Jay Williams puts Kenny Payne, Louisville on blast at halftime vs. Kentucky

Louisville wanted to shock the nation on Thursday night. After the first half, it appears the Cardinals are only living up to their disappointing reputation.

At the halftime break, Louisville trails Kentucky 53-33. ESPN analyst and former Duke Men’s Basketball player Jay Williams didn’t hold back when criticizing Louisville’s uninspired showing.

“This game is a damn shame,” Williams said. “If I were at Cameron [Indoor Stadium], and we were playing against Carolina, our rivalry, and I saw that much Carolina Blue inside Cameron, I would be disgusted.

“That’s where this team is right now. I mean, this is a rivalry game. I get it. Every day, Kenny Payne’s name is trending. People are calling for him [to be fired]. I want to see if these young men play for him.”

Louisville had an inefficient first half, shooting 2-8 (25%) from beyond the arc and 7-13 (53.8%) from the free-throw line. Its defense didn’t do it any favors, either. Kentucky connected on 54.3% of its shot attempts in the first 20 minutes.

To make matters worse, Louisville has committed nearly twice as many turnovers as the ‘Cats. The subpar outing is nothing new for Cardinals fans. Louisville is 5-6 this season and has lost three of its last four games.

Only halfway through his second season at the helm, head coach Kenny Payne is on the hot seat. Williams believes the team’s lack of passion is its biggest issue.

“Somebody put somebody on the ground. Show me something. There were possessions where they are walking,” Williams said. “That’s Kenny Payne going against [John] Calipari. It should mean something. If it doesn’t mean something, move on to somebody where it means something.”

Kenny Payne stuck in hot water

Williams isn’t alone in his beliefs. Last week, CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander reported Payne’s days at Louisville are likely numbered.

“The question is when it winds up happening,” Norlander said on CBS Sports HQ. “It is unfortunate. He is a favored former son there, having played on the 1986 championship-winning team and it just has not worked. He has won as many games as he has lost against mid-major competition, he has lost 14 home games since becoming Louisville’s head coach just last year.

“Louisville will be moving on from Kenny Payne. The expectation is that will happen sooner rather than later, and that they will not drag this out over the course of the entire season. But a final decision, as of Friday afternoon, has not been made.”