Louisville is gearing up for a pivotal ACC showdown this afternoon as they host Notre Dame at the KFC Yum! Center. Sitting at 15-6, the Cardinals are firmly in the mix for a coveted double-bye in the ACC Tournament - and with March creeping closer, every lineup decision starts to carry postseason weight.
Coming off a statement win over SMU, there’s one adjustment that feels less like a tweak and more like a necessity. Head coach Pat Kelsey has a clear opportunity to solidify his rotation by making a change in the frontcourt - and the numbers, the eye test, and recent performances all point to the same solution: it’s time for Khani Rooths to step into the starting five.
Rooths’ Return Changes the Equation
Rooths just returned to action after missing over three weeks due to illness, and his impact was immediate. In his first game back, he dropped a double-double - 12 points and 10 boards - and looked every bit like the high-upside athlete Louisville needs to stay competitive against top-tier opponents.
During his absence, the Cardinals went 2-2, a stretch that included a 31-point drubbing at the hands of Duke and a tough nine-point loss to Virginia. Both games exposed a recurring issue: Louisville’s starting frontcourt lacked the length and athleticism to match up with elite competition. Rooths, a 6-foot-10 forward with a 215-pound frame and serious bounce, provides exactly that.
When Rooths logs 20 or more minutes, Louisville is 6-1. In those games, he’s averaging 10.7 points and 7.7 rebounds - production that jumps off the page compared to his season averages of 6.5 points and 5.2 rebounds. He’s shooting an efficient 46% from the field and brings a level of rebounding and defensive versatility that’s hard to replicate on this roster.
The Lineup Shift That Makes Sense
Right now, the Cardinals’ backcourt is locked in. Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell have earned their spots, and Sananda Fru has been the steady presence at center.
The real question lies at the forward spots, where Kelsey has been rolling with Isaac McKneely and J’Vonne Hadley. But that alignment may no longer be the best option.
McKneely is a lights-out shooter - no question there - but when Louisville faces teams that bring size, athleticism, and scoring versatility, he tends to get lost in the mix. At 6-foot-4, he’s often giving up size and struggling to create separation against longer defenders. That’s not a knock on his skill set; it’s about putting players in positions where they can succeed.
Sliding Rooths into the starting power forward role and shifting Hadley to small forward - a more natural fit for him at 6-foot-6 - gives Louisville a much more balanced look. McKneely would then come off the bench in a shooting guard role, where he can focus on spacing the floor and exploiting second units rather than battling mismatches on the wing.
The Stakes Are Rising
Louisville has struggled with slow starts against ranked teams all season. That’s not just a stat - it’s a pattern.
And with Rooths now healthy and producing, there’s no reason to delay the inevitable. His energy, length, and ability to rebound at a high level give the Cardinals a better chance to hang with the ACC’s heavyweights from the opening tip.
Pat Kelsey has done a solid job navigating this roster through ups and downs, but with Rooths back and making his presence felt, the next move is clear. If Louisville wants to stay in the hunt for that double-bye - and make noise in March - Rooths needs to be in the starting lineup.
The numbers back it up. The tape backs it up.
And most importantly, the team looks better when he’s on the floor.