Ryan Conwell on Arkansas' reality check, Louisville's mentality moving forward
After Louisville’s first loss of the season to Arkansas last week, several of the Cardinals’ veteran leaders made their voices heard.
Louisville was simply out-toughed, out-physicaled against the Razorbacks. The players didn’t want to see it happen again.
“It was definitely a reality check,” Louisville guard Ryan Conwell told The Field of 68. “After that game, we really realized we have to put our best foot forward every single game and set the tone from the jump. Especially with who we are, teams are coming at us. We can’t just let them come at us. We got to set the tone early.
“We can’t let that happen again,” Conwell continued. “And from that point forward, Pat Kelsey emphasized [physicality] every day in practice, and I think that’s the reason why we have these hardhats here now.”
Louisville players don’t wear the hard hats just to wear them. What they represent has resonated with the group. Since being out-rebounded by 10 and losing in Fayetteville, the Cardinals have rallied for two-straight wins against Indiana and Memphis. Louisville controlled the glass and upped its defensive intensity, and the results showed.
“We have the talent, but it’s all just about matching that physicality and toughness and being the tougher team,” Conwell said.
For Conwell, this is his fourth stop in four years of college basketball. So how are things different with the Cardinals?
“I’ve had to consistently be at a high level,” Conwell said. “It’s just pushed me to be the best I can be every single day. I can’t take any plays off, can’t take any days off. Just being a leader on this team and being a guy that everybody can depend on. Be who I am every single day. Bring the energy, bring the joy, just work my tail off… I can feel myself getting better in every aspect of my game.”
So far this season, Conwell is averaging 19.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting a career-high 42.0% from three. He credits his uptick in shooting to Louisville’s depth and having multiple shooters on the floor.
“A lot of my threes have been open because of how much depth we have on our team, Conwell said. “So to be honest, I’m just thankful I get the open looks.”
The Cardinals’ new “hardhat” approach has become central to both Conwell’s role this season and Louisville’s identity under Kelsey. And it’s the same mindset Louisville leaned into after Fayetteville: trust the work, trust each other and the results will follow.
“In the end we all want to win a national championship collectively,” Conwell said. “In order to so, we always have to sacrifice and everybody always can’t get what they want right then at that moment. It’s always going to come around if you go about it the right way.”
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