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Kenny Payne shares message to Louisville fans nearing end of Year 1

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax•03/02/23•

BarkleyTruax

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Kenny Payne hopes that every member of the Louisville fanbase knows that he’s pushed his team the hardest he can, the right way, from day one. Things didn’t pan out as expected but at the end of the day, Payne says none of his players were cheated out of a legitimate college basketball experience.

He asked his fans to stay patient and true to the process through these rough times. Payne promised things will get better sooner rather than later. It’s the same story he’s been preaching to his team since day one.

“I feel like they feel, except I have the obligation, the opportunity to be with them every day. I’m preaching the same things — similar things — that they’re frustrated about,” Payne said after losing to Virginia Tech 71-54. “A lack of energy, a lack of confidence, a lack of fight. I’m preaching that every day. I can sugarcoat it for you, but it’s not acceptable.

“I ask these players every day, ‘Do you understand what it means to be in that jersey,? What fully do you have to sacrifice to be in that jersey?’ I don’t think a majority of them do, and so it’s my job to educate them on what it means to be in that jersey. That doesn’t mean it’s always going to be rosy. There are going to be hard days, but you have to fight to make sure that you know, and to have faith that you know that we are going to fix it.”

Payne said it’s his job to put together a group of players and coaches that are worthy of wearing the Louisville name across their chest. Not to say his group this season isn’t, but they never bought into Payne’s preachings throughout the season, and the Cards’ 4-26 record is a testament to that.

Louisville will travel to No. 13 Virginia Saturday afternoon to round out its regular season in the hopes of pulling off a shocker ahead of the ACC Tournament. The Cavaliers survived a 61-58 scare at Louisville last month, and the Cards are hoping they can recreate the same magic they almost pulled off in their first meeting. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET live on ESPN2.