LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) The latest Bluegrass showdown appeared to have more Kentucky blue fans than Louisville Cardinal red, and the visitors made their voices heard as the No. 9 Wildcats cruised to another rivalry victory in enemy territory.
In contrast to expectations of a large blue wave for the state’s most anticipated game, splashes of red around the KFC Yum! Center on Thursday night suggested that Louisville fans haven’t given up on the Cardinals’ more difficult-than-expected rebuilding process. However, with the arena nearly empty this season due to head-scratching losses and off-court missteps by embattled second-year coach Kenny Payne, interest has dwindled, and his job was speculated to be in serious jeopardy last weekend.
“We’ve been spoiled,” said Louisville fan and resident Nick Lococo, who proudly wore a Kentucky blue top to Thursday’s game with his wife Cera.
Louisville (5-7, 0-1 ACC) returns to conference action on Jan. 3 at No. 22 Virginia, following a 12-day break that will allow Payne and the Cardinals to regroup. They come in with a 95-76 loss to mull over but an encouraging week to build on.
“For me, it’s more about how I get this team better, how I get them closer together,” said Payne, who is 9-35 at his alma mater overall. “I think we’re getting better. That’s been my focus, and I’m just trying to get by.”
While Louisville’s win total surpassed last season’s historically poor 4-28 finish, growing pains remain for a program that was once considered among the best in the country. Despite a top-ten recruiting class, the Cardinals rank in the bottom half of several NCAA Division I statistical categories and have struggled on both ends of the floor.
Louisville led then-No. 19 Texas 81-80 on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, and Indiana was late before losing. They’ve also lost this season despite being favored against Chattanooga, DePaul, and Arkansas State at home. The 75-63 loss to the Red Wolves on Dec. 13 was a low point on multiple levels, with a few fans booing before leaving early.
Freshman forward Koron Davis, whose departure earlier that day highlighted the latest drama, was watching that night. Davis’ transfer was announced by the school before the player tweeted that he hadn’t and even posted his grades. Davis was fired, according to a subsequent release, and Payne declined to elaborate after the game.
Payne revealed earlier this month that freshman Ty-Laur Johnson sat out the first half of a close victory over Bellarmine due to a lack of compression tights. The departure of five-star recruit Trentyn Flowers to Australia’s National Basketball League last summer also drew attention.
Kentucky coach John Calipari, with whom Payne worked for ten years as an assistant and big-man developer before spending several seasons in the NBA, understands what he’s going through. The Hall of Famer also urged patience to see him through both on and off the court.
“He’s got a really young team, and you’ve got to let them go do what he does,” Calipari was quoted as saying. “He is loved by the players because they play for him. They were never able to let go of the rope. I’m watching and feeling sorry for him, but we went through this a few years ago. People become cruel and nasty. They do, and you have to deal with it in this line of work.
“I believe he’ll have this program where everyone wants it within a year.” It’s just that the growing pains are excruciating.”
Those aches and pains help put Louisville’s best week of the season into context.
Despite a clear talent disadvantage against Kentucky, the Cardinals competed well in the first ten minutes, outscoring the Wildcats by one after halftime. This indicates some player participation, which is an important step.
Payne seeks endurance over 40 minutes, but Louisville clearly requires much more to move the needle. His long-term prospects are unknown, but the Cardinals know he’ll be around for the foreseeable future.
“We’re still rocking with Payne,” Skyy Clark, a sophomore guard, said. “We have no say in what decisions are made….” We’re going into conference play; that’s all we’re thinking about, and we have to control what we can control.”
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