Despite he’s leaving Kentucky wildcats today ‘Disappointment will be on………

Louisville HC Kenny Payne Previews Kentucky (12/20/23)

Kenny Payne Doubles Down on Only Wanting to Beat Kentucky by One Point

The head coach of the Cardinals also admitted once again that he knows John Calipari wants to beat down Louisville as badly as possible.

MATTHEW MCGAVICUPDATED:DEC 20, 2023 11:52 AM ESTORIGINAL:DEC 20, 2023

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Louisville Cardinals

LOUISVILLE CARDINALS

Kentucky Wildcats

KENTUCKY WILDCATS

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – When it comes to rivalry games, most fans don’t want to hear their head coach say that they only want to beat their rival by one point, while openly admitting that they know the competition wants to beat them as badly as possible. However, that is exactly what Louisville men’s basketball head coach Kenny Payne said this time last year ahead of his first showdown against Kentucky, which understandably drew the ire of the Cardinals fanbase.

With his second crack at the Wildcats coming this Thursday at 6:00 p.m. EST from the KFC Yum! Center, one would think that he would not want to run back these comments from last season. But during Wednesday’s press conference previewing the latest Battle of the Bluegrass, that’s exactly what he did.

“Going against (Kentucky head coach John Calipari), we probably both don’t want to be in this situation because we had so many years together,” Payne said. “But at the end of the day, I know he wants to beat me down, and I want to win the game by one and I’m happy.”

One one hand, it’s understandable that he would not want to try and embarrass his friend and former mentor, as Payne spent a decade as Calipari’s lead assistant coach at Kentucky. But on the other hand, given the current situation revolving around the state of the program and Payne’s own job status, doubling down on a vehemently unpopular statement was not the best call.

This past Friday, CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander reported that Louisville was expected to move on from Payne “sooner rather than later” and that UofL “will not drag this out over the course of the entire season,” but it would be unlikely before the Pepperdine game this past Sunday. Payne wound up coaching that game, an 85-63 victory to snap a three-game losing streak.

But even with the win over the Waves, it feels like it is only a matter of time before Louisville pulls the plug on Payne. The Cardinals are just 5-6 this season and 9-34 under Payne, and rumors surrounding his immediate dismissal kicked into high gear last Wednesday following the embarrassing loss to Arkansas State and the botched handling of the Koron Davis situation.

Even heading into the game against Kentucky, Louisville are notable underdogs, as KenPom has the Wildcats as a 13-point favorite. Considering the low attendance numbers at home so far this season, it is a game where the KFC Yum! Center is sure to be packed to the gills with opposing fans.

Still, Payne likes his chances against their arch rival in the Battle of the Bluegrass.

“I know from the outside looking in, it looks like we don’t have a chance. Well, we got a chance,” Payne said. “We’re gonna go out and fight to get that, and prove people wrong, and see what happens. If we believe it doesn’t matter what nobody else does.”

(Photo of Kenny Payne, John Calipari: Scott Utterback – Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK)

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BY MATTHEW MCGAVIC

’16 Sport Administration graduate of the University of Louisville, and native of the Derby City. Has been covering the Cardinals in various capacities since 2017, with a brief stop in Atlanta, Ga. on the Georgia Tech beat.

He is also a co-host of the ‘From The Pink Seats’ podcast on the State of Louisville network. Video gamer, bourbon drinker and dog lover. Find him on Twitter at