Coming off its two worst seasons since the 1940s, Louisville is one win away from capturing the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.
Under first-year coach Pat Kelsey, the Cardinals (5-1) will square off against Oklahoma (6-0) in the championship game of the tournament on Friday in Paradise Island, Bahamas.
In an event that includes three ranked teams, it’s a final that few expected.
After posting an 89-61 victory over No. 14 Indiana in the opening round, Louisville advanced to the final with a 79-70 overtime victory Thursday against West Virginia.
Oklahoma advanced by edging previously undefeated Providence 79-77 and then toppling No. 24 Arizona 82-77.
So far, Louisville’s rejuvenation has been the story of the tournament. The Cardinals were a combined 12-52 the last two seasons but immediately have been transformed under Kelsey, who took Charleston to the NCAA Tournament the last two seasons.
Kelsey has done it by mining the transfer portal. His top seven scorers were at different Division I schools last year.
In Thursday’s win over West Virginia, Wisconsin transfer Chucky Hepburn scored 10 of his career-high 32 points in overtime.
Hepburn also was the catalyst in Louisville’s domination of Indiana in the opening round as he recorded 16 points, 10 assists and seven steals.
“Chucky’s performance was spectacular,” Kelsey said. “That was one of the single most dominant performances on both ends of the floor as a point guard that I’ve ever seen.”
South Florida transfer Kasean Pryor and Reyne Smith, who accompanied Kelsey from Charleston, have totaled 27 points each in the two tournament games.
The game within the game on Friday will be between the point guards as Oklahoma brings freshman Jeremiah Fears, who has delivered 46 points and 12 assists in the Sooners’ two tournament wins.
Fears, who turned 18 last month, will go up against Hepburn, who has played 109 games, all starts, in his college career.
In the semifinal win over Arizona, Jalon Moore contributed 24 points and seven rebounds to help Oklahoma stay in charge in a game it led from the opening minutes.
Moore’s performance was a bounce-back from scoring a season-low six points in the opening-round win over Providence. Sooners coach Porter Moser said Moore needed an attitude adjustment after that game.
“He had a choice. He can either get in his feelings or be the energy guy that he is and be great at what he’s good at,” Moser said. “He chose, ‘I’m gonna be the leader that I am.'”
