LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The result wasn't surprising, but that's not making University of Louisville basketball fans any happier.
The No. 9 Kentucky Wildcats (9-2, 0-0 SEC) rolled into the KFC Yum! Center with thousands of their fans Thursday night and made quick work of the Cardinals (5-7, 0-1 ACC), winning 95-76. UK was favored by 13.5 points.
The lopsided loss adds more fuel to the fire suggesting head coach Kenny Payne's days could be numbered in Louisville. That subject was broached again by reporters.
"For me, it's more about how do I get this team better," Payne said after the game. "I feel like we are getting better. Keeping [the players] close together. That's been the focus.
"Obviously there are things I could have done better [this season]. There are some games we lost that we could have won, should have won. I'm not sitting here saying I'm not at fault. I'm not happy with where we are. But I also know we still can get better."
Later Friday, the school said Payne would continue as head coach into 2024.
Here's what fans and analysts had to say about the game and state of the UofL program.
Watch Kenny Payne and John Calipari's postgame comments