Louisville Picked Third in ACC Preseason Poll
Media members selected the Cardinals to finish third in the Atlantic Coast Conference for the 2026-27 basketball season.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Basketball
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The ACC preseason poll, determined by a panel of 48 media members, has placed Louisville basketball in third place. Flory Bidunga earned first team preseason all-conference honors, while Jackson Shelstad was selected for the second team.
Why it matters
The ranking reflects high expectations for the Cardinals following a 2025-26 season where they finished 11-7 in league play. The team enters the new campaign with a heavily revamped roster featuring 11 newcomers.
Flory Bidunga returns after averaging over 13 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game last season. The 2026-27 roster includes eight additions from the NCAA transfer portal alongside three incoming freshmen.
The players
Flory Bidunga
He is a standout forward who earned preseason all-conference first team honors after a dominant statistical season.
Jackson Shelstad
He is a guard who was named to the preseason all-conference second team by the media panel.
Pat Kelsey
He is the head coach of the Louisville basketball team who addressed the media during the preseason event.
The details
Louisville aims to build on its performance from the 2025-26 campaign, where the team finished sixth in the ACC regular-season standings. Head coach Pat Kelsey discussed the team's outlook at the recent ACC Tipoff event held at the Galt House Hotel.
Timeline
Louisville finished 11-7 in ACC play during the 2025-26 season.
Pat Kelsey spoke at the ACC Tipoff event on October 6, 2026.
The ACC preseason poll was released on October 13, 2026.
Louisville plays an exhibition game against Kansas on October 21, 2026.
The regular season begins against Chattanooga on November 2, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The third-place projection signals a shift in the program's competitive standing within a conference that recently doubled its NCAA Tournament representation. This ranking positions Louisville as a primary contender to secure one of the league's eight tournament bids this season.
The high preseason ranking suggests significant depth in the starting rotation for those tracking player projections or fantasy basketball metrics. The integration of 11 newcomers will be the primary variable affecting the team's ability to maintain a top-three finish throughout the long league schedule.
The takeaway
The Cardinals are entering a high-stakes season with significant roster turnover and elevated expectations. Fans should monitor the early exhibition games to gauge how quickly the eight transfer additions adapt to the system.
What happens next
Louisville will face Kansas in an exhibition game on October 21, 2026, followed by a season opener against Chattanooga on November 2, 2026, and the start of conference play against Virginia Tech on December 30, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the upcoming season, see our Louisville Basketball coverage.
Live Poll
Does Louisville's third-place preseason ranking make you more likely to attend games this season?
