Louisville’s men’s basketball team faced a significant defeat against Pitt, with Blake Hinson’s outstanding 41-point performance leading to an 86-59 loss in their away game against the Panthers. Head coach Kenny Payne shared his thoughts on the game:
Regarding the slow start, Payne acknowledged the team’s lack of experience, ranking 305th in the nation, making consistency and discipline challenging. He emphasized the importance of versatility in players, noting the absence of a point guard and the need for all positions to handle the ball and initiate offense.
Despite the disappointment, Payne expressed his support for the team, emphasizing their disappointment in the result. He highlighted Hinson’s effortless scoring and expressed concern about the team’s defensive efforts, acknowledging they failed to effectively contain a known threat.
In response to adjustments made to disrupt Hinson’s rhythm, Payne mentioned attempts at face guarding and trapping, but Hinson’s impact extended beyond scoring, influencing the game’s flow and forcing Louisville into scramble mode.
Payne addressed the performance of available players, attributing their lack of cohesion to a collectively “bad night.” He stressed the importance of understanding the game’s intensity and the necessity for players to have a relentless drive for improvement and success, comparing it to a life or death situation in pursuing a basketball career.
Overall, Payne emphasized the need for players to understand the level of dedication required to excel in the sport, particularly highlighting Hinson’s determination and performance as an example for his team to emulate.
