It’s time to be forthcoming, a week into the season:
I thought Louisville would be fine this year.
Fine. Serviceable. Not good. Not back. Not a contender. But within hollering distance of competitive at all times, showing flashes of putting it together and giving people hope about the longevity of the Kenny Payne era.
We’re two official games into his second season, and loathe though I am to bury anyone at that point, I can’t diagnose what’s still institutional rot and what is “Hey, Kenny Payne may not be a good coach” but I’m moving quickly away from the former and toward the latter.
In less than two weeks, Louisville has:
Lost to Kentucky Wesleyan in an exhibition game.
Needed both to overcome an eight-point second-half deficit (at home) against UMBC, and for Retriever forward Khydarius Smith to miss the second of two late-game free-throws to escape with a 94-93 win in regulation.
Got waxed by Chattanooga, 81-71, at home.