Pat Kelsey was well aware of the University of Louisville’s storied basketball tradition and its prestigious status in the sport before being chosen as the Cards’ next coach.
His warm reception in the community emphasized this, as he learned that this area is a hotbed of college basketball passion. The citizens of the Red & Black Nation are intensely eager for success.
However, he still appeared genuinely surprised upon entering the media room at the Floyd Street practice facility for a press conference on Thursday.
The room was so crowded there weren’t enough chairs for everyone. Numerous cables from various TV cameras made maneuvering tricky, causing a few people to nearly trip.
His first comment expressed amazement at the high level of interest on a Friday morning in June.
As is typical with such gatherings, there wasn’t much substantive information provided.
This is understandable, given that it’s a completely new roster that has only been practicing for a few weeks. They are still learning his terminology.
A few things stood out to me.
When asked a question, he responded directly to the person who asked it.
I inquired about his defensive philosophy and schemes. He maintained eye contact throughout his response.
His answer was essentially “99% half-court man-to-man.” He compared it to Alabama, which is as offensively oriented as the Cardinals will be.
He frequently mentioned how mature and self-motivated most of the players are.
He highlighted the universally praised benefits of a summer trip: ten extra full team practices, team bonding (especially crucial for an entirely new squad), and experiencing another culture.
He commended his assistant Mike Cassidy, whom he seemingly referred to as an offensive coordinator.
When asked about Peyton Siva, Kelsey said, “He makes us better. He’d make any organization better.
“He lights up a room. He’s a world-class dude.”
Kelsey often uses the word “dude.” I like it.
He straightforwardly stated that it’s too early to tell if the players will gel. He referenced a couple of his successful Charleston squads. One came together early, while the other evolved during the season.
When asked who the most vocal player was, the only one he mentioned by name was J’Vonne Hadley. This was confirmed when Hadley, along with Reyne Smith and Chucky Hepburn, took questions. Hadley was usually the first to respond.
Understanding the need to fill seats, Kelsey promoted season tickets. Recognizing that it’s now a professional sport, he praised 502Circle and asked for support for the Cards NIL collective.
Since Reyne Smith played at Charleston, he was asked about Kelsey’s quirks and how they might manifest.
He mentioned that when Kelsey is implementing a set and a player doesn’t start exactly where he should or go where he should, the coach will lie down on the hardwood and point to the exact spot.
Regarding the fanbase?
As if anyone reading this needs to be told, We Are Ready!
I spoke with a fellow I frequently see at my workout spot but had never talked to before. He was wearing a Cardinal hoops t-shirt, which was enough for me to strike up a conversation.
He moved to town in the early ’90s and started attending U of L games in ‘95.
“Ah, the beginning of the Crum decline,” I said.
“Yeah, but I loved it,” he replied.
He attended every home game the past couple of seasons.
He is ready.
I had a wisdom tooth extracted last week. Don’t ask.
Turns out my oral surgeon is a big Cardinal fan.
And a big fan of road trips to Indy, squeezing in as many visits to Shapiro’s as possible, like me.
He is ready.
There is a regional next year at Lucas Oil.
PK, if you can make it happen, pastrami and latkes are on me.
