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A father and son from Shively sat in the lower level of the KFC Yum! Center before Louisville basketball's 9 p.m. tipoff March 5 against California. It was the boy's sixth birthday, and he sported a black T-shirt paying homage to his favorite player: Chucky Hepburn.
On Sunday evening, he'll get to experience something that felt like a birthright when he first entered the world but hasn't happened since: hearing the Cardinals' name called as part of the NCAA Tournament field.
"That's what's cool," his father said. "They've actually got something to pull for now."
It's been a long time coming. Between COVID-19 canceling the postseason on U of L's best team under former coach Chris Mack and the historic lows it hit during Kenny Payne's 12-52 tenure, the program has been through a lot.
None of that mattered to Pat Kelsey when he was named Payne's successor last spring. The 49-year-old Cincinnati native had a bed installed in his office at the Planet Fitness Kueber Center, crushed the NCAA transfer portal and taught a hoops-crazed city how to dream big again. However March Madness plays out, Year 1 of his revival was a success.
"It means everything," the father from Shively said. "I tell all my buddies, 'It's like you missed a part of you for the past few years.'"
To celebrate Louisville's first trip to the Big Dance since 2019, The Courier Journal approached people with various connections to the program with a simple question: What will hearing the Cards' name called on Selection Sunday mean to you? Here's what they said:
Louisville athletics director Josh Heird said he's typically not one to suffer from the fear of missing out. But that'll certainly be the case while he's holed up in Indianapolis during the week leading up to the bracket release as part of the NCAA's selection committee for the women's tournament.
"I'm going to have FOMO during the ACC Tournament," he said.
After navigating two coaching searches since the university parted ways with Mack in 2022, and experiencing the ghost town that was the Yum! Center as the losses piled up under Payne, Heird said Selection Sunday will be "really rewarding" even if he's not able to be by Kelsey's side when the Cards learn what seed they'll be.
"I think it'll be an opportunity to reflect a little bit on the recent history of this basketball program," he said. "(I'll) do all of that very, very quickly and then turn the page and say, 'How do we continue to get better and make progress and continue to try to build momentum around the program?'"
Karen Evans has had the same front-row seat in Section 105 since the Yum! Center opened. She said she did not miss a game during the Payne era.
"Life is short; I've got a pacemaker," said Evans, who is nearing her 60s. "I just want to have fun every day I'm breathing."
That's not just talk; one could make a strong case for Evans as the most upbeat fan in attendance from 2022-24. So, how will she feel on Selection Sunday?
"Just you bringing it up makes me tear up," Evans said. "I'm a huge fan; I came to every game the last two years, and it was very, very tough. I come to every game every year, and it broke my heart. I had lost all interest in Selection Sunday; couldn't even really watch the tournament.
"It is the most amazing thing. I cannot believe Pat Kelsey came in here and did this in a year. It touches my heart. I'm just so excited to be able to watch it and have interest in it again — regardless of what they do in the tournament."
Three decades into being the radio play-by-play voice of the Cards, Paul Rogers has grown accustomed to the madness of March. Having sat on the sidelines since 2019, he's ready to dive back into it headfirst.
"I can't wait," Rogers said. "I've missed it.
"I can remember when the postseason was just a given. It was on the schedule — and usually into the second weekend; you could pretty much count on. After the little stretch we've been through, I just can't wait to get back into it. There's nothing like tournament time.
"You've seen how this town has gotten behind this team and how the team has interacted with the fans and how much they've all endeared themselves. I just can't wait to see the name pop up, and hopefully that's not the end of it. Hopefully, there'll be a few more games and a couple of weeks to go."
Nick Dozier's final year as a student manager under Hall of Famer Rick Pitino ended with Louisville winning the 2013 national championship. With his team on the outside of the NCAA Tournament looking in the past few years, he said he observed it strictly as a bettor — "that was the only way you could find happiness."
Selection Sunday, for Dozier, will be "a sign that we're back to where we belong in the echelons of college basketball.
"As historic of a program as Louisville is, you want to hear your name but you also expect to hear your name," he said. "The fact that coach Kelsey has got us back here in one year — it's a tribute to him and to how great of a coach he is and how much the players have bought in to his system; but I also would say that the fans have bought into him, as well. It's a really amazing feat, what he's been able to accomplish."
