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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville has fired coach Kenny Payne after going 12-52 in two seasons that marked the worst consecutive finishes in the storied basketball program's history. The move came a day after the Cardinals' 94-85 first-round loss to North Carolina State in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Louisville's eighth consecutive defeat capped an 8-24 season. Athletic director Josh Heird says "change is needed" to reach expectations. He wants Payne's replacement to be somebody who "will crawl here to coach this basketball program." The 57-year-old Payne is set to receive an $8 million buyout under terms of a six-year contract through 2028.
