Louisville coach Pat Kelsey was amped up on Tuesday night, but his enthusiasm came at a painful price.
Following a 96-88 victory over rival Kentucky, Kelsey revealed he dislocated a finger while celebrating the emotional win. He appeared at the postgame press conference with a splint around two fingers on his right hand.
The injury didn’t dampen his spirits after Louisville’s first win over the Wildcats in five years.
“This one means a lot,” Kelsey said. “That was a program win, a city win.”
Louisville injury report: Pat Kelsey dislocated a finger in the postgame victory celebration after beating Kentucky. Pic.twitter.com/vqvzLCTFZt
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) November 12, 2025
The victory marked a signature moment early in Kelsey’s tenure, moving the Cardinals to 3-0 on the season.
Louisville’s dynamic backcourt led the way, with freshman Mikel Brown Jr. Scoring 29 points and Ryan Conwell adding 24. Brown went 10-of-11 from the free-throw line and controlled the tempo throughout, while Conwell knocked down four 3-pointers and attacked the rim efficiently.
Louisville also capitalized on Kentucky’s 14 turnovers, converting them into 19 points. The Cardinals’ offensive explosion continued a trend as well. They’re averaging 102 points per game through three contests, which is near the top nationally.
Even with Kelsey on the mend, Louisville basketball is back to making noise and could be a surprise team in the ACC.
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