What Pat Kelsey, Louisville Players Said After 79-70 Overtime Win vs. West Virginia

Listen to what the head coach of the Cardinals, point guard Chucky Hepburn and shooting guard Reyne Smith said after their win over the Mountaineers:
Nov 28, 2024; Paradise Island, Bahamas, BHS; Louisville Cardinals guard Chucky Hepburn (24) reacts  during the second half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Imperial Arena at the Atlantis resort.
Nov 28, 2024; Paradise Island, Bahamas, BHS; Louisville Cardinals guard Chucky Hepburn (24) reacts during the second half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Imperial Arena at the Atlantis resort. / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
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NASSAU, The Bahamas - The Louisville men's basketball program is heading to the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game.

Matched up against former rival West Virginia, the Cardinals might have needed overtime to take down the Mountaineers, but they still secured a 79-70 victory in an old school Big East rock fight.

"I have an unbelievable respect for
their program, their coach, their coaching staff," Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey said of West Virginia. "They play hard. It was a 45 minute rock fight, and they never let up. We never let up. It was almost like old school Big East when both of us were back in the Big East. One of my coaches said that. I give them a ton of credit. It was a really, really good college basketball game."

Louisville was led by yet another fantastic showing from Chucky Hepburn. One day removed from nearly logging a triple-double against No. 14 Indiana, the point guards scored a career-high 32 points - with 27 of them coming in the second half and overtime.

"I love playing with this team," Hepburn said. "It's probably the most confidence I've ever had in college just having the ball in my hands. Just to be able to have a coaching staff and teammates that believe in you, that gives me even more confidence to show that I'm one of the best point guards in country."

Here's what Kelsey, Hepburn and guard Reyne Smith had to say following the win:

Head Coach Pat Kelsey, Guards Chucky Hepburn and Reyne Smith

(Photo of Chucky Hepburn: Kevin Jairaj - Imagn Images)

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Matthew McGavic
MATTHEW MCGAVIC

McGavic is a 2016 Sport Administration graduate of the University of Louisville, and a native of the Derby City. He has been covering the Cardinals in various capacities since 2017, with a brief stop in Atlanta, Ga. on the Georgia Tech beat. He is also a co-host of the 'From The Pink Seats' podcast on the State of Louisville network. Video gamer, bourbon drinker and dog lover. Find him on Twitter at @Matt_McGavic