Before an afternoon of waterslides and jet skis, Louisville men’s basketball coach Pat Kelsey warned against reading too much into his team’s dominant exhibition tour in the Bahamas. Despite two convincing wins in the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League, Kelsey emphasized that there’s still a long road ahead, especially considering the low bar set by the program’s struggles under former coach Kenny Payne.
Kelsey is optimistic but doesn’t want the early success to inflate his players’ egos. He reminded them that they’re not the ’84 Lakers yet and still have a lot of work to do.
Q: Should we temper our expectations after Louisville’s strong performance in the Bahamas? — James Nold Jr.
A: It’s easy to get excited after such a strong showing, but Kelsey is right to advise caution. The Cardinals have a challenging nonconference schedule ahead, with tough matchups against teams like Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Kentucky. Additionally, the team will face a grueling three-game stretch in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, featuring elite programs like Arizona, Gonzaga, and Indiana.
Analysts, such as Bart Torvik, project a 16-12 record for Louisville in Kelsey’s first season, excluding the Battle 4 Atlantis games. While it’s reasonable to feel confident after their performance in the Bahamas, it’s important to remember that the competition will only get tougher.
Q: Which players impressed the most during the summer exhibition games? — Jeff Byrne
A: Nearly every scholarship player had standout moments during the exhibition games against Bahamas Select and the University of Calgary. However, a few players rose above the rest:
- Kasean Pryor surprised many by going 6-for-11 from beyond the arc.
- Khani Rooths, the team’s lone freshman, fit in seamlessly with the more experienced players.
- Terrence Edwards Jr., J’Vonne Hadley, and Chucky Hepburn were as solid as expected, with Koren Johnson providing a spark off the bench.
But if there’s one player who truly stood out, it was Aboubacar Traore. Despite limited scoring, Traore showcased his all-around game with a team-high plus-minus rating of +71. He demonstrated his ability to contribute across the board, with near triple-double performances in both games, and his defensive versatility has made him a key contributor to Kelsey’s system.
Q: Does Pat Kelsey feel confident in our guards’ ball-handling depth behind Chucky Hepburn? — Daniel Bird
A: While Kelsey didn’t specifically address this, there are good reasons to be confident. His five-out offense focuses more on spacing, cutting, and passing rather than dribbling. The team’s 60 assists on 80 made field goals during the exhibition tour indicate that ball movement is a strength.
Individually, Koren Johnson led the team with 12 assists, while Terrence Edwards has experience as a primary initiator. Other players like J’Vonne Hadley, Kasean Pryor, and Aboubacar Traore have shown they can handle bringing the ball up the court as needed.
Q: What will be Louisville’s staple defense this season? — Ralph Smock
A: Kelsey has made it clear that Louisville will primarily play a half-court man-to-man defense. With a quick, long-range offense, getting back in transition will be crucial to avoid giving up fast breaks.
Chucky Hepburn, known for his on-ball defense, will likely guard the opposing team’s top perimeter threat. Louisville’s roster is full of versatile defenders, and while they lack a traditional center, Kelsey can trust his players to switch and fill gaps effectively.
In the post, Kelsey’s system relies on a “low man” to provide help defense. Players like Kasean Pryor, Khani Rooths, James Scott, Aboubacar Traore, Noah Waterman, and Frank Anselem-Ibe will play key roles in this area.
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