Then-Kentucky assistant Kenny Payne, now the embattled head coach at U of L, instructs Ashton Hagans during a UK practice in 2019. (Photo by Jamie H. Vaught)
By Ed Peak
Kentucky and Louisville go into the Battle of the Bluegrass on Thursday night in very different situations. Kentucky is beginning to build momentum for a run at a Southeastern Conference title. Louisville is simply trying to survive under embattled coach Kenny Payne.
The former Cardinal player and assistant coach to Wildcats boss John Calipari is under heavy scrutiny after losing to a bad Arkansas State team (4-7) 75-63 last week.
It was the Red Wolves' first victory over a Power Five school since 2017.
“At the end of the Arkansas State game the fans were booing,” said 6-foot-10 junior Brandon Hundley-Hatfield of U of L following Sunday's 85-63 win over Pepperdine. “I never want to go through that again.”
The Cardinals (5–6) played probably their best game against Pepperdine.
Payne, who played on the Cardinals' 1986 national championship team, is in his second season and has an overall record of 9-34 going into Thursday night's game with UK. He was 4-28 last season when Kentucky beat the Cards 86-63 at Rupp Arena on December 30.
“We’ve been together for years. I know he (Calipari) wants to beat me down,” said Payne, a Cal assistant from 2010 through 2020 before going to the New York Knicks. “I’ll take a one-point win.”
At this point, any win against anybody would help ease the fan base scrutiny.
The Cardinals have struggled with consistency. Starters Mike James, Tre White, Brandon Hundkey-Hatfield, J.J. Traynor (injured last two games) and Skyy Clark have all had moments. But nothing has been sustainable.
Ty-Laur Johnson is usually first off the bench. Emmanuel Okafour and Mike Willams have had moments as well. A 7-foot-1 freshman, Dennis Evans has missed several games with a shoulder injury.
This is far from what Cardinal nation were expecting this season. Social media takes have begged U of L athletics director Josh Heird to remove Payne. James was asked about a players' meeting about Payne with the AD after the Arkansas State loss.
“I really don’t think we need to be talking about that in a press conference,” said James.
Per ESPN Kentucky has an 83 percent chance of winning. Ken Pom ratings have the Wildcats winning 86-73.
So this Batte of the Bkuegrass looks like a mismatch. I think Kentucky wins 87-63.
Ed Peak has covered UofL sports since 1973, as a student reporter, as a correspondent for the Courier-Journal, a freelancer for the Associated Press and United Press International, as well as ScoreCard, Fox Sports and CBS radio.
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