Louisville basketball has been on a pretty sharp decline since it fired Rick Pitino amid a massive recruiting scandal. Current head coach Kenny Payne’s approach to the dumpster fire that is currently burning within his program is very different to the man that came six years before him!
Donovan Mitchell recently detailed how he was “playing in fear” under Pitino, who he called “another level of crazy.” He told a story about how the legendary coach would make his players run on the treadmill at high speeds for extended periods of time if they turned the ball over, among other anecdotes.
Meanwhile, in present day, the Cardinals fell to 4-6 with a loss to Arkansas State at home on Wednesday night. It is a disaster. Especially after winning just four games last year.
Kenny Payne and Louisville took the day off on Thursday, as scheduled by NCAA rule. They will be back in the facility at 2:00 p.m. on Friday for film work and practice before playing Pepperdine on Sunday.
Saturday, prior to the game, will be more of a walk-through.
All of that is pretty standard in the modern era of collegiate athletics. The Cardinals’ day off is mandated.
However, Pitino and Payne’s approach to the rest of the weekend are likely very different.
Based on what we know, the former would have had his players running until they could not run any more. Rick Pitino would have had them on the baseline for the entirety of practice.
We don’t know much about Payne’s practices, but it is pretty safe to assume that they are nothing like the two-time* national champion. Maybe his players could use a reminder of how bad it could be?
Pepperdine is one of the worst teams in the country. Especially on the road.
Heads are going to roll if Louisville loses on Sunday, because it is pretty much impossible to do so. If there was ever an opportunity to take a psychotic Pitino-like approach to practice, it would be now!