Chris Mack makes startling revelation about team following loss to Pittsburgh
Louisville’s 2021-22 men’s basketball season has hit rock bottom. The Cardinals have significantly struggled as of late, and the UofL faithful isn’t happy – by any means – with what’s going on.
The Cardinals have lost three straight games – most recently a 65-53 setback at Pittsburgh on Saturday – and are now 10-7 overall with a 4-3 mark in ACC play. Prior to Saturday’s loss, Louisville fell 79-63 at home to NC State on Wednesday and dropped a 79-70 decision against Florida State before that.
Although UofL still has a winning record at 10-7, there’s no denying that Chris Mack’s team is trending in the wrong direction – and he knows that. Following Saturday’s loss to Pittsburgh, Mack met with the media in his postgame press conference and made a startling revelation about his team.
“Until I figure out what motivates our group, I don’t see a lot changing,” Mack said following Saturday’s loss.
Mack, who’s in his fourth season as Louisville’s head coach after a nine-year run at Xavier, has compiled a 67-35 overall record with the Cardinals. He’s led UofL to the NCAA Tournament once in four years – in his debut season in 2018-19. His 2019-2020 squad went 24-7 overall and finished ranked No. 14 in the final AP poll, but last season’s team went just 13-7 during the COVID-impacted campaign.
Mack was suspended without pay for six of Louisville’s games in the month of November this season for his handling of an extortion incident involving former Cardinals’ assistant coach Dino Gaudio. He was away from all team-related activities from Nov. 8 through Nov. 27.
Louisville is back on the court Wednesday to take on Boston College at the KFC Yum! Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Louisville suspends head coach Chris Mack for six games
Louisville men’s basketball head coach Chris Mack has been suspended for six games, the university announced on Friday. Mack’s suspension is without pay for failure to follow university guidelines regarding Dino Gaudio’s extortion attempt following last season.
“The University concluded that while Mack was a victim of an extortion attempt by former assistant coach Dino Gaudio, Mack failed to follow University guidelines, policies, and procedures in handling the matter,” Louisville’s statement says. “The sanctions imposed upon Coach Mack are unrelated to the extortion attempt itself and the ongoing NCAA process.”
Louisville athletics director Vince Tyra commented in Louisville’s release. Despite the suspension, Louisville is confident in and believes in Mack moving forward.
“As I have said since the beginning of my tenure, we have high expectations for all of our staff members and coaches and we hold people accountable for their actions,” Tyra said. “While we have made great strides over the last four years in changing the culture in our Department of Athletics, we cannot afford to have any setbacks, no matter how big or small, in our pursuits. I am confident that Coach Mack now understands the impact of his actions. We all have confidence in him moving forward. I am grateful for the partnership and supper of President Bendapudi in this matter.”