LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – The latest Bluegrass duel appeared to have more Kentucky blue fans than Louisville Cardinal red, and the visitors made their voices known as the No. 9 Wildcats cruised to another rivalry victory in enemy territory.
In contrast to anticipation 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 building nearly empty this season due to head-scratching losses and off-court errors by embattled second-year coach Kenny Payne, interest has waned and his job was rumored to be in serious peril 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 wife Cera.
“We’ve had great coaches for many decades.” And, given the current state of the program, it’s not something I would have predicted.”
Payne’s status was clarified by Louisville athletic director Josh Heird, who told WDRB-TV on Friday that he would coach into the new year. Heird did not immediately respond to messages left by The Associated Press, but a spokesperson for the athletic department confirmed the claim by text.
Payne was presumably given some breathing room after Louisville’s 85-63 thrashing of Pepperdine on Sunday. The Cardinals must now mine wins from a difficult Atlantic Coast Conference schedule, or the cries to fire him on social media and local sports radio shows will get stronger.
Louisville (5-7, 0-1 ACC) returns to conference action on Jan. 3 against No. 22 Virginia, following a 12-day break that will allow Payne and the Cardinals to regroup. They come in with a 95-76 setback to mull over, but an optimistic week to build on.
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“For me, it’s more about how do I get this team better, how do I get them closer together,” said Payne, who is 9-35 at his alma university 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 topped last season’s historically poor 4-28 record, growing pains continue for a team that was once considered among the best in the country. Despite a top-ten recruiting class, the Cardinals sit 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 late before losing. They’ve also lost this season despite being favored versus Chattanooga, DePaul, and Arkansas State at home. The 75-63 loss against the Red Wolves on Dec. 13 was a sad point on numerous levels, with a few fans booing before leaving early.
Koron Davis, a freshman forward who had left earlier that day, was watching that night.
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