The Louisville Cardinals basketball program has fallen on hard times. That much is clear. But their latest loss to the Arkansas State Red Wolves on Wednesday, along with off-court drama in the arena, fully encapsulates how dysfunctional this program truly is at the moment.
Louisville issued a statement on Tuesday about junior college transfer Koron Davis, stating that he will be leaving the program and that they “support him and wish him well in the future”.
BREAKING: Louisville says juco transfer Koron Davis is leaving the program pic.twitter.com/EPIolLpzpU
— Eric Crawford (@ericcrawford) December 13, 2023
Davis then completely denied this on social media, stating that he never told anyone at the program that he wanted to transfer.
“I didn’t express to anyone at U of Louisville that I wanted to transfer,” tweeted Davis. I never asked to transfer. I enjoy being a Cardinal. The fact an official statement was released giving false information is disheartening and sad.”
I didn’t express to anyone at U of Louisville that I wanted to transfer. I never asked to transfer. I enjoy being a Cardinal. The fact an official statement was released giving false information is disheartening and sad.
— Koron Davis (@KoronDavis) December 13, 2023
Not only is this a terrible look for the program to seemingly lie about a player’s desire to transfer. But it was even more awkward when Davis showed up at their game Wednesday night in the stands.
Davis was seen sitting in the crowd by himself behind the Louisville, which has to be a pretty terrible moment for him after the Louisville program appeared to completely abandon him.
Koron Davis, the player UL said requested to transfer and who later himself said that never happened, is sitting in the crowd for tonight’s Louisville game
What an embarrassing day for the program all the way around pic.twitter.com/NLIjtfeCMQ
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 14, 2023
Things weren’t much better on the court for Louisville. Despite holding a two-point through the first half on their home court, they would go on to completely unravel. Louisville allowed Arkansas State, a team with a 3-7 record coming into the game, to score 46 points in the second half. Arkansas State would go on to win the game 75-63.
Arkansas State beats Louisville! pic.twitter.com/GgBwXUktWK
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) December 14, 2023
It is the second loss of the year for Louisville against a non-power-five conference team, a real indication that they may be the worst of any power-five conference in college basketball.
After the game, the discussion around Koron Davis overshadowed the loss for the most part. Louisville head coach Kenny Payne was asked about the situation, and pretty much avoided any questions, instead referring to the school’s statement on the matter.
“In reference to Koron (Davis), we put out a statement, correct? The statement is pretty plain. I don’t really want to dwell on it. I care about the kid, and wish him the best.”
#Louisville HC Kenny Payne addresses the Koron Davis ordeal:
“The statement was pretty plain. I don’t want to dwell on it”@WHAS11 pic.twitter.com/xS5pamcHKa— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) December 14, 2023
This appeared to be damage control at its finest from Payne, who didn’t stick up for his player whatsoever even though Koron Davis claims he still wants to be a part of the program.
Not only is the product on the court for Louisville pretty mediocre basketball. But the feeling around the program as a whole is a far cry from where they were just a few years ago.
Just ten years ago, Louisville was a National Champion and one of the true blueblood programs in the sport of college basketball. That couldn’t be further from the truth now, which is an absolute shame considering Louisville has some of the most passionate fans in the sport.
Under Kenny Payne, Louisville has an 8-34 record including the start of this season. If things continue to go downhill for the team, you have to wonder how long Payne will remain head coach of the program.
Only time will tell if they ever become an elite college basketball program again in the future. But for the time being, it is safe to say that this program is going straight into the ground, and things need to change very quickly to stop the free-fall.
