Kentucky’s big men, Amari Williams and Andrew Carr, have plenty of experience playing against teams coached by Pat Kelsey. Between them, they’ve faced Kelsey’s College of Charleston squads six times from 2021 to 2024 while playing for their former teams. Now that Kelsey is the head coach of Louisville, his former players’ past encounters with his coaching style could give Kentucky an advantage in their upcoming rivalry game.
Carr, who played for Delaware, recalled his previous matchups against Kelsey’s team, noting their fast pace, heavy three-point shooting, and relentless effort on the boards. He mentioned a game where Kelsey’s team nearly scored 100 points in a 99-96 win over Delaware, describing the high-energy play and offensive rebounding that mirrored Kentucky’s own style. Carr’s team had previously defeated College of Charleston in another close game earlier that season.
Williams, with four seasons at Drexel, has even more experience against Kelsey’s teams, facing College of Charleston four times between 2022 and 2024. He had solid performances, averaging 15.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. Williams spoke about the challenge of matching Kelsey’s high-energy offense and energetic players, including a sharp-shooting point guard and a young, active big man.
Both players are familiar with Kelsey’s aggressive style of play, and their experiences could provide valuable insights for Kentucky as they prepare to face Kelsey’s Louisville team. As the Wildcats take on the Cardinals at Rupp Arena, it will be interesting to see how their past encounters shape the game.
