Louisville’s Frontcourt Awakens at the Right Time as ACC Push Heats Up
Louisville basketball is starting to turn some heads-and not just because of the win column. With two straight victories under their belt heading into tomorrow’s matchup against Wake Forest, the Cardinals are making a late charge for a coveted double-bye in the ACC Tournament. At 6-4 in conference play, Louisville is suddenly trending up, and the timing couldn’t be better.
The turnaround hasn’t been perfect-far from it. Just a few games ago, the Cardinals were on the wrong end of a 31-point beatdown at the hands of Duke, a loss that raised more questions than answers.
But since then, they’ve responded with back-to-back wins over Notre Dame and SMU. While neither opponent is a marquee name this season, February wins in conference play are never something to brush off-especially when they come with clear signs of growth.
And that growth? It’s coming from the frontcourt.
The Frontcourt Finds Its Footing
For much of the season, Louisville’s frontcourt has been a soft spot-both figuratively and literally. The Cardinals were getting bullied in the paint, losing the rebounding battle consistently, and struggling to establish any real interior presence.
That low point came in the loss to Duke, where they were outscored 42-10 in the paint and outrebounded 47-26. That kind of disparity doesn’t just show up in the box score-it shows up in the win-loss column.
But something has shifted over the last two games. Head coach Pat Kelsey sees it too.
“I think so, it's very encouraging,” Kelsey said when asked if he’s seeing signs of progress from his big men. “I don’t think there is any question. We have a very deep team.”
That depth is finally starting to show. The return of Khani Rooths has been a game-changer.
He’s posted back-to-back double-doubles since getting back on the floor, bringing both energy and production to a frontcourt that badly needed a spark. Kasean Pryor has also emerged, delivering a physically imposing performance against SMU that gave Louisville a much-needed edge on both ends of the court.
Against SMU, the Cardinals flipped the script. They outrebounded the Mustangs 35-34 and matched them 9-9 on the offensive glass. More importantly, they outscored SMU 42-32 in the paint-a far cry from the lopsided numbers against Duke.
The improvement carried over into the Notre Dame game as well. Louisville controlled the glass with a 46-35 rebounding edge and dominated inside, outscoring the Irish 40-22 in the paint. That’s the kind of frontcourt production that can change the trajectory of a season.
While the Backcourt Struggled, the Bigs Delivered
What made the frontcourt’s emergence even more crucial was the off-night from Louisville’s guards. Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell combined for just 18 points on 5-of-21 shooting against Notre Dame.
In past games, that kind of backcourt performance might’ve spelled trouble. But this time, the bigs picked up the slack.
Rooths led the way with 12 points and 12 rebounds, continuing to look like a player who’s just scratching the surface of his potential. Sananda Fru chipped in 12 points and five boards, including three on the offensive end, while Pryor added 10 points and five rebounds of his own. It was a balanced, physical, and effective showing from a group that’s starting to find its identity.
And perhaps most importantly, this wasn’t just about numbers-it was about versatility. Rooths and Pryor bring a combination of size and athleticism that gives Louisville something different.
They offer the length that J’Vonne Hadley doesn’t, and the physical edge that Fru and Aly Khalifa can sometimes lack. That kind of mix-and-match potential is what makes a frontcourt dangerous in March.
The Road Ahead
Louisville isn’t where it wants to be just yet, but the arrow is pointing up. If the frontcourt continues to produce at this level-and if the backcourt gets back to its usual rhythm-this team becomes a much tougher out. The ceiling rises, and so do the stakes.
Next up is a key test at home against NC State on February 9. The Wolfpack come in at 17-6 and currently sit fourth in the ACC standings. It’s the kind of game that could serve as a measuring stick for just how far this Louisville team has come-and how far it might still go.
For now, though, one thing is clear: the Cardinals’ frontcourt isn’t just showing signs of life. It’s starting to lead the way.