Terrence Edwards Jr. committed to Louisville 'just to play against Kentucky'

Terrence Edwards Jr. was the 2024 Sun Belt Player of the Year on a 32-win James Madison team that upset No. 5 seed Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament — a prize in the transfer portal with plenty of interest elsewhere when he committed to Pat Kelsey and the Louisville Cardinals. He was the first player who didn’t play for Kelsey at Charleston to join the program this offseason shortly after the coaching change, quite the statement to earn some quick roster momentum.

Why did Edwards choose to suit up in the red and black, especially as early as he did? For the chance to play Kentucky, of course.

His words, not mine.

Following Louisville’s tight win over UTEP, Edwards was asked about the upcoming matchup and what he’s learned about the rivalry since becoming a Cardinal.

“What I’ve learned about it? Ah, when I first got down here, I was in my hotel before we all got on campus. The first thing someone said to me is, ‘We don’t care if you guys win any games this year, we just want you to beat Kentucky,’” Edwards said. “I just looked at him like, ‘Oh my God.’ Like three other people said the same thing to me. I know how big it is — we have Peyton Siva on the staff. We’re just ready.”

Edwards is one of several players, he says, who signed up to play for Kelsey specifically for this rivalry and its impact on college basketball. It’s a historic matchup the new guys want to experience for themselves.

“This big rivalry game, all of us really committed for this game. Some of us came here just to play against Kentucky, you know what I’m saying?” he continued. “That was a big part of it, to live up in that rivalry and try to be a part of some history.”

Again, his words, not mine.

That was on postgame radio — a one-on-one conversation with the Louisville Sports Network. With the lights and cameras on with reporters in the audience, UL guard Chucky Hepburn was a bit more cautious with his words at the podium.

“We just take it day by day, focus on the next thing. For us, the next thing was UTEP after the Duke game. Now we’re turning the page to Kentucky,” he said of the upcoming matchup. “We know how big of a rival game that is and we’re going to be focused for that game. We were able to come out with a win this game, we’re going to celebrate the rest of the night, and then tomorrow we’re flipping the page. Whatever happened this game happened, now we move on (to Kentucky).”

When asked if the rivalry had crossed his mind this week leading up to the UTEP game — the Cardinals only won by three against the Conference USA competition — Hepburn said there wasn’t a single thought about Kentucky.

Now, though, every thought is about Kentucky. No shying away from this one — he wants it.

“If I’m being honest, I have not even thought about that game. We had to play UTEP first. UTEP was our main focus and we were able to come out with this win,” he said. “Now we can turn the page and focus on Kentucky. Obviously, that’s going to be a big game — a big rivalry game for us. For me personally, I’m going to start watching film tonight because I really want this game.“

Don’t worry, the feeling is mutual. Well, not the ‘committing to Kentucky to play Louisville’ part, but there’s no shame in admitting we want this one, too.