Louisville's Kelsey Previews 2026 ACC Tournament

Cardinals head coach discusses team's preparation and key injuries ahead of postseason play.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Louisville men's basketball head coach Pat Kelsey met with the media on Monday to preview his team's upcoming appearance in the 2026 ACC Tournament. Kelsey discussed how the Cardinals are spending the next few days preparing for the tournament and provided updates on key injuries, including star freshman Mikel Brown Jr. who has missed the last two games with a back injury. Louisville is the tournament's six-seed and will face the winner of Tuesday's game between Syracuse (14) and SMU (11) in the opening round on Wednesday.

Why it matters

The ACC Tournament is a crucial event for Louisville as they look to secure a strong seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Kelsey's comments provide insight into the team's mindset and preparation as they aim to make a deep postseason run.

The details

Louisville concluded its regular season with a three-point win over 22nd-ranked Miami on Saturday. The Cardinals are the tournament's six-seed and will face the winner of Tuesday's game between Syracuse (14) and SMU (11) in the opening round on Wednesday, with tip-off expected around 2:30 EST.

  • Louisville finished the regular season on Saturday, March 8, 2026.
  • Kelsey met with the media on Monday, March 10, 2026 to preview the ACC Tournament.
  • The 2026 ACC Tournament will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The players

Pat Kelsey

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

Mikel Brown Jr.

A star freshman on the Louisville basketball team who has missed the last two games due to a back injury.

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What they’re saying

“Louisville is spending these next few days preparing and giving updates on key injuries. Star freshman Mikel Brown Jr. has missed the last two contests with a back injury.”

— Pat Kelsey, Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

The winner of Tuesday's Syracuse-SMU game will face Louisville in the opening round of the ACC Tournament on Wednesday, March 12, 2026.

The takeaway

Louisville is focused on preparing for a deep postseason run in the ACC Tournament, but the health of star freshman Mikel Brown Jr. will be a key factor in their success.