LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — University of Louisville men’s basketball coach Pat Kelsey told ESPN Radio that it “hurt a little bit,” when he learned that his team was an 8-seed, not a 6, for its first-round NCAA Tournament game against Creighton.
But Cards’ athletic director Josh Heird, who served on the selection committee for the women’s tournament, encouraged his team and Cards’ fans to embrace the program’s opportunity to play in Lexington and fill Rupp Arena.
“We said from the beginning of the season that one of our goals was to put this program back in the NCAA Tournament, and we get to do that 70 miles down the road,” Heird said.
“We said we wanted to be sent to Lexington. OK, we’re in Lexington. Let’s put 20,000 fans in the building and turn it red on Thursday.”
The Cards’ status an 8-seed was one of the most surprising developments in the men’s bracket reveal.
They will open against Big East runner-up Creighton, which was also slighted with a 9-seed. If the Cards win, they’re likely to face Auburn, the overall top seed in the tournament.
Most bracketologists projected Louisville as a 6-seed. The Cards’ computer metrics — they’re ranked 23rd in the NCAA NET formula and Ken Pomeroy as well as No. 19 in Bart Torvik’s formula — also projects as 6-seed.
But despite Louisville’s 27-7 overall record and 18-2 performance in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the men’s committee apparently knocked them down because of losses to four Southeastern Conference teams — Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Kentucky.
Talking to Matt Jones on ESPN Radio Sunday night, Kelsey said this:
“Man, so, first of all, I just want to say how fortunate we are and excited we are about playing in the national tournament, representing our school and our city.
“You know, I'll be completely honest with you, like watching the Selection Show is like, when that popped up, you know, it it hurt a little bit. You know, you felt slighted a little bit.
“You know, it is what it is, at this point. You have the advantage of no choice. But, you know, in my opinion, we should be playing an 12- or 11-seed. Every metric under the sun that you look at, and all the experts, NET, we’re 23rd, which would put us in, you know, (against) a possible five seed range.
“Ken Pom, (we’re) 23. You know, I mean, heck, fellas, you’re Kentucky fans. Since that December 14 game (at UK), that's three months ago, three months, we've lost two games. We went 18-2 in the ACC. We went to the conference championship game and lost to the number one team in the country (Duke on Saturday night).
“So it is what it is. You know, it, if anything, to a competitor, to our guys and to me, it puts a little fire in your belly and gives you just a little chip on your shoulder.
“But you know, we have to do a great job in preparation over the next couple days and then obviously Creighton is an explosive team, a dangerous team, extremely well coached, as you guys know. We're excited about getting to work.”
Heird said Cards’ fans should be excited. He said the Cards’ ticket allotment from the NCAA is 350, with a likely opportunity to buy another 200. He said most fans would have to find tickets on the secondary market — and he expected they would.
“Getting back to the tournament has been one of our goals and now we want to advance,” Heird said.
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