Can Pat Kelsey get U of L fans back to filling the KFC Yum Center?

Fast-break points from the post-election rehash: 21. An existential dilemma for Kentucky fans. When No. 12 Tennessee visits Louisville on Saturday for a noon men’s basketball showdown, it will be a matchup between the two teams that many UK backers dislike the most. 20. Pat Kelsey challenges U of L fans. After the Cardinals blitzed Morehead State 93-45 Monday night in the new Louisville coach’s first game, Kelsey implored Cards fans to fill the KFC Yum Center for the UT contest. 19. A call for a crowd of 20,000. Following the Morehead State victory — a game that drew an announced crowd of 12,490 — Kelsey turned his attention to Tennessee. “Let’s have 20,000 (fans) in the Yum on Saturday,” he said.

18. Louisville’s recent home attendance. Kelsey’s comments made me curious about both the last time U of L drew a home crowd in excess of 20,000 and the most recent time the Cardinals had a sellout in the 22,090-seat KFC Yum Center. 17. A deep search. With U of L entering this season off three straight losing years and Cardinals fans having endured a succession of demoralizing men’s hoops scandals, Louisville home attendance has been soft in recent years. Yet I was surprised at how long it has been since the Cards sold out a home game. 16. Most recent crowd of more than 20,000. Not counting exhibitions, there have been 64 Louisville home games since the last time the Cardinals drew more than 20,000 at the Yum Center. A crowd of 21,079 saw Chris Mack’s second U of L team beat North Carolina 72-55 on Feb. 22, 2020

15. Most recent home sellout. Meanwhile, there have been 119 U of L home contests since the last time the Cardinals announced a crowd at or above the official KFC Yum Center capacity of 22,090. On March 4, 2017, a crowd of 22,612 watched Louisville beat Notre Dame 71-64 in what would be Rick Pitino’s final home game as Cards coach. 14. The Pitino factor. In that 2016-17 season, U of L home games drew more than 20,000 fans 14 times. The Cardinals sold out the Yum Center for four games. Since Pitino’s ouster prior to the 2017-18 season, U of L has drawn in excess of 20,000 fans at home six times total and has never had a crowd in excess of 22,090

 

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