Louisville Report

Watch: Kenny Payne, Louisville Players Talk Start of Exhibition Play

The head coach of the Cardinals, guard/forward Mike James and forward J.J. Traynor met with the media to discuss the start of exhibition play ahead of the 2023-24 regular season.
Matthew McGavic|
Watch: Kenny Payne, Louisville Players Talk Start of Exhibition Play
Watch: Kenny Payne, Louisville Players Talk Start of Exhibition Play

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Louisville Cardinals

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After several weeks of practicing against each other over the course of the offseason and into the preseason, the Louisville men's basketball program is finally playing an actual opponent.

Ahead of the start of the regular season on Nov. 6, the Cardinals are set to host a pair of teams in the KFC Yum! Center for exhibition matchups.

"I have not made up my mind who I'm gonna start yet," head coach Kenny Payne A lot of people have very anxious, players and coaches, wanting to see who's gonna start that first five minutes of this game tomorrow. But for me, it's more about how you play when you're on the court. I'm evaluating every single player. Every single player."

First, Simmons College will come to town on Wednesday, Oct. 18 and tip-off at 7:00 p.m. EST, followed by Kentucky Wesleyan on Monday, Oct. 30 at 7:00 p.m. EST. Both games will be streaming on ACC Network Extra.

"We definitely want to come closer as a team," guard/forward Mike James. "Learn more about each other. Some lineups haven't been together on a court yet, so just playing against somebody else will be good for us before we start our first actual game."

Prior to their matchups with the Falcons and Panthers, Payne, James and forward J.J. Traynor took time to meet with the media. They discussed what they took away from the Red-White Scrimmage, what Payne is looking for out of his team in exhibition play, and more.

Below are the videos from there press conference:

Head Coach Kenny Payne

Guard/Forward Mike James and Forward J.J. Traynor

(Photo of Kenny Payne: Jamie Rhodes - USA TODAY Sports)

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Matthew McGavic
MATTHEW MCGAVIC

McGavic is a 2016 Sport Administration graduate of the University of Louisville, and a native of the Derby City. He has been covering the Cardinals in various capacities since 2017, with a brief stop in Atlanta, Ga. on the Georgia Tech beat. He is also a co-host of the 'From The Pink Seats' podcast on the State of Louisville network. Video gamer, bourbon drinker and dog lover. Find him on Twitter at @Matt_McGavic

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