Pat Kelsey responds to Chucky Hepburn not being on point guard awards lists: 'They got it wrong'

Midseason award watch lists have been released, and none feature Louisville point guard Chucky Hepburn.

As the Cardinals’ leading scorer, he’s a vital part of Louisville’s 19-6 start to the season. He most recently scored 15 points and logged six assists in a 91-66 win over NC State on the road. After the game, UL head coach Pat Kelsey sounded off on the list-makers who overlooked his star point guard.

“I wouldn’t trade him for any point guard in the country,” Kelsey said. “And you know some of those finalists for the, point guard of the year, the Bob Cousy Award, whatever that is, and he wasn’t on it. I mean, they got it wrong. I promise you that.

“A lot of times, those things are are out of your control. You can’t do anything about it. All you can do about it is how you play and how you lead your team and how you continue to win, and he leads. He’s a pro every single day. He’s a straight up winner and a stud on both sides of the floor.”

Hepburn is averaging 15.0 points per game, 3.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists for the Cardinals this season. Tho are career-high numbers for Hepburn, who spent his first three years in college at Wisconsin.

He’s scored in double figures on 19 occasions this season, and the Cadinals are 3-2 in games he’s held under 10 points with those losses coming to Tennessee and Duke — both of which are currently ranked in the top 10. Hepburn has also 20+ points four times this season, including a 32-point performance in an overtime win vs. West Virginia in November.

“I knew he was going to be really good, but I didn’t know he was going to be this good,” Kelsey continued. “He’s special. So, any list of the best point guards in the country, he should be on it 1,000%.

“Chucky is not the type of guy that just lives for accolades and individual attention and awards and things like that. He’s more proud of W’s and winning championships, and he’s leading this team to a great season, and hopefully we continue to progress and as we get close to March Madness.”

The next time Hepburn will be on the court for Kelsey’s Cardinals will be during Sunday night’s ACC showdown on the road against Notre Dame. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET and will air live on the ACC Network.