Louisville and Kentucky spent the weekend trading blows in the transfer portal, but CBS Sports gave the Cardinals the cleaner first punch.
Kentucky’s latest splash came with Mark Mitchell, the former Duke commit and now Missouri transfer who arrives as one of the portal’s headliners under the “five-for-five” rule. Mitchell is coming off his best season, posting 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 54.7 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from 3-point range.
That addition, along with Milan Momcilovic, pushed the Wildcats deeper into the national conversation. But Louisville fans got the reminder they were hoping for when Gary Parrish released his updated CBS Sports top 25.
The Cardinals checked in at No. 8, ahead of Kentucky at No. 12.
Since landing Seth Trimble, Louisville has been talked about like a top-10 team with real Final Four upside. Trimble is currently ineligible, though he is expected to pursue his own lawsuit/injunction that could change that.
Parrish’s explanation centered on Louisville’s returning production and the new talent around it. “This ranking is based on the Cardinals returning one of the top five scorers -- specifically Adrian Wooley -- from a team that finished 24-11 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Kansas transfer Flory Bidunga, North Carolina transfer Seth Trimble, Oregon transfer Jackson Shelstad, Arkansas transfer Karter Knox, Iowa transfer Alvaro Folgueiras, Dayton transfer De'Shayne Montgomery, USC transfer Gabe Dynes, five-star prospect Obinna Ekezie Jr., four-star prospect Boyuan Zhang and three-star prospect Isaac Ellis.”
That group gives Louisville plenty to work with. Kelsey also added 5-star transfer Flory Bidunga, plus former 5-stars Jackson Shelstad and Karter Knox. The class doesn’t stop there, either, with 2026 5-star recruit Obinna Ekezie Jr. and top-50, four-star prospect Boyuan Zhang among the other additions.
For now, the bragging rights lean toward Louisville. The arguing won’t stop, of course - not with these two fan bases - and the December matchup will be the one that really settles the question on the floor.
In Other News...
Pat Kelseys Latest Staff Move Shows Louisvilles Overhaul Isnt Slowing Down
Pat Kelseys offseason staff churn is continuing to reshape Louisville basketball, with the Cardinals adding Carlos Dotson as a player development coach. Dotson, 29, arrives with experience at Clemson, UCF and two NBA teams, giving Kelsey another young staffer with a mix of college and pro background as the program keeps leaning into a full-scale rebuild.
Dotson steps into a role that opened when Peyton Siva left for St. Johns, and hell join Charlie Champagne and Kyle Zunic in the player development group. For Louisville, the move is another sign that Kelsey is still putting his own stamp on the program, with the structure around the roster changing almost as quickly as the roster itself. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Has A Defensive Anchor And A New Reason To Exhale
TJ Capers has become one of the steadier presences in Louisvilles defense, the kind of senior linebacker who can change the tone of a series with speed, size and power. He has taken a noticeable step forward in recent seasons, and his impact plays have given the Cardinals a player they can trust in the middle of the defense as the year unfolds.
Davin Wydner gives Louisville a different kind of security behind center. The senior transfer from West Georgia brings a dual-threat skill set, with a strong arm and real mobility, and he is settled in as the No. 2 quarterback with the kind of profile that matters if his number is ever called. For a team looking for stability and options, that is a useful piece to have waiting in the wings. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville May Have A New Recruiting Fight On Its Hands
Reese Alstons recruitment is starting to look like one of the bigger Midwest and regional battles on the board, and Louisville has positioned itself right in the middle of it. The five-star point guard has trimmed his list to seven schools, with the Cardinals joined by LSU, Kentucky, Tennessee, Wichita State, Houston and Vanderbilt, and Louisville is currently viewed as the frontrunner in the race.
Kentucky, though, is the challenger that matters most here, which gives this one a different feel for Louisville fans watching the process unfold. Alston has already taken official visits to Louisville and Wichita State, along with an unofficial visit to Kentucky, and more official visits are expected as the battle tightens. The Cardinals have work to do to keep their edge, especially with a blueblood in the mix and a decision still to come. [Read more 🡒]