Louisville basketball is off to a historically bad start in 2022. While fans can quickly turn a blind eye to a poor start, a certain intensity and effort will always be expected.
The expectations heading into new Louisville basketball head coach Kenny Payne’s first season were at an all-time low.
On the heels of a 6-season stretch where Louisville has had 5 different head coaches and 3 NCAA Tournament game appearances, even the most unrealistic fan understands growing pains.
Upon Payne’s arrival, he urged friends, fans, and supporters to have his back.
“I need this University to support me,” Payne said in his introductory press conference. “Support is very critical. You understand what I mean by support. It’s not when you’re doing good. Support is really when you’re doing bad. (To) this community, I don’t have all the answers. But, I know that I had to take this job and try to help build the answers. I’m one person. I’m not standing here by myself. Again, I’m not standing here by myself.”
This new staff and new team need our unwavering support. On this, the vast majority of Louisville basketball fans can agree.
However, if there is one thing that will sour Cardinals fans on a team, a coach, and a program as a whole, it has been an issue with consistent intensity and effort.
If Louisville is simply able to give 100 percent effort every time down the floor, I think the Cards are 2-0 instead of 0-2.
In the Cards’ opener against Bellarmine, we expected coach Scott Davenport to put Payne’s squad in a blender on offense.
Bellarmine often keeps things tight with bigger, more athletic opponents because of efficient execution on both ends of the floor.
Here’s the issue, though. Louisville’s lack of effort on both ends of the floor led to major runs for BU in both halves.
The Cards ultimately couldn’t get the winning shot to go at the buzzer but were in that predicament because of mental lapses throughout the game.
This has been a consistent theme throughout Louisville’s two exhibitions and two regular season games.
Here are the Cards looking about as bad as five players with two arms and two legs in a basketball uniform can look.
In Louisville’s second game of the season against Wright State, the Cards let a 10-point second-half lead dwindle behind some feeble effort down the stretch.
Louisville allowed two fast-break baskets where Wright State had a 4-on-1 advantage. They secured multiple offensive rebounds late just by out-hustling the Cards.
WSU, who is 330th in the country in average height, outrebounded Louisville, who is 3rd national in average size, 7-4 on the offensive boards. That led to 12 second-chance points for the Raiders, compared to just 6 for the Cards.
Pretty elementary stuff from the Cards. And, frankly, inexcusable.
We can sit here and go over the stats and film all day. But, it’s simple enough stuff that even the most casual fan is taking notice.
At the end of the day, Louisville basketball fans are going to watch and support through the hardest of times. We’ve proven this over the last six-plus years.
However, nobody is going to feel sorry or accept excuses for a squad that doesn’t even try.
We can accept losing. We can accept rebuilding years.
But a lack of effort and hustle? That will never fly around here.
Next: How I am looking at the 2022-23 Louisville basketball season from a different perspective
Hey Justin played & coached alot in your career give them a chance give coach the opportunity to coach his team not yours go back to the bar of your choice an get more advice.