Feb 22, 2025; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey talks with guard Reyne Smith (6) and guard Chucky Hepburn (24) in the course of the first half towards the Florida State Seminoles at KFC Yum! Middle. Necessary Credit score: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Photos For coach Pat Kelsey and No. 19 Louisville, there’s one thing magical in regards to the 2025 calendar.
Louisville was simply 8-5 when 2024 completed, however because the begin of the brand new yr, the Cardinals are a strong 14-1 and have performed their means into the thick of the ACC hunt. It is fairly a climb from two earlier seasons below Kenny Payne, when the Cardinals went a mixed 12-52, and they’re going to look to proceed the upward trajectory at house towards Pitt on Saturday.
Louisville (22-6, 15-2 ACC) is using an offense of 4 high-scoring guards via a formidable ACC run in Kelsey’s first season on the helm. Reyne Smith, Terrence Edwards Jr. and Chucky Hepburn sport practically equivalent convention scoring averages in league play (15.5, 15.5 and 15.4 factors per recreation, respectively) whereas J’Vonne Hadley provides 13.9 factors per recreation.
“We by no means actually discuss in regards to the previous,” Kelsey stated of Louisville’s latest program stumbles and sudden enchancment. “I imply, we respect our previous … (however) we discuss us and the current and what we will do in our subsequent recreation.”
The Cardinals have received their final six video games, most not too long ago Tuesday’s 71-66 win at Virginia Tech. These 4 high-scoring guards contributed 48 of Louisville’s 71 factors and the Cardinals pressured 22 turnovers to say the highway victory. Hepburn led the Cardinals’ effort with 15 factors.
Pitt (16-12, 7-10) has not been the beneficiary of a 2025 scorching streak, sitting at simply 6-10 because the calendar modified. The Panthers discover themselves properly outdoors the NCAA Match bubble.
Regardless of a stable one-two scoring punch of guards Jaland Lowe (16.7 factors) and Ishamel Leggett (16.5), the Panthers have misplaced six of their final eight video games below coach Jeff Capel. With the ACC unlikely to surpass a handful of groups making the NCAA Match, Pitt’s ninth-place league document seems to spell doom.
Pitt was most not too long ago in motion on Tuesday, dropping 73-67 at house to Georgia Tech. The Panthers shot simply 36.8 %, with Lowe and Leggett notching 45 factors however capturing a mixed 12 for 35 (34.3 %). Pitt was additionally outrebounded 37-27 and noticed Georgia Tech go 25 of 28 from the free-throw line.
“We have not been rebounding workforce all yr and actually since January, we have tried various things,” Capel stated of his Panthers. “We’ll proceed to strive various things. … We’re within the level of the season the place you may’t … put soccer pads on them and do old-school stuff. Now we have to have a will to go get the basketball.”
The groups beforehand met Jan. 11 in Pittsburgh, with Louisville squeaking out an 82-78 win. The 4 important Cardinal guards mixed for 67 factors, led by 25 factors and 7 3-pointers from Smith, who ranks second within the nation at 3.7 made 3-pointers per recreation.
Lowe and Leggett totaled 40 for Pitt in that recreation, however the Panthers have been outrebounded 44-31 by Louisville.
–Subject Stage Media
