Louisville Cardinals Prepare for ACC Tournament Opener

Head coach Pat Kelsey says team's sole focus is on winning first game

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team is set to begin play in the 2026 ACC Tournament. Head coach Pat Kelsey stated that the team's sole focus is on winning their first game, which will be against the winner of the SMU vs. Syracuse matchup.

Why it matters

The ACC Tournament is a high-stakes event that determines the conference champion and provides an opportunity for teams to secure a bid to the NCAA Tournament. As a perennial contender, Louisville will be looking to make a deep run and potentially earn an automatic bid to the Big Dance.

The details

Louisville, led by head coach Pat Kelsey, will face the winner of the SMU vs. Syracuse game in their opening round matchup of the 2026 ACC Tournament. Kelsey emphasized that the team's sole focus is on winning that first game, rather than looking ahead to potential future opponents.

  • The 2026 ACC Tournament will begin on March 10, 2026.

The players

Pat Kelsey

The head coach of the Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“Our sole focus right now is on winning that first game. We're not looking ahead or worrying about anything else. We just need to take care of business in that opening round matchup.”

— Pat Kelsey, Head Coach (247sports.com)

What’s next

The winner of the Louisville vs. SMU/Syracuse game will advance to the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament, bringing them one step closer to the conference championship.

The takeaway

As a perennial contender in the ACC, the Louisville Cardinals will be looking to make a deep run in the conference tournament and secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Pat Kelsey's focus on winning the first game shows the team's determination to take the tournament one step at a time.