What Pat Kelsey, Louisville Players Said After 87-46 Win vs. Eastern Michigan
The Louisville men’s basketball team continued their perfect start to the 2025-26 season, defeating Eastern Michigan 87-46 on Monday night.
Here’s what head coach Pat Kelsey, guard Adrian Wooley, guard Isaac McKneely, and center Aly Khalifa shared after the victory:
Head Coach Pat Kelsey
(Opening Statement)
“I’ve known Coach (Stan) Heath for a long time, and I have great respect for him. He’s been a head coach at both the college and pro levels for years. His team is strong, and I really believe the MAC is a competitive conference. Looking back a couple of months from now, this win will look even better. Eastern Michigan is going to be a contender in that league—they’re a physical, well-rounded team. I was proud of how our guys responded to that challenge. We knew it was going to be a physical game, and I thought we got big contributions off the bench from Khani (Rooths), Aly (Khalifa), Adrian (Wooley), and Kobe (Rodgers). After the game, we pointed out Aly’s performance—11 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. The guys loved it, and it was fun to see the excitement for him. Now, we have a quick turnaround, so we’ll focus on recovery and preparation for Wednesday’s game.”
(On not letting missed shots affect defense)
“I agree with you. I think our guys played really hard on the defensive end. From everything I’ve seen on film, I respect Eastern Michigan’s players, so to hold them to under a point per possession is an accomplishment. We had some missed shots early on—open threes, some easy looks—but we didn’t let that affect our defense. In the first half, we were excellent defensively. There was a bit of a lull around the 12-minute mark of the second half, where we got a little lazy off the ball. I wasn’t happy about it, but after the timeout, the guys responded and really tightened up defensively.”
(On Aly Khalifa’s three-point shooting)
“No issue at all with Aly shooting threes. If you’re open, shoot it—that’s why he’s here at Louisville. He’s a great shooter, and when you’re at the five spot and can shoot like that, it’s hard for defenses to match up. If the defense goes into drop coverage, he’s going to get those open looks, and he makes them at a high rate. I encourage all our guys to shoot more, especially threes, because I value the three-point rate as much as the percentage. It’s about the volume and making sure defenses respect the shot. I’m glad Aly got those attempts, and I want him to keep shooting when he’s open.”
Guard Adrian Wooley, Guard Isaac McKneely, and Center Aly Khalifa
Aly Khalifa, R-Sr., C
(On team’s defense holding Eastern Michigan to under 20 points in the first half)
“Our preparation is top-notch, and a lot of credit goes to our scout team. They put in hours of work before each game, and we wouldn’t be where we are without them. They make sure we’re prepared for everything, no matter who we’re playing.”
(On his recovery from surgery)
“I’m feeling good, just getting back into the rhythm of things. This is only my sixth game of the season, so I’m still adjusting, but I’m having fun out there with my teammates. It’s been a long time since I’ve played regularly, so getting back into the flow and knocking down that first shot felt great. Confidence is key, and today was a big confidence booster for me.”
Adrian Wooley, So., G
(On his mentality coming off the bench)
“I just try to bring energy when I come off the bench. I have to be confident and ready to help my teammates in whatever way I can. This year, my role on defense is really important, so I’m focused on improving in that area each time I step on the floor.”
(On feeling like Louisville is one of the best teams in the country)
“Absolutely, I believe that. We can compete with anyone. Basketball is a game of runs, and when things don’t go our way, we pick each other up. We always stay confident in each other, no matter what happens.”
Isaac McNeely, Sr., G
(On team’s defense holding Eastern Michigan under 20 points in the first half)
“It all starts with preparation. We take our scouting and film study seriously. We know exactly what to expect from each opponent, and when you’re that dialed in, defense becomes a lot easier. Our bench is always loud, calling out plays, which shows just how prepared we are.”
(On last week’s win over Cincinnati, when the team faced early challenges)
“Playing Cincinnati was a different kind of test. They were a really physical team, one of the top defenses in the country at that point. That game showed us that we can win even when our shots aren’t falling. We can rely on our defense to carry us, and I think that game proved we can handle tough situations. We’ll keep building on that.”
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