Louisville Opens Kelsey’s Third Season With March Expectations
Louisville begins the 2026-27 men’s basketball season ranked No. 11 in the preseason, with a roster built through transfers and newcomers. Coach Pat Kelsey enters his third year after two seasons that brought the Cardinals back to the NCAA tournament.
Louisville’s aim in Pat Kelsey’s third season is to make a deep run in March. The Cardinals were ranked No. 11 in the preseason after adding a transfer-heavy group, including several players expected to strengthen the frontcourt and backcourt.
Kelsey secured 51 victories across his opening two campaigns, following a four-year stretch in which Louisville won 38. His first team reached the program’s first ACC championship game and returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2019. Louisville lost to Creighton in the opening round, yet Kelsey earned ACC Coach of the Year honors after an 18-2 conference record and a 27-8 overall mark.
Last season, Louisville earned its first NCAA tournament win since 2017, beating South Florida before losing to Michigan State in the second round. Injuries and uncertainty hampered the campaign. Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell were selected in the draft and are on NBA opening-day rosters.
The new roster includes Kansas transfer Flory Bidunga, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and 7-foot-2 center Obinna Ekezie Jr. Oregon transfer Jackson Shelstad is expected to anchor the backcourt. Former North Carolina starter Seth Trimble and Northern Kentucky scorer LJ Wells join Louisville after obtaining eligibility for a fifth season.
Several players will miss time. USC transfer Gabe Dynes is expected to be out for the first four months, while forward De’Shayne Montgomery is coping with a foot problem and is expected to miss four to six weeks. Louisville also made major changes to Kelsey’s staff, bringing in John Andrzejek, Sean Dixon and Tim Austing after three assistants departed.