Even the most optimistic of Louisville hoops fanatics understand the Cardinals have fallen short of expectations.
Thus, as they say in support group settings, said expectations unrealized have led to resentments.
Thereby, despite a 20-8 record and a fairly firm grasp of an invite to the Dance, the natives are restless.
Not without some justification.
As we say, the honeymoon is over for Pat Kelsey.
Questions about his roster construction, queries about his strategy to eschew any FG attempts other than threes and layups, defensive setups, concerns about roster rotation are all legitimate.
But, as I’ve personally offered to all who inquire, it’s what happens between this season and next that will be most telling.
How future rosters are assembled. An experienced PG to run the show. A significantly greater inside presence. Guys with a better handle who can get it to the hoop, and finish. Etc, etc.
So, yeah, fans have questions. So do I.
We got opinions.
Hey that’s why my screeds are here, to give you readers something to react to.
There is one line of criticism that bemuses me. (Were I not an ancient dude, I’d be more inclined to have a go at those who bring it up. Age does bring a sense of perspective, along with the aches and pains and biopsies.)
I must take issue with those who decry that Pat Kelsey is nothing but a Mid Major coach and that’s that.
It may prove to be so.
But it is far far from a given at this juncture.
He seems a bright fellow. Lots of energy and drive. Intelligent.
This is a learning curve for him. Coaching at one the sport’s great programs in front of a massive critical and anxious fan base is not a stroll with the dog down Baringer path in Cherokee.
His final chapter here is not close to being written.
But for those who have already given up on PK, allow me to offer this.
Prime example is, of course, Mike Krzyzewski. He was hired at Duke after a 9-17 season at West Point. Which is, a lone NIT title notwithstanding, not a bastion of basketball. Coach K went 17-13 his first year in Durham. Followed by 10-17 and 11-17.
He was not terminated. He adjusted.
I shan’t recite what happened after that.
Which is to say, Pat Kelsey still has time to prove he’s ready for prime time.
For those who have already given up on him, well, have at it if you must.
For shits and giggles, I did a quick dive into the coaching journeys of the current Top 10.
Dusty May was at Florida Atlantic.
Dan Hurley at Wagner and Rhode Island.
TJ Otzelberger at South Dakota State.
Kelvin Sampson at Montana Tech.
Todd Golden at San Francisco.
Matt Painter at Southern Illinois.
Brad Underwood at Daytona Beach CC and Stephen F. Austin.
Ryan Odom at Maryland Baltimore County.
Bill Self at Oral Roberts and Tulsa.
Catch my drift?
Let’s see what happens as time passes.
Meanwhile . . .
. . . Beat Clemson.
* * * * *
Seems the St. John’s vs. UConn rematch wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
Talk about anticipation.
I know a guy who dropped a Hamilton +99 for a Peacock subscription just to watch.
Let’s simply say it was clear that The Rick in his 1:19 post game presser was not pleased with the outcome.
The Johnnies, winners of 13 in a row coming in, didn’t score a FG in the last 17 minutes of play.
0/24.
RP was a mid major dude once. A few times actually. Hawaii. Boston University. Iona.
Is he still really ready to coach at the highest level?
Haven’t been to the Red Storm chat room, but it sure wouldn’t surprise me if some fans so inquired.
* * * * *
Speaking of said bespoke fellow, let me add a few cents on the current hoops dustup.
Should coaches go back to wearing suits and ties?
Armani man Pat Riley thinks so.
Kornheiser and Wilbon think so.
Feh.
If Mick Cronin wants to wear a suit, good for him.
If ever there was a guy who should consider adopting the new dress code it’s Buzz Williams. But if he wants to continue to dress up and shvitz through his attire, his choice.
But it’s 2026.
Given my station in life, I see a lot of doctors. Can’t remember the last time I saw one with a tie on.
Casual and comfortable is now.
— c d kaplan
Thank you, 100%
There is a lot to like about Mikel Brown’s game. At the same time there are some things that need improvement. Ball handling and passing to name a few. I think he is leading the team in turnovers. I remember there were similar concerns about Darrel Griffith after his junior season. As I recall he dedicated the off season to improving his ball handling and spent hours and hours each day at Crawford Gym dribbling through mazes of chairs scattered all over the court. Obviously it worked and helped him become the legend he is.
Mikel probably will not be coming back after this year. Even so, it would be a huge plus for his future if he would work on his weaknesses during the off season like Griff did.
Suits and ties were fun when we had Rollie Massimino and Rick Majerus trying to wear them. Doesn’t matter now.
HBD Seedy
Much to like about PK, but I don’t understand strategy of having the bigs out on the perimeter, seemingly doing nothing but handing the ball off to the guards.
The vast majority of other teams have their big somewhere near the basket.
Never seen this strategy in all the years I’ve watched basketball.
Seedy Can u or anybody’s explain this strategy to me?
It’s called the “five out offense”. The Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors run it in the NBA. Google it and you can learn all about it.
It ain’t working. At least not with the personnel we have it’s not.
I will add that when you understand the concept you can see why PK constructed the roster the way he did, the main trouble as I see it is he doesn’t have enough elite players on the roster to impose this on the longer more athletic and physical teams we play. They are not challenged to defend it. They blow it up with physicality and length.
Memory is Majerus said “Fuck it” went to a sweater early on.
It’s understandable to recall him that way because when he coached at Ball State and then Utah he was the sweater guy. I’m not sure when he switched but he did wear suits when coaching at Marquette in the mid 80’s. There is a photo of assistant Ric Cobb holding him back in his disheveled suit while arguing a call.
My memory is he had an eating disorder. Lived in a hotel. Sometime along the way decided suits were just a hassle. Bobby Knight made same decision.
I grew up in southeastern WI with Marquette basketball in the glory days. Rick had an interesting story. Couldn’t make the Marquette High school team, still tried to walk on to the MU freshman team. He had such a great attitude they couldn’t cut him. After graduation he became a grad assistant. I believe his eating disorder was that he ate a lot and not a very good diet. After games we would go into Real Chili near campus, and he often stopped in there to get a large carry out order. He had blue-collar roots, his dad was a union rep and his mom was the traditional stay at home. It was said he was a mama’s boy at heart. He never married and I read that when he left Milwaukee he stayed in hotels because he didn’t want to commit to moving from Wisconsin. He was a hoopaholic, and preferred to spend his time on either basketball or visiting and caring for his mother.
Yes, he and Knight were early adopters of the sweater, as well as Lou Carneseca if memory serves.
you are welcome.
you are welcome scorpio
As did the “black Knight”.
This is funny lol Picturing that, thanks for the laugh.
So far he has shown himself to only be a mid-major level coach who doesn’t understand what it takes to win at the elite level. I agree that it is not fair to assume he will not grow beyond that. We simply don’t know. People don’t like not knowing. Especially at this point after the last nearly decade of what we have endured. People are simply tired of being disappointed, and are done with it.
Until he shows otherwise, he is a mid-major coach in over his head. Logic and fairness dictate that he gets a chance to show if he can grow.
And f**k Rick Pitino. His HoF level game teaching and x and o excellence not withstanding, it was his arrogance, recklessness, and gross incompetence at managing the program that started the dominoes falling to where we have been, and are now. Super glad he got smoked by UConn. Nobody deserves it more.
The “Scorp” has delivered a venomous sting into the current state of Cardinal basketball coaching. Based on empirical evidence, he had a right to strike.