The Kenny Payne era at Louisville appears to be nearing an end.
A report from CBS’ Matt Norlander indicated the university does not intend to drag this out over the course of the entire season and is expected to move on from Payne – although a final decision has not been made as of Friday.
“My indications and speaking to sources in recent hours here is that Payne is unlikely to be fired before Louisville’s game on Sunday,” Norlander said on CBS Sports HQ. “The expectation is that will happen sooner rather than later, and that they will not drag this out over the course of the entire season. But a final decision, as of Friday afternoon, has not been made.”
The Cardinals play Pepperdine on Sunday and then host in-state rival Kentucky on Thursday, and then have a very long break before they play Virginia on the road January 3.
Payne went 4-28 in his first full season as Louisville’s head coach in 2022-23 and has not shown much improvement in year two, falling to both DePaul and Arkansas State last week while coming under fire for how the team handled the dismissal of guard Koron Davis.
Many feel an interim tag for either Danny Manning or Nolan Smith could get the program into the offseason, where they could devote resources to finding a high profile coach to come in and help bring this program, which has been to 10 Final Fours and won three championships, back to the national prominence they are used to.