There are moments in sports that leave even the most seasoned fans at a loss for words—and then there are moments that leave them in full-on "Coffee Talk" mode. For Louisville Cardinals fans, this offseason has been one of those moments.
Pat Kelsey, the man who has already delivered more than any reasonable diehard could have hoped for this offseason, has done it again. The latest addition? A sturdy small forward who shoots left-handed—giving the Cards a new angle of attack from the "Brooklyn side." Described by one recruiting guru as "lethal," this sharpshooter brings both long-range accuracy and a pull-up game that can change the tempo of any possession. He flew under the radar because he didn't play on the AAU circuit last summer, instead staying in his home country to hone his craft.
He joins a rapidly growing international roster that already includes Nigerian native Obinna Ekezie Jr., Spaniard Alvaro Folgueiras, and—draft pending—Congolese big man Flory Bidunga (who measured in at a slightly shorter-than-expected 6-foot-7¾ at the Combine). With this multi-continental lineup taking shape, should we start calling the Cards' mentor "Secretary General Kelsey"?
But let's not overlook the American talent flooding in either. Jackson Shelstad, Gabe Dynes, Isaac Ellis, Karter Knox, and De'Shayne Montgomery all add depth and firepower. Kelsey has outmaneuvered the competition—out-Calibrated Calipari, out-catachismed a Pope, and channeled his inner Red Auerbach in assembling this squad.
It's enough to leave a gobsmacked Cardinal hoopaholic swimming in wonderment. Just weeks ago, Louisville had only one returning player—Adrian Wooley—plus redshirted question mark London Johnson. Now, the Cardinals boast what appears to be a well-constructed bounty of talent. Did Kelsey take a day off from recruiting to slip off to Oak Island and snag the treasure to finance this?
Of course, we're still in early May. We don't yet know how these pieces will fit together or how much success this team will find. The best players don't always make the best teams—just ask the top seeds that have faltered, or the clearly best teams that didn't prevail on the last day of the season. Phi Slamma Jama fell short twice in a row. Jerry Lucas's Ohio State Buckeyes lost twice in a row. But for now, the promise is undeniable. And for a fanbase that's been through the wringer, that's more than enough to keep the coffee talk flowing.