More than 1,000 fans were at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville on Monday afternoon to talk hoops.

The University of Louisville’s annual Tipoff Luncheon for the men’s basketball team occurred.

New U of L coach Pat Kelsey spoke for the final 20 minutes or so of the event after the team was introduced, U of L athletic director Josh Heird spoke and then the fans had lunch. Following lunch, the crowd heard from J’Vonne Hadley and Chucky Hepburn before Kelsey.

“Chucky and J’Vonne will be in the back handing out resumes after the event,” Kelsey said. “That was phenomenal. You guys absolutely crushed it.”

By the sounds of the applause, the fans in attendance also felt like Kelsey crushed it.

Kelsey gave the crowd a sort of state of the program during his speech, talking about expectations, speaking about his staff and players, and also talking a lot about culture. He said his big thing with his players is “We are Louisville” and noted he tells them to “Never Delay Gratitude.”

While he was on the stage, Kelsey had a clicker in his hand to change the slides of the slide show he had prepared for the fans, which included photos of the players shirtless when they arrived on campus and now to show the difference in their body makeup.

The tipoff luncheon is the second U of L hoops event in a few days. The Cardinals hosted Louisville Live last Friday night at the KFC Yum Center. On Thursday, Kelsey will have Hadley and Hepburn by his side at the ACC Media Day event in Charlotte.

The first exhibition game is slated for Oct. 21 against Young Harris at the Yum Center.

A few notes from the event:

**Most of Kelsey’s talk to the fans was a presentation about the expectations inside the program and his culture. He said his players saw the presentation when they arrived on June 15 for the first day and then he said they see different parts of it every now and then.

“It’s a reminder not only to you (the players), but to this entire fan base, about what our program is about,” he said. “We’re about toughness. We’re about competitiveness. We’re about guys that put team first. Our guys make people around them better. That’s a Louisville basketball player: basketball IQ, hoop dudes, guys that are passionate about their craft.

“We strive to have the number one culture in the country.”

**Hadley, a graduate transfer from Colorado, talked about his journey and how he landed at Louisville and then said about the program:

“We have an incredible group of guys here at Louisville that are working tirelessly to return this program to its rightful places among college basketball royalty,” he said. “It is undeniable the passion that coach Kelsey, his staff and the fans have for the Louisville basketball program and I believe that is a factor of why we all decided to commit here.

“At the end of the day, we all have one goal and that’s to win. We are a collection of winners coming together to do something special. . . . . Thank you to all of those who support us we are going to make you proud. Lastly, to those who don’t believe, you just wait and see.”

**Hepburn, who comes to Louisville after spending three seasons – playing in 103 games – at Wisconsin. He also spoke on the culture and why he picked U of L.

“I chose this program because not only did I believe in coach Kelsey’s system,” he said. “But he believed in me. The culture that he has established here will be the best in the country.

“What I have loved since I stepped foot on this campus is how everyone has bought into bringing Louisville basketball back, and we will. We have a very skilled roster from top to bottom. I have never been more excited to play with a team like I am to play with this team.”

**Charleston transfer guard Kobe Rodgers, who will sit out this season with an injury, said the invocation prior to the meal.

Rodgers ended the prayer and before he walked off threw the ‘L’s Up’ to a loud ovation.