Compiling roster talent has always been a priority for teams hoping to compete for championships, but the way that programs go about it has changed over the years.
Now, there are teams that have paid players since before it was permitted, but in the age of name, image, and likeness (NIL), everyone is able to spend money in the open. Still, some are willing to spend more than others.
After bowing out to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, it appears that the Louisville Cardinals are willing to do whatever it takes, at least financially, to get back to the mountaintop.
According to a report from On3’s Pete Nakos, UL is prepared to spend somewhere between $8 and $10 in the transfer portal to build out their roster for the 2025-26 season.
After enjoying decades of elite success under Denny Crum and Rick Pitino, the Cardinals program had dipped in recent years, thanks in part to NCAA sanctions enforced for infractions that occurred during Pitino’s tenure.
Four seasons under Chris Mack, and another two under Kenny Payne, didn’t get Louisville back to the level that they’d expected, and so 2025 began the Pat Kelsey era.
Despite their first-round exit in the tournament, Louisville turned in a 27-8 (18-2 ACC) record and tied for second place in the ACC standings. They’ll lose several key pieces from this year’s team, including ACC Defensive Player of the Year Chucky Hepburn, but with the level of commitment that Nakos reports, there should be nothing keeping the Cardinals from competing at a high level once again next season.
