Khani Rooths Is Back, and So Is Louisville Basketball
LOUISVILLE - Sometimes, it’s not about the protein shakes or the chicken breast. Sometimes, it’s about a few good hamburgers - and getting your spark plug back in the lineup.
That’s exactly what happened with Louisville forward Khani Rooths. After missing four games due to an undisclosed illness, Rooths returned to the court with a full tank - and maybe a few extra calories - and it’s no coincidence the Cardinals are starting to look like themselves again.
“I definitely ate several hamburgers,” Rooths said with a grin, crediting the suggestion to head coach Pat Kelsey. “You know, I like hamburgers anyway, so getting it back.”
Whatever the method, it’s working. Since returning, Rooths has averaged 12.3 points per game while shooting an efficient 54% from the field.
But the numbers only tell part of the story. What Louisville really got back was a player who brings size, bounce, and relentless energy - the kind of presence that changes the feel of a game the moment he checks in.
What They Missed Without Him
When Rooths was sidelined, Louisville went 2-2. That record might look serviceable on paper, but the wins came against Pittsburgh - in a 41-point blowout - and Virginia Tech.
The losses? A 31-point drubbing at Duke and a home defeat to Virginia.
Both ranked teams. Both games where Louisville needed exactly what Rooths brings: length, athleticism, and defensive grit.
Without him, Louisville was forced to go smaller at the forward spots, asking guards to play up a position - a recipe for mismatches, especially against the size and depth of teams like Duke. It was like trying to tow a trailer with a sports car. Sure, it’ll move, but it’s not built for that.
“We missed him,” said teammate Mikel Brown Jr. after Rooths’ first game back. “Just that energy that he brings off the bench, that fire, the intensity, the grit and just the will to want to guard and play hard.”
That’s not just locker room talk. Rooths is the kind of “energy guy” who actually impacts winning - not just a hustle player who runs around for 12 minutes. He’s a difference-maker on both ends.
What He’s Brought Since Coming Back
In his first two games back, Rooths posted back-to-back double-doubles, including a career-high 12 rebounds against Notre Dame. He’s averaging 21 minutes per game off the bench since returning - up from just over 17 minutes before the illness - and making every one of those minutes count.
Rooths is shooting a blistering 67.8% from inside the arc, a number that begs for more touches around the rim. His outside shot (19.8% from three) is still a work in progress, but his ability to finish inside and clean up on the offensive glass opens up the floor for Louisville’s perimeter threats.
“It takes some shine off of the guards that the defense has to focus on a lot,” Rooths said after the Wake Forest win. “So it takes some pressure off them, and it's just me helping being there.”
That Wake Forest game - an 88-80 road win - was a perfect example of what Rooths brings. He was a key part of a crucial late-game defensive stretch, grabbing rebounds, swatting a shot, and getting stops when Louisville needed them most. With six Cardinals scoring in double figures, Rooths’ presence inside pulled defenders away from the perimeter and helped open up the offense.
The Intangibles Matter
Rooths doesn’t see himself as doing anything out of the ordinary. He credits his teammates for being good passers.
He says the hot start against Wake Forest came down to one thing: “We just playing hard.” As for the defensive turnaround against SMU?
“We just had to wake up.”
Maybe so. But what’s clear is that Rooths’ return brought more than just another body in the rotation.
It brought back the energy. The edge.
The attitude. The guy who once figure skated as a kid - yes, really - before his mom scared him off with stories of missing teeth.
(“I like my teeth too much,” he joked.)
Now, he’s back to doing what he does best: flying around, crashing the glass, and making life difficult for the other team.
“As soon as they said I was cleared to work out, I did as much as I could and did extra,” Rooths said. “I was trying to come out here and show y’all that it ain’t no lag - you’re seeing the same Khani, even better.”
Looking Ahead
With Rooths back in the mix, roles start to make sense again. Ryan Conwell can slide back to his natural spot as a shooting guard.
The frontcourt has its motor again. And the energy, as Mikel Brown put it, is contagious.
Louisville will need all of it Monday night when they host NC State at the KFC Yum! Center. The Wolfpack have rattled off six straight ACC wins, rank seventh nationally in three-point shooting, and are led by Will Wade - a coach who knows how to win when the odds are stacked.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. It’s a white-out game. Expect the building to be loud.
And expect Khani Rooths to bring the energy - hamburgers or not.