Jay Williams on Kentucky vs. Louisville: "This game is a damn shame"

Kentucky led Louisville 53-33 at half, the Cats’ largest halftime lead over the Cards in the series in 25 years, and the second largest over their rival in school history. Kentucky finished the half on a 14-2 run, with Antonio Reeves scoring 22 points, just 11 fewer than Louisville’s entire team.

Yet, all Jay Williams wanted to talk about was Louisville. The former Duke star blasted the Cardinals during ESPN’s halftime studio break, calling out the players’ effort in the first half vs. the Cats.

“This game is a damn shame,” Williams said. “If I were at Cameron [Indoor Stadium] and we were playing against [North] Carolina, our rival, and I saw that much Carolina blue inside Cameron, I would be disgusted. That’s where this franchise, this team, is right now.”

Louisville actually started the game well, taking a 5-0 lead and hanging with the Cats for nine minutes or so. The Cards led 17-16 at the 11-minute mark, but from there, it was all Kentucky. Kentucky finished the half shooting 54.3%, making eight threes, while the Cards only made two. Williams was disgusted.

“This is a rivalry game and I get it. Every game, Kenny Payne’s name is trending. Every day, people are calling for his head and stuff. I want to see if these young men play for him.”

When Seth Greenberg tried to steer the direction toward Kentucky, Williams interjected.

“I don’t want to talk about Kentucky,” he said. “Kentucky will be fine.”

Let us not forget that it was Williams who floated a rumor that DJ Wagner, who chose Kentucky over Louisville coming out of high school, would transfer to Louisville while calling the UConn vs. Indiana game last month. That is clearly not going to happen, and tonight, Williams said that Louisville’s effort means they’ve given up on Payne as head coach.

“I’m going to fight you, Seth,” Williams joked when Greenburg interrupted him again. “You’ve had teams that are outmatched. Put somebody on the ground. Show me something. There were possessions where guys were just walking. And Kenny was like, throw it up the court.

“Guys, this is Kenny Payne going against Calipari. It should mean something. If it doesn’t mean something, let’s go. Move on to somebody where it means something.”

The way this is going, it might not be long before that happens.