What Kenny Payne, Louisville Players Said After 75-63 Loss vs. Arkansas State

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville men's basketball program sank to yet another unfathomable low on Wednesday at the KFC Yum! Center, falling 75-63 to Arkansas State for their third straight loss.

Here's what head coach Kenny Payne, guard Skyy Clark and forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield had to say following the loss:

Head Coach Kenny Payne

(Opening Statement)

“It feels like we had a pretty good game plan coming into this game knowing who this team was that we were playing against. We knew that, traditionally, their DNA is the three-point shot and the other important piece is the driving of the basketball and offensive rebounding. I am disappointed and frustrated that we worked on this for a few days and got in the game and did not execute, and it falls on me, the staff, the players, all of us. Nobody is without blame and we all are talking about how we hold each other accountable more than we already do. No slight to their team. They came in here and beat us in every category pretty much.”

(About not getting necessary effort tonight after a tough loss on Saturday)

“I think the guys in the first half didn’t play great, but we did a decent job, but not a good enough job, to be honest. But in the second half, I though we, again, played selfishly as evidenced by just three assists, as evidenced by guys just driving the ball and playing to score for themselves and not their teammates. In the first half, I thought we had a multitude of plays where the ball moved around, and the guys got a shot and he just missed a good shot. But, the defensive effort, the gambling on the ball, not keeping the ball in front, all played a part in us being on our heels on defense and them shooting fifty percent on defense.”

(About ASU’s shooting and straight-line drives and the trouble staying in front)

“I think that we allowed the offensive player to get close to us. We worked on all week on a drill called the retreat drill. We keep the guy in front, but we just retreat and our hips stay square. What we did was let them get into us and then we opened up our stance which gave them a free lane to the basket. It is hard to do but you have to find a way to keep that ball in front of you. You have to find a way to not gamble and be disciplined and then after that we have to help each other. We seem to be disconnected defensively as well as offensively down the stretch.”

(About the accountability factor and doing better)

“Of course, I am always critiquing myself. I want guys to figure this out. I want guys to know how important it is that they play for each other. I am constantly preaching it. They say they understand but their actions at times say otherwise. So, I have to continue to ask them questions about what can I do more to make sure that they fully understand what it takes to be a basketball player. More importantly, a winning basketball team.”

(About the messaging part of being a head coach as it relates to Koron Davis’ dismissal from the team)

“I think in reference to Koron, we put out a statement and the statement is prety plain. I really don’t want to dwell on it. I care about the kid and I wish him the best and that is what we said in our statement.”

(About dealing with negativity and how it affects the team when they get behind)

“For me, I try to constantly talk to them about what is important. I use it as teaching moments. I think that sometimes fans and critics look at something and they see it in wins and losses and not fully understanding that there are young people that read and hear everything that people say and that hurts them because they trusted to come here. They trusted and this is part of the journey to be a great player, the journey to conquer yourself is being able to handle cluter, to handle chaos and to handle critics, to handle that and still be true to yourself, your goals and your aspirations. I think they are learning that and they want to win. They work hard. But something has to happen to them to where they are able to show it. I am constantly talking about we have to earn respect. Respect is not going to be handed to us. That includes respect from the officials, opposing teams, fans, and our staff. I want us to earn respect.”

(On if he thinks about his future with the program as losses mount)

“No, not really. If I live my life by not being true to myself then I probably would. I live my life through faith. I live my life by doing what’s right by my players. When the day is over, I always ask if I’ve cheated my players. Have I cheated Skyy Clark? Have I cheated Tre White? Nine out of ten days the answer is no. I don’t worry about the outside noise.”

(On Brandon (Huntley-Hatfield's) performance)

“I thought Brandon was very good in the first half. I thought there was a lull in the second half. At the end of the first half, I’m telling him that he should finish the game with 30 points and 25 rebounds. I told him to dominate the game. That requires great energy, concentration, and confidence. I’m proud of the way he played but it doesn’t do him justice because we lost.”

(On if his message to the team has changed as losses mount and how have the players reacted)

“Young players always say the right things. As a coach, I’m always asking if what they’re saying is reflected in their actions. Your actions must go along with the words you’re saying. I want them to understand what that means. They’re saying, ‘We can do this. We know what our goals are. We’re close to figuring it out. We have to hold our teammates accountable.’ At the end of the day, however, are you doing that? Some of that is hit or miss and they have to figure that out. We have to help them figure it out as a staff.”

Guard Skyy Clark and Forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield

(On back-to-back losses vs. teams under .500, message in the locker room)

Clark: “I think the model is just locking in and continuing to try and get better. Just trying to figure out how we can win games and what we need to do to win games. The biggest thing is that we just need to find our identity on offense and defense. That’s the biggest thing.”

Huntley-Hatfield: “I think at this point in time, really just harping on staying together. None of us like this feeling that we’re feeling right now and the experience of what we did after the game isn't what we all want to feel, so really just keeping it really internal and knowing that it's only us forever. Making sure that we're not going to let go of the rope, and knowing that we all feel it and that there's still a lot of time and a lot of games left to show the world who we are. I think after this game, there's a turning point of our season. I think once you all see you will understand.”

(On body language being off towards the end of the game, how team stays motivated during those times)

Clark: “Back to what I was saying. Just got to be locked in. We've just got to take it to the chin, go back to the film room, go back to practice, and just continue to be motivated. We know what we can do. We still have belief, and we just have to go out there and show that we’re improving and play like it.”

Huntley-Hatfield: “Honestly, like I said, just staying together as a team, as a unit. Knowing that what we're putting out there isn't good enough and that's not who we want to be and it's not who we are. Just making sure that we're not completely letting go of the rope and giving up and making it seem like we’re defeated.”

(On the message they would give to fans who are discouraged)

Huntley-Hatfield: “I think the real ones who are with us win, lose, or draw should stay there. And those who don’t want to be there for us when we’re losing, don’t be there for us when we start winning. Once we turn that curve and show the world who we are, keep the same energy.”

(On what gives them confidence that the team can turn things around)

Huntley-Hatfield: “We have a lot of dogs that really want it. We’re all learning each other more and more every single day. We have a lot of guys that can really go – it’s just about trusting ourselves and trusting our teammates and trusting each other. You’ve seen it when we were in New York and at Virginia Tech that we’ve got some guys that can go. I know that once we all figure ourselves out and figure out who we are as a team and start hitting on all cylinders, I don’t think there’s much more that anybody will have to say about us. Our freshmen are really good, and we’ve got some veterans who were that guy wherever they were, so we’ve just got to figure out who we are and put it all together.”

Clark: “Also to note, we’ve been missing JJ [Traynor] these last two games, and JJ is a really big piece for us. He’s super athletic, he’s old and he’s got experience, he’s a big energy guy, he’s a lob catcher and can block shots, and he’s a really good finisher around the rim so that’s really affected us as well.”

(On if Coach Payne’s message has stayed consistent throughout the season)

Clark: “His message has definitely stayed consistent throughout the year. He still believes in us. That hasn’t changed at all. He still believes we’ve got a chance to have a really good year. His message hasn’t changed.” Huntley-Hatfield: “And I still believe in him.”

(Photo of Kenny Payne: Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)

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