On a variety of levels, Kenny Payne was an understandable and defensible hire as the men’s basketball coach for the Louisville Cardinals in 2022. But on the only level that matters, it turned out to be a flaming disaster.
After another dismal loss, this one in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Tuesday, the disaster is over. When it becomes official is immaterial. Payne is out, and the worst competitive era in school history is over.
Louisville won just 12 games and lost 52 under Payne, an incomprehensible record. There were losses to the Bellarmine Knights, Wright State Raiders, Appalachian State Mountaineers, Chattanooga Mocs and Arkansas State Red Wolves. There were consecutive last-place finishes in the ACC. There were acres of empty seats at home games and hours of outrage on talk radio. There was no hope.
