What Kenny Payne Said After Louisville's 83-67 Loss at Georgia Tech

ATLANTA - The Louisville men's basketball program was unable to get the regular season sweep over Georgia Tech, falling 83-67 in the road leg of the two-game series.

Here's what head coach Kenny Payne had to say following the loss:

Head Coach Kenny Payne

(Opening statement)

First off, I think all the credit goes to Georgia Tech. The way they started the game in the first half of the game, putting us on our heels. They scored 45 points in the first half. We then defend them. They took it to us, they scored in the paint. They finished the game making 12 three, they scored 40 points in the paint. I mean, that was no resistance anywhere on the court. All the credit goes to them. They played the way they needed to play to come out with a win at home on senior night. The disappointing thing is that, the first half of this game, we just didn't compete the way we needed to.

(On falling apart down stretch after trimming the deficit to five points)

I just think there's a focus, a discipline that you have to have, especially when you dig yourself a hole. There's a fight that is required, you don't just make a run. Now, you got to get over that. You got to take the lead. We get to the cusp of making a run and getting a lead, then a bad play, a bad call, a lack of defensive effort. One thing goes wrong, they get a basket, and it killed out momentum. Then we come down the court, turn it over, they get a layup. Those type of plays, they end up killing us. We did enough to make the run, but that's not the goal. The goal is to win the game. We're not more talented than Georgia Tech. We're not. The only way we win, is we fight together. We talk to each other on the court, and we defensively get after them. That's the only way we can win. We weren't connected today.

(On what caused Georgia Tech to get so many three-pointers after holding them in the previous matchup)

I'll have to look at the tape, first of all. For me, off what I remember of the game, I don't think our close outs were desperate. I thought we were very casual in getting to shooters. I thought we were casual in getting to spots. I thought we were casual in giving them resistance to where they want to go. Again, think about it: 12 threes, and they scored 40 points in the paint. You're not winning.

(On holding Dallan Coleman scoreless in the second half, and if that was a focus defensively)

You know, I can't really say. For me, I'm looking at- every player can make a shot. Right? So are you willing him to miss the shot? Or are you hoping he missed a shot? What I see, from my remembrance of the game, is guys closing out and they're not jumping. They're not hard contesting. You're hoping you miss a shot. You're not giving the effort to will him to miss a shot. He's a good player, or he wouldn't be isn't that jersey. This is high-major basketball. We have to respect any and everybody.

(On if getting multiple guys in double figure scoring is a step in the right direction)

Again, guys scoring in double figures, We run a good offense. It's predicated on multiple guys scoring. I need us to defend. I need us to fight. I need us to play winning basketball. I need us connected. I need us desperate defensively. I need us rebounding the ball and hitting people, and imposing our will to win the game. The fact that we had four guys, or five guys, or six guys in double figures, that's not it for me. What's it for me, is I want to feel like we're going to war to win the game. Not to play offense. I thought today's game was an indicator that it was you score, I score. We're not comprised, we're not built like that. That's not the components of my team. We have to defend. It's not a choice. Us deciding not to defend is like saying we don't want to we just want to win. We just want to score.

(Photo of Kenny Payne: Brett Davis - USA TODAY Sports)

You can follow Louisville Report for future coverage by liking us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram:

Facebook - @LouisvilleReport
Twitter - @UofLReport
Instagram - @louisville_report

You can also follow Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @Matt_McGavic on Twitter