Roster so far

[TheRealVille]

Scott, 6'11
Khalifa, 6'11
Pryor, 6'10
Fru, 6'10
Rooths, 6'8
Hadley, 6'6
Brown, 6'4
Rogers, 6'3

With only 8 players, it's clear Kelsey needs guards and a wing. The front court is tall and five deep.

With five schollys available, Kelsey is probably looking to get 3 guards and two wings.

Now this assumes no one else leaves after Johnson. Depending on how good the transfers are, next season could be a final 4 team. I wouldn't think another year of injuries will derail the team but if there's an injury or two, the roster is deep enough to cover it.

Will we see another Hepburn, Smith or Edwards with these transfers? Or will they be more role players? Will Ament sign giving Kelsey two of the best freshmen in the land?

The possibility of a deep and talented roster playing hard with a above average hoops IQ is very likely. Next season there will be no 8 seed with 27+wins.

 

[shadow force]

Definitely need more guards. An experienced back up PG. Sharpshooter(s). A bucket getter to replace Edwards on the wing would be great. I know our front court appears loaded but I can't help but think they need one more at C. A big 7 footer/rim protector that's a threat to score inside. Maybe Fru can provide some of that. But that was a matchup nightmare when the Cards had to go up against big centers that could defend the rim and score.

Scott was so limited offensively and defensively that it put the Cards at many disadvantages. Unsure if/how Khalifa can handle a big opposing post player on defense though he provides more of an offensive threat than Scott and is a good passer from the post. If Pryor stays I don't know how he'll be coming back from a torn ACL.

 

[bigloucards]

Definitely need more guards. An experienced back up PG. Sharpshooter(s). A bucket getter to replace Edwards on the wing would be great.

Sounds like the kid from VA, and Ament would fit that bill nicely!

 

[shadow force]

Fru may be a better defender than I thought. He could provide some rim protection and is a big body so maybe that's taken care of already.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

I'd like one more big body to go with the 4 listed assuming they are returning. Pryor is probably not going to be what he was before his injury, he might have restrictions. So we're already dinged there without playing a game and we know more injuries can happen.

It will be very interesting to see if Rooths returns also. If he does really hoping he takes a step forward.

When does the portal close?

 

[shadow force]

I'd like one more big body to go with the 4 listed assuming they are returning. Pryor is probably not going to be what he was before his injury, he might have restrictions. So we're already dinged there without playing a game and we know more injuries can happen.

It will be very interesting to see if Rooths returns also. If he does really hoping he takes a step forward.

When does the portal close?

Good point about Pryor. Portal closes April 22nd.

 

[shadow force]

I'd also like some bigger more athletic guards to go along with Mikel Brown Jr.

Guards that can defend and get a bucket in crunch time.

 

[2330859]

I see what CPK assembled for the 2024-25 season, and what he has coming in for 2025-26 thus far. Given that alone, I believe he is going to identify some combination of more incoming Freshmen and incoming Portal transfers that will make us both proud and optimistic!

Allow me one more observation; had it not been for the unexpected injuries, I believe Kelsey had all of the ingredients necessary to still be playing in this NCAA tournament.

 

[UofLouisville]

I'd like one more big body to go with the 4 listed assuming they are returning.

Yep. One more big man needed. Both Ali and Pryor coming off big injuries. Would hate to be thin inside if the worst happens again.

 

[Thecycle27]

There is some flexibility to move people around. If Ament commits then I am less worried only because they wouldn’t be dead. Also hard sell to get another big that fits because minutes will be limited. The kid from Charleston would be perfect.

Khalifa and Scott 5’s
Pryor and Fru are 4’s.
Ament and Rooths are 3’s.

Ament doesn’t commit and Hadley stays they will definitely throw money at a high end big.

 

[bigloucards]

There is some flexibility to move people around. If Ament commits then I am less worried only because they wouldn’t be dead. Also hard sell to get another big that fits because minutes will be limited. The kid from Charleston would be perfect.

Khalifa and Scott 5’s
Pryor and Fru are 4’s.
Ament and Rooths are 3’s.

