Louisville's Kenny Payne used a Titanic metaphor while seemingly taking zero accountability for gut-wrenching NC State loss

Louisville men’s basketball head coach Kenny Payne seemingly called out his team and his staff after the Cardinals season ended with a nauseating loss to NC State during the first round of the ACC tournament.

Despite a spectacular 36-point night from sophomore guard Skyy Clark, the Louisville Cardinals could not overcome NC State, losing 94-85. The loss was the punctuation to a dismal season. Under the leadership of head coach Kenny Payne, Louisville went 8-24, which wasn’t much better than the previous season’s record of 4-28. After the game, Payne was asked about making a case to come back for next season. That’s when he deflected blame, citing that he needed more buy-in from his team and those around him.

Here's me asking Kenny Payne to make his case to be brought back. The start of his answer: "It's unfortunate that we're talking about this right now. When I walked into the program as the new head coach, I talked about I needed everybody on the same page. We sort of forgot that." pic.twitter.com/n7KD3Fdi1Y

— Tyler Greever (@Tyler_Greever) March 13, 2024

Maybe after you go 12-52 in two seasons at Louisville, don't act like it's everyone's fault but your own.

Thought this answer at Kenny Payne's press conference tonight was embarrassing. Blamed everyone else and took zero accountability of his own. pic.twitter.com/4UBif9XMtJ

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) March 13, 2024

Here’s what he told the media in the room:

“When I walked into the program as the new head coach, I talked about how I needed everybody on the same page. We sort of forgot that. I talked about how I’m not gonna let you blame me. I’m not standing up here by myself. I need all of Louisville with me. We sort of forgot that. I talked about how it’s gonna take time, and I’m gonna watch and see who jumps on and off the Titanic. We sort of forgot that. I gave a specific time. I said three of four years, and I’m good with it. That’s what I believed at that time, and that’s what I still believe it takes to fix this program.”

After the game, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Louisville is expected to part ways with Payne.

Source: Louisville officials expect to inform coach Kenny Payne within the next 24 hours that he will not return as men's basketball coach. He’s yet to speak with AD Josh Heird since losing in the ACC Tournament earlier today.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 13, 2024