ACC Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2024-25 season

10. Louisville Cardinals 

2023-24 season record: 8-24 (3-17 ACC)

There’s really no other way to describe the Coach Kenny Payne era at Louisville other than it being a disaster. After finishing last in the standings, he was relieved of his duties and replaced by Pat Kelsey, who led Charleston to multiple CAA championships and appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Coach Kelsey had a literal empty roster to fill, as everyone had transferred out after the coaching change. That includes the four double-digit scorers (Tre White, Skyy Clark, Michael James, and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield), who all found other homes. You’ll hear more about two of them later. Instead, check out who has joined the Cardinals roster.

Reyne Smith (Charleston): 12.8 ppg 
Koren Johnson (Washington): 11.1 ppg and 2.7 apg
Terrence Edwards (James Madison): 17.2 ppg and 3.4 apg
J’Vonne Hadley (Colorado): 11.6 ppg and 6.0 rpg
Aboubacar Traore (Long Beach): 12.0 ppg, 8.4 rpg, and 4.5 apg
James Scott (Charleston): 5.0 ppg and 3.4 rpg
Aly Khalifa (BYU): 5.7 ppg and 4.0 apg
Chucky Hepburn (Wisconsin): 9.2 ppg and 3.9 apg

From this group, you have a nice mix of proven power conference players, as well as the Sun Belt Player of the Year in Edwards. Khalifa won’t play next year as he recovers from knee issues, while there’s still a need for a true center. But this group is fairly good on paper. Now Coach Kelsey will have to make the pieces work.