After two absolutely abysmal seasons, Louisville season is back and Pat Kelsey really came through in his debut season leading the Cardinals. Putting those recent eras in the distant past, Kelsey’s Cardinals won 27 games, tied for 2nd place in the ACC, and returned to the NCAA Tournament. A roster built largely with the transfer portal really came together and shined, though the future for this program runs through a new identity.
Top scorers Terrence Edwards Jr. and Chucky Hepburn were two of the numerous seniors playing major roles on that Cardinals squad who won’t return next year. With graduation and the portal, Louisville lost a number of faces including James Scott and Reyne Smith, but it’s not all bad news. Kasean Pryor should be back and healthy after missing most of last season with an injury while J’Vonne Hadley comes back for one last collegiate campaign after he was Louisville’s top rebounder.
Freshman point guard Mikel Brown Jr. is a 5-star prospect and one of the nation’s top recruits and he’s just the start of a brilliant offseason of additions. Kelsey and his staff added just three names with the portal but all three were home runs for the Cardinals. Adrian Wooley joins the squad after brilliant work in the CUSA as a freshman at Kennesaw State. Isaac McKneely is definitely a player to watch after his time with Virginia, including leading the ACC in 3-point shooting last season.
Any of these three backcourt additions can be considered for their importance but we’re shining the light on Ryan Conwell. A native of Indianapolis, this 6-4 guard has bounced from South Florida to Indiana State to Xavier and been a major contributor throughout his career. He was part of a historic effort with the Sycamores before averaging 16.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists as one of Xavier’s top players while also making 41% of his 3-pointers.
Conwell is an impactful presence who can light it up from outside the arc and be a consistent scorer in this league. He proved his potential and athleticism in both the MVC and Big East and can be a number one option for the Cardinals in the ACC. This new-look backcourt is so full of raw talent and it’ll be interesting to see if Conwell can carve out that top dog role.
Pencil in Hadley, Pryor, and the returning Aly Khalifa into the three frontcourt spots and then consider what the Cardinals have added in the backcourt. Perhaps the nation’s best freshman point guard and a few of the best 3-point shooters at the power conference level give Louisville plenty of firepower for this season. If the Cardinals get Conwell playing at the same level or better than last season then there might finally be another postseason run in story for the Louisville faithful.