A Louisville player almost missed a game over not having his favorite tights: “This is a new day and age, a new generation of young people,” head coach Kenny Payne said.
The Louisville men’s basketball team secured their fourth win of the season on Wednesday night, defeating intracity rival Bellarmine by a final score of 73-68. The Cardinals needed a second-half comeback to notch the victory, as they trailed by five at the half. In that comeback, Louisville freshman guard Ty-Laur Johnson was a big spark, handing out a team-high five assists, all of which came in the second half.
Because he barely played in the first half.
Due to a wardrobe issue.
Following the game, Louisville coach Kenny Payne outlined that due to an issue of tights, Johnson did not know if he wanted to play:
Here's the full quote from Kenny Payne on Ty-Laur Johnson and his tights situation: pic.twitter.com/WnIX88d1Lz
— Kent Spencer (@WHAS11Kent) November 30, 2023
At halftime, the coach and the freshman had a heart-to-heart, and some of Johnson’s teammates talked with him as well.
“Yes, I did,” said Payne to the media after the game when asked if he had a “heart-to-heart” with Johnson at the break.
“This is a new day and age, a new generation of young people,” he added. “They’re learning what it means to be a part of a team. They’re learning what it means to be kids of character. They’re learning. They’re learning. All of them are learning.”
Johnson did suffer a groin injury earlier this month, and Payne was not sure if that played a role in the wardrobe issue. “I have no idea,” responded the coach when asked by reporters if that injury played a role.
Johnson’s teammates also made it clear at halftime that the team needed him on the floor. According to sophomore Skyy Clark, players reminded Johnson at the break that he is a big part of the team this year. “He’s an Energizer Bunny,” Clark said after the game. “We need him on the floor at all times.
“We’ve all been freshmen before; we’re gonna learn. But, like I said, we need him on the floor, because he really gets us going.”
So while this got sorted out in time for Louisville to pull off the comeback win, perhaps they might want to have those tights around going forward.
