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Pat Kelsey spoke with the media during a press conference on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 \/ Michael Clevenger\/Courier Journal \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Before last season, Louisville<\/a> finished with a 12-52 record\u2014including 5-35 in ACC play\u2014from 2021 to 2024. The Cardinals then hired Pat Kelsey as head coach.<\/p>\n Kelsey’s first season, the Cardinals made a dramatic turnaround, finishing 27-8, placing second in the ACC at 18-2, advancing to the ACC Tournament championship game, and earning their first NCAA tournament bid since 2021. Louisville also won more games last season than in the previous three years combined (25).<\/p>\n The Cardinals added guard Adrian Wooley, one of the top transfer portal targets nationally, from Kennesaw State. Wooley averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game last season for the Owls and earned All-Conference USA honors.<\/p>\n Mar 20, 2025; Lexington, KY, USA; The Louisville Cardinals mascot cheers during the second half against the Creighton Bluejays in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images \/ Aaron Doster-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Louisville also signed guards Isaac McKneely, who averaged 14.4 points per game at Virginia, and Ryan Conwell, who put up 16.5 points per game at Xavier. Both are regarded as sharpshooters. The Cardinals also added blue-chip point guard Mikel Brown Jr. and German center Sananda Fru, who is listed at 6-foot-11 and 245 pounds.<\/p>\n Another sign that Louisville is back? Kelsey reportedly got into a heated exchange with Mark Pope<\/a>, the head coach of their biggest rival, Kentucky. <\/p>\n Mar 22, 2025; Providence, RI, USA; McNeese State Cowboys head coach Will Wade talks to an official during the second half of a second round men\u2019s NCAA Tournament game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Amica Mutual Pavilion. \/ Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images<\/p>\n After the program spiraled just one year removed from its Final Four appearance in 2024, NC State fired Kevin Keatts. Seeking a spark, the Wolfpack needed someone capable of building a consistent winner and energizing the program. The coach that fits both of these things, Will Wade<\/a>.<\/p>\n At every coaching stop, Wade has flipped programs quickly and has won an NCAA Tournament game at his last three stops.<\/p>\n At Chattanooga from 2013 to 2015, Wade turned a team that went 24-40 over two seasons into a 40-25 program in just two years. He led VCU to consecutive NCAA Tournament berths before taking the LSU job in 2017, where he guided the Tigers from a 10-21 record the year before he got there to the Sweet 16 by his second year. Wade was later fired by LSU for NCAA violations. He then took over at McNeese and delivered some of the best results of his career.<\/p>\n Wade orchestrated one of the most stunning turnarounds in college basketball at McNeese. The Cowboys were 11\u201323 the year before his arrival. In his first season? They finished 30\u20134, won the Southland Conference and earned their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 22 years.<\/p>\n NC State had the No. 14 transfer portal class, according to 247Sports. The Wolfpack added Darrion Williams from Texas Tech, one of the top transfer portal targets in the country. NC State also brought in Terrance Arceneaux (Houston), Tre Holloman (Michigan State), Ven-Allen Lubin, and his former point guard at McNeese State, Quadir Copeland.<\/p>\n Mar 16, 2025; Washington, D.C., USA; VCU Rams head coach Ryan Odom celebrates after cutting down the net during the championship trophy ceremony after the Rams game against the George Mason Patriots at Capital One Arena. \/ Geoff Burke-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Ryan Odom was hired by Virginia<\/a> to bring back what Tony Bennett built. <\/p>\n Odom\u2019s hiring comes with a dose of irony. He grew up around the Virginia program, where his father, Dave, was a longtime assistant before becoming a legendary head coach at Wake Forest. Adding to the storyline, Odom was the head coach at UMBC when it stunned Virginia<\/a> in one of the most memorable upsets in college sports history.<\/p>\n While Odom might be recognizable because of that feat, he has led Utah State and, most recently, VCU to the NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n Jan 15, 2025; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers mascot \u201cCavMan\u201d waves a flag on the court during a stoppage in play in the second half against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at John Paul Jones Arena. \/ Amber Searls-Imagn Images<\/p>\n In the transfer portal, the Cavaliers brought in:<\/p>\n Through the international ranks, Virginia added German big man Johann Grunlow, who averaged 7.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game while playing for SC RASTA Vechta of the Basketball Bundesliga.<\/p>\n Aug 30, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Syracuse Orange mascot Otto the Orange olds up a sign against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. \/ Brett Davis-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Syracuse <\/a>head coach Adrian Autry faced the difficult task of replacing his former coach, the legendary Jim Boeheim. Autry\u2019s debut season was a success at 20-12, but the Orange slipped last year, finishing 13-19.<\/p>\n The good news for Syracuse is the return of combo guard J.J. Starling, who averaged 17.8 points per game, and forward Donnie Freeman, who contributed 13.4 points and 8 rebounds per contest. The Orange also brought in Naithan George (12.3 points per game at Georgia Tech) and Nate Kingz (who averaged nearly 12 points per game at Oregon State).<\/p>\n Freshman wing Kiyan Anthony, a top-25 prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, also joins the Orange this season. For extra optimism, Syracuse fans can note that he is the son of Carmelo Anthony, who led the program to its first and only national championship.<\/p>\n Mar 17, 2023; Albany, NY, USA; Miami Hurricanes mascot Sebastian the Ibis poses with cheerleaders before the game against the Drake Bulldogs at MVP Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images \/ Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images<\/p>\n It will be an adjustment not seeing Jim Larra\u00f1aga on the sidelines in Coral Gables. From 2011 to 2024, Larra\u00f1aga guided Miami to its most successful era, including three Sweet 16s, two Elite Eight appearances, and the program\u2019s first trip to the Final Four in 2023.<\/p>\n Larra\u00f1aga resigned in 2024 after the Hurricanes went 22-41 over his final two seasons. Signs of promise have emerged since Jai Lucas took over the program. Lucas arrived from Duke, where he served as Jon Scheyer\u2019s top assistant for the previous two seasons.<\/p>\n Apr 5, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer looks on against the Houston Cougars during the second half in the semifinals of the men’s Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images \/ Bob Donnan-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Over the offseason, the Hurricanes brought in several key transfers through the portal: Mar 21, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis his shown during the first half of their first round NCAA men\u2019s basketball tournament game against Mississippi at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman\/USA Today Network via Imagn Images \/ Mark Hoffman-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Through the high school ranks, Miami added top-25 freshman Shelton Henderson.<\/p>\n Please make sure you follow us today on our Facebook page when you click right <\/strong>HERE<\/strong><\/a>!<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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