Ament doesn’t commit and Hadley stays they will definitely throw money at a high end big.

Does Ament plan on announcing April 1 or did I hear that incorrectly?

 

[Bardman]

Sounds like he may be pushing his announcement back a seek or two (or more).

 

[shadow force]

A backcourt of McKneeley, Wooley and Brown Jr
would be pretty darn good. Kobe Rodgers as a back up.

 

[Thecycle27]

UT coming after McNeely tells me he is legit because Barnes isn’t taking a guy that can’t defend. That would be a great start.

Wooley who knows but Alabama is probably the favorite.

Interesting the feeling is the portal guys in this cycle will pull the trigger faster. I assume that means the market is more stable. I think the guys that waited last year ended up making bank but maybe ended up at places they didn’t want to be at.

You know what the portal has done, fans get over losses almost immediately looking at the portal. UK site has a longer thread about their portal addition than their loss.

 

[shadow force]

Got some dudes in the back court in Wooley and Brown now. Some good size, athleticism, and shooting. Solid start.

Or is Wooley more of an Edwards replacement at SF?

 

[shadow force]

Would like a steady back up PG, preferably with experience, to step in when Mikel needs a rest or has foul trouble. Not sure if Corey Caulker JUCO guard is really committed to the Cards or not.

Probably still need a dedicated 3 point sharpshooter to replace Reyne. After all Kelsey set up tons of plays to get a quick 3 out of timeouts for him this season. With Pryor trying to come back from a torn ACL I'd like them to get another big man for depth and match up reasons. Basically want to have quality depth at every position so no one has to get ground down and worn out as the season goes on like Chucky and Edwards did late in the year, and of course in case injuries.

 

[cardrock]

Would like a steady back up PG, preferably with experience, to step in when Mikel needs a rest or has foul trouble. Not sure if Corey Caulker JUCO guard is really committed to the Cards or not.

Probably still need a dedicated 3 point sharpshooter to replace Reyne. After all Kelsey set up tons of plays to get a quick 3 out of timeouts for him this season. With Pryor trying to come back from a torn ACL I'd like them to get another big man for depth and match up reasons. Basically want to have quality depth at every position so no one has to get ground down and worn out as the season goes on like Chucky and Edwards did late in the year, and of course in case injuries.

I too would like to grab another combo guard. But as far as needing a designated 3 point shooter to replace Reyne… while PK said many times over that he was the best shooter in the country. I love Reyne he played his heart out. But the two new guards we have coming in… both are better 3 point shooters, and both are way better defenders. Over all I think we’re going to be better at the 1 and 2 next year. Get another solid guard and put Wooley at the 3 and then we’re better at the 1 2 & 3. And I must say that I’ve heard good things about Koby as well - but I believe non of what I hear. Lastly if we don’t get Ament… would like a solid SF, and a Shack like Big 😂
I want it all

 

[shadow force]

I too would like to grab another combo guard. But as far as needing a designated 3 point shooter to replace Reyne… while PK said many times over that he was the best shooter in the country. I love Reyne he played his heart out. But the two new guards we have coming in… both are better 3 point shooters, and both are way better defenders. Over all I think we’re going to be better at the 1 and 2 next year. Get another solid guard and put Wooley at the 3 and then we’re better at the 1 2 & 3. And I must say that I’ve heard good things about Koby as well - but I believe non of what I hear. Lastly if we don’t get Ament… would like a solid SF, and a Shack like Big 😂
I want it all

Agree. With Conwell now on board the need for a dedicated 3 point shooter isn't really an issue. Brown, Wooley and Conwell can hit the 3.

Kobe Rodgers does have a lot of potential too according to many who've seen him play.

I'd like a solid SF and a huge scoring rim protector big man too. 😆

 

[LaBradfordSmithLives]

I like what Pat Kelsey has cooking so far. Hoping we hear who's coming back for sure and excited to see who else we get. I know we haven't seen his style of ball yet. Pat likes to go 100mph and didn't have the bodies to do so this year. I do hope we don't lose our focus on the defensive side.