Kelsey's one-track mind is already rubbing off on Peyton Siva, who is in his first season as the director of player development and alumni relations at his alma mater. When asked what it will mean to him to hear Louisville's name on Selection Sunday, the point guard of its 2013 championship team said, "Are we sure it's getting called?"
After he was assured it's a lock, Siva said: "It'll be amazing, the opportunity to play in the tournament, to hear our name called. These guys put the work in, and it's a testament to what they have achieved.
"I'm very fortunate and lucky that I was able to join as terrific of a staff as this is and be around some really talented players. It feels good; I mean, it always feels good when you're winning. Hopefully, we continue to keep pushing and win on out."
Bernie Quill and Courtney Fleming were still trying to grasp the concept of high-stakes basketball in March when they were asked to get sentimental about Selection Sunday. To these fans, it's felt foreign for a while.
"It's hard to put words on it; because it was so easy to get checked out mentally the last few years," Quill said. "It's kind of almost surreal. We used to take it for granted. I think we're going to appreciate it a whole lot more."
"It was like a missing part of my life: March," Fleming added. "Every year, it was like, 'There's only 11 months in a year.' March was nonexistent."
Jared Shuster is one of the last three standing from Payne's tenure on the executive board of Louisville's student section, The Ville'ns. Before the season tipped off, the senior from Oldham County told The Courier Journal he was hopeful that Kelsey could breathe new life into the program.
"Expectations have definitely been exceeded," said Shuster, whose efforts to galvanize his peers Kelsey has rewarded by running into the student section on two occasions. "I got to enjoy a good year of basketball; which I haven't really been able to do yet. It's been great."
As far as Selection Sunday goes, Shuster said he'll be indifferent to whatever seed the Cards get.
"I'm just excited to be in it," he said.
Sitting courtside with her grandfather for Louisville's game against Cal, 9-year-old Zoey Asay spoke on behalf of the entire city with a succinct assessment of her Selection Sunday emotions.
"I'm going to feel very nervous," she said, "and, at the same time, very happy."
Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at [email protected] and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville basketball: Emotions high as NCAA Tournament drought ends
Continue reading...
On Sunday evening, he'll get to experience something that felt like a birthright when he first entered the world but hasn't happened since: hearing the Cardinals' name called as part of the NCAA Tournament field.
"That's what's cool," his father said. "They've actually got something to pull for now."
It's been a long time coming. Between COVID-19 canceling the postseason on U of L's best team under former coach Chris Mack and the historic lows it hit during Kenny Payne's 12-52 tenure, the program has been through a lot.
None of that mattered to Pat Kelsey when he was named Payne's successor last spring. The 49-year-old Cincinnati native had a bed installed in his office at the Planet Fitness Kueber Center, crushed the NCAA transfer portal and taught a hoops-crazed city how to dream big again. However March Madness plays out, Year 1 of his revival was a success.
"It means everything," the father from Shively said. "I tell all my buddies, 'It's like you missed a part of you for the past few years.'"
To celebrate Louisville's first trip to the Big Dance since 2019, The Courier Journal approached people with various connections to the program with a simple question: What will hearing the Cards' name called on Selection Sunday mean to you? Here's what they said:
Josh Heird
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Louisville athletics director Josh Heird said he's typically not one to suffer from the fear of missing out. But that'll certainly be the case while he's holed up in Indianapolis during the week leading up to the bracket release as part of the NCAA's selection committee for the women's tournament.
"I'm going to have FOMO during the ACC Tournament," he said.
After navigating two coaching searches since the university parted ways with Mack in 2022, and experiencing the ghost town that was the Yum! Center as the losses piled up under Payne, Heird said Selection Sunday will be "really rewarding" even if he's not able to be by Kelsey's side when the Cards learn what seed they'll be.
"I think it'll be an opportunity to reflect a little bit on the recent history of this basketball program," he said. "(I'll) do all of that very, very quickly and then turn the page and say, 'How do we continue to get better and make progress and continue to try to build momentum around the program?'"
Karen Evans
Karen Evans has had the same front-row seat in Section 105 since the Yum! Center opened. She said she did not miss a game during the Payne era.
"Life is short; I've got a pacemaker," said Evans, who is nearing her 60s. "I just want to have fun every day I'm breathing."
