winning three games in as many days against a Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis field that includes Arizona, Davidson, Gonzaga, Indiana, Oklahoma, Providence and West Virginia. ACC play won't be a walk in the park, either.
For what it's worth, college hoops analytics guru Bart Torvik's way-too-early 2024-25 projections have U of L finishing Year 1 of the Kelsey era with a 16-12 (10-10 ACC) record — excluding the three Battle 4 Atlantis games. Meanwhile, in bracketology updates last month, both CBS Sports and ESPN had the Cards among the first four teams left out of the NCAA Tournament field.
After seeing how far along Louisville was on both ends of the court in the Bahamas, I think Torvik's projection is off by several victories, especially when you consider it's less than a 10-point underdog in the games his formulas say it has less than a 50% chance of winning. You have every right to feel confident heading into the season; just know that rarely will the shots fall and the stops pile up like they did against Bahamas Select and the University of Calgary.
What guys have impressed you the most during the summer? — Jeff Byrne
This question is a holdover from the first mailbag. Without having seen a practice at the time, I figured I'd have a better answer for you after the exhibition tour.
I do, but it comes with a caveat: Every scholarship player had a moment against either the Bahamians or the Canadians. In most cases, it was both.
As for who stood out above the rest, I certainly didn't expect Kasean Pryor to go 6-for-11 from 3-point range and for the team's lone freshman, Khani Rooths, to blend in (in a good way) among mostly seniors and fifth-year players.
Terrence Edwards Jr., J'Vonne Hadley and Chucky Hepburn were as solid as advertised. Koren Johnson provided a nice spark off the bench. James Scott and Noah Waterman made an impact while playing through injuries.
If I had to settle on one, though, it would be Aboubacar Traore, who finished with the highest plus-minus rating of the trip (+71) despite scoring only 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting in 42 minutes between the two games. The Ivory Coast native lived up to Kelsey's billing as "one of the most productive players in college basketball" when he officially joined Louisville from Long Beach State back in May.
Traore was on triple-double watch against Bahamas Select, going for 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists, then had another eight, seven and four, respectively, against Calgary. And when he needed to get vertical to contest a shot, he showcased a level of athleticism far beyond his 6-foot-5 frame that has Kelsey believing he's capable of guarding the 1 through the 5. Pencil him in as a key contributor and a fan favorite.
Does Pat Kelsey feel confident in our guards' ball-handing behind Chucky Hepburn? — Daniel Bird
Kelsey didn't address this specifically during the Bahamas trip, but I think the answer is yes for several reasons.
First and foremost, his five-out offense is predicated on spacing the court and dissecting defenses with cuts and passes as opposed to beating opponents off the dribble. More often than not, guys are going to be driving to create shots for others, not looking to get theirs; so court vision is just as important as handles. Louisville's 60 assists on 80 made field goals across two games is promising in that regard, no matter the level of competition.
Taking a more individualized approach, Johnson had some eye-catching moves while running point and finished the trip with a team-high 12 assists against four turnovers. Edwards was a primary initiator during James Madison's historic 32-4 run last season. Hadley, Pryor and Traore were among those trusted with bringing the ball up the court; and Reyne Smith, having spent the past three years playing at Charleston, knows the system as well as anyone.
We'll have a better idea as to where the backcourt depth stands when Tennessee and the SEC's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Zakai Zeigler, visit the KFC Yum! Center. But what we saw in the Bahamas was a strong foundation to build upon.
What do you think will be the staple defense for the Cards this year? — Ralph Smock
Kelsey has said Louisville will be a half-court man team "99.9%" of the time. Getting back in transition will be a major point of emphasis, because the Cards' quick, long-range offense will make them susceptible to fast breaks if they get beat on the glass.
Hepburn is regarded as one of the country's best on-ball defenders, meaning he'll in all likelihood take the lead on opponents' top perimeter threat. Against Calgary, that was Nate Petrone, who primarily played the 2.
Look for Hepburn to set the tempo with ball pressure when matched up against a fellow point guard trying to initiate. U of L's roster is full of versatile defenders — its biggest weakness is the lack of a traditional 5 — so Kelsey should be confident in blitzing screens knowing guys can switch if necessary and gaps will be filled at the second level.
In the post, Kelsey relies on a "low man" to provide help and be the last line of defense when the opposition cuts or drives its way to the basket. This is where guys like Pryor, Rooths, Scott, Traore, Waterman and Frank Anselem-Ibe will be crucial.
Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.
