Pete Thamel identifies potential candidates in Louisville coaching search

Louisville is looking for a new head basketball coach after two tough seasons with Kenny Payne at the helm. The Cardinals went 4-28 in 2022-23 and 8-24 this past season, leading to Payne being let go.

ESPN insider Pete Thamel joined ESPN College GameDay on Saturday to discuss potential candidates for the Louisville job. Thamel shared who he believes could be in the mix.

“Well, I think the Cardinals are going to look at Dusty May,” Thamel said. “They present a basketball-forward job. They’ve gotten a generous NIL package together, and I really think Dusty May is going to have some really profound decisions to make in the upcoming weeks when Florida Atlantic is out of the NCAA Tournament.”

Dusty May has been at Florida Atlantic since 2018. The Owls went 35-4 last season, reaching the Final Four. FAU is projected to be a No. 8 seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament.

May attended Indiana and has been an assistant at Eastern Michigan, Murray State, UAB, Louisiana Tech and Florida. He is expected to be in the mix for several jobs this offseason.

Thamel also discussed others who could be in the mix for the Louisville job, if not Dusty May.

“Louisville, from there, it’s going to be really interesting,” Thamel said. “Does a name like Eric Musselman come up? His buyout is only a million dollars after this season.”

Musselman and Arkansas struggled this past season but advanced to at least the Sweet 16 each of the past three years.

“Jerome Tang at Kansas State has about a $6 million buyout. He’s someone that Louisville could go after,” Thamel said. “Then again, there’s the mid-major guys. You have Josh Schertz at Indiana State, Pat Kelsey at College of Charleston. Do they go that route to try to get Louisville out of the ACC cellar?”

Tang is in his second season at Kansas State. The Wildcats reached the Elite 8 last year and are on the bubble this season.

Josh Schertz has been at Indiana State since 2021. The Sycamores went 22-12 last season and are currently 28-6 and on the bubble in 2023-24.

Pat Kelsey has been at Charleston since 2021. Kelsey led Winthrop to the NCAA Tournament in three seasons, before leaving for Charleston. The Cougars made the Big Dance last year and are currently 27-7 and set to play in the NCAA Tournament once again.

It will be interesting to see which direction Louisville goes.