That's not just talk; one could make a strong case for Evans as the most upbeat fan in attendance from 2022-24. So, how will she feel on Selection Sunday?
"Just you bringing it up makes me tear up," Evans said. "I'm a huge fan; I came to every game the last two years, and it was very, very tough. I come to every game every year, and it broke my heart. I had lost all interest in Selection Sunday; couldn't even really watch the tournament.
"It is the most amazing thing. I cannot believe Pat Kelsey came in here and did this in a year. It touches my heart. I'm just so excited to be able to watch it and have interest in it again — regardless of what they do in the tournament."
Paul Rogers
You must be registered for see images attach
Three decades into being the radio play-by-play voice of the Cards, Paul Rogers has grown accustomed to the madness of March. Having sat on the sidelines since 2019, he's ready to dive back into it headfirst.
"I can't wait," Rogers said. "I've missed it.
"I can remember when the postseason was just a given. It was on the schedule — and usually into the second weekend; you could pretty much count on. After the little stretch we've been through, I just can't wait to get back into it. There's nothing like tournament time.
"You've seen how this town has gotten behind this team and how the team has interacted with the fans and how much they've all endeared themselves. I just can't wait to see the name pop up, and hopefully that's not the end of it. Hopefully, there'll be a few more games and a couple of weeks to go."
Nick Dozier
Nick Dozier's final year as a student manager under Hall of Famer Rick Pitino ended with Louisville winning the 2013 national championship. With his team on the outside of the NCAA Tournament looking in the past few years, he said he observed it strictly as a bettor — "that was the only way you could find happiness."
Selection Sunday, for Dozier, will be "a sign that we're back to where we belong in the echelons of college basketball.
"As historic of a program as Louisville is, you want to hear your name but you also expect to hear your name," he said. "The fact that coach Kelsey has got us back here in one year — it's a tribute to him and to how great of a coach he is and how much the players have bought in to his system; but I also would say that the fans have bought into him, as well. It's a really amazing feat, what he's been able to accomplish."
Peyton Siva
You must be registered for see images attach
Kelsey's one-track mind is already rubbing off on Peyton Siva, who is in his first season as the director of player development and alumni relations at his alma mater. When asked what it will mean to him to hear Louisville's name on Selection Sunday, the point guard of its 2013 championship team said, "Are we sure it's getting called?"
After he was assured it's a lock, Siva said: "It'll be amazing, the opportunity to play in the tournament, to hear our name called. These guys put the work in, and it's a testament to what they have achieved.
"I'm very fortunate and lucky that I was able to join as terrific of a staff as this is and be around some really talented players. It feels good; I mean, it always feels good when you're winning. Hopefully, we continue to keep pushing and win on out."
Bernie Quill and Courtney Fleming
Bernie Quill and Courtney Fleming were still trying to grasp the concept of high-stakes basketball in March when they were asked to get sentimental about Selection Sunday. To these fans, it's felt foreign for a while.
"It's hard to put words on it; because it was so easy to get checked out mentally the last few years," Quill said. "It's kind of almost surreal. We used to take it for granted. I think we're going to appreciate it a whole lot more."
"It was like a missing part of my life: March," Fleming added. "Every year, it was like, 'There's only 11 months in a year.' March was nonexistent."
Jared Shuster
You must be registered for see images
Jared Shuster is one of the last three standing from Payne's tenure on the executive board of Louisville's student section, The Ville'ns. Before the season tipped off, the senior from Oldham County told The Courier Journal he was hopeful that Kelsey could breathe new life into the program.
"Expectations have definitely been exceeded," said Shuster, whose efforts to galvanize his peers Kelsey has rewarded by running into the student section on two occasions. "I got to enjoy a good year of basketball; which I haven't really been able to do yet. It's been great."
As far as Selection Sunday goes, Shuster said he'll be indifferent to whatever seed the Cards get.
"I'm just excited to be in it," he said.
Zoey Asay
Sitting courtside with her grandfather for Louisville's game against Cal, 9-year-old Zoey Asay spoke on behalf of the entire city with a succinct assessment of her Selection Sunday emotions.
"I'm going to feel very nervous," she said, "and, at the same time, very happy."
Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at [email protected] and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville basketball: Emotions high as NCAA Tournament drought ends
Continue reading...
