Calipari urges more time for Payne amid Louisville struggles - ESPN

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Minutes after No. 9 Kentucky defeated rival Louisville in a lopsided 95-76 road victory Thursday, Wildcats coach John Calipari said his Cardinals counterpart, Kenny Payne, deserves more time at the helm of the program.

Payne, Calipari's friend and former assistant, now has a record of 9-35 overall and 2-19 in ACC play since he was hired to lead his alma mater last season. Calipari said Louisville continues to improve and that if Payne is given the chance to coach the Cardinals into next season, they will show major strides.

He also said Kentucky faced similar scrutiny during the 2020-21 season, when the Wildcats finished 9-16, the worst record in the program's modern history.

«He's got a really young team,» Calipari said. «And you've got to let him go and do what he does. The players love him because they play for him. They never let go of the rope. And I'm watching and I feel for him. Shoot, we went through it a couple of years ago. The people get mean and nasty. They do. And that's what you have to deal with in this profession.… My guess is he'll have this program — within a year — where everybody wants it. It's just that the growing pains are miserable. We went through it.»

Payne said he continues to stay positive but also said he knows he has work to do.

«Obviously, there are things I could have done better,» Payne said. «There are some games that we lost that we could have won, should have won. On paper, it says we were the better team. I'm not sitting here and saying I'm not at fault. I'm not happy with where we are. But I also know that we still can get better. And there is a lot of room for growth. But it's not all on the kids. I have to do a better job of getting these guys prepared to play