 

[shadow force]

Next season's backcourt is absolutely loaded with talent, depth, athleticism, and shooting.

There will be talented guards on the floor at all times with fresh legs.

Interested to see if PK adds anyone else to the frontcourt or not.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Next season's backcourt is absolutely loaded with talent, depth, athleticism, and shooting.

There will be talented guards on the floor at all times with fresh legs.

Interested to see if PK adds anyone else to the frontcourt or not.

Loaded. It's like, I guess I will say it. As much as I appreciated last year's group of wings/guards, the talent appears upgraded.

There are Q marks there always are and we are a little less experienced.

 

[Bardman]

I truly think he needs frontcourt help. He needs big, burly 4 or 5 to bang and rebound.

 

[TheRealVille]

As it stands now, there's two scholarships remaining. Hope Kelsey can land one true big man and a wing scorer.

Freshman Ament would fill the wing scorer nicely, but does anyone know who the better big men are in the portal? A physical big body who also has strong hands.

I wonder though if Kelsey will seek a back up PG? That dude from Iowa maybe but I haven't heard much about him lately. Does Kelsey look for a shorter, speedy PG? Someone in the the mode of Tennessee's Zeigler?

These final two spots are going to be interesting, unless of course any current player decides to enter the portal. Hadley may see his minutes drastically going down, especially if Ament signs.

 

[shadow force]

The scholarship limit has been raised to 15 this year.

Adding some depth pieces to the front court, at the very least, would be a wise idea.

 

[LouisvilleCardMan]

The scholarship limit has been raised to 15 this year.

Adding some depth pieces to the front court, at the very least, would be a wise idea.

Putting 15 players on scholarship would seem to leave at least 5 of them disappointed in playing time, unless there are some injuries. It's almost impossible to get more than 10 into a real rotation, and 9 might sometimes be stretching things a bit. Do we know for sure that UofL is going to give out all 15 scholarships? Also, I thought there was still some final NCAA approval (any day now?) needed for 15 to be the limit.

 

[TheRealVille]

Oh wow! 15? I don't think Kelsey will fill all those with transfers. Maybe sign a couple 2 star HS recruits and redshirt them?

 

[Louis III]

As it stands now, there's two scholarships remaining. Hope Kelsey can land one true big man and a wing scorer.

Freshman Ament would fill the wing scorer nicely, but does anyone know who the better big men are in the portal? A physical big body who also has strong hands.

I wonder though if Kelsey will seek a back up PG? That dude from Iowa maybe but I haven't heard much about him lately. Does Kelsey look for a shorter, speedy PG? Someone in the the mode of Tennessee's Zeigler?

These final two spots are going to be interesting, unless of course any current player decides to enter the portal. Hadley may see his minutes drastically going down, especially if Ament signs.

Guards are done!! Kobe, Conwell, and wooley are all CGs.

 

[CardHack]

I look at the emerging roster as not being dissimilar to Jay Wrights Nova squads which he found could rebound with three and four guard lineups. We are staring down the barrels at a definite three guard attack with Hadley being a three as he was initially recruited instead of a four out of desperation . Guys like Rooths become a four in that context. The uncomfortable conversation becomes Pryor who had the biggest NIL tag last year. I don’t know what that was but he might be unaffordable with the injury question mark since his NIL price tag as what was thought to be a one year deal seemingly changes doesn’t it?

 

[shadow force]

Putting 15 players on scholarship would seem to leave at least 5 of them disappointed in playing time, unless there are some injuries. It's almost impossible to get more than 10 into a real rotation, and 9 might sometimes be stretching things a bit. Do we know for sure that UofL is going to give out all 15 scholarships? Also, I thought there was still some final NCAA approval (any day now?) needed for 15 to be the limit.

I agree that you aren't going to fill all 15 schollies with guys wanting playing time. Could go to more Redshirts or to the walk ons.

Also you could be right about the NCAA approval as I'm not 100% positive it's a go but it's what I've read from others.

 

[beantowncard]

Now everybody……….STAY HEALTHY!