Rick Pitino - Back at the University of Kentucky

[BlueWorldOrder74]

If Rick wanted to come back to coach here after Cal left - would you have taken him back. If he wanted to come back and give us three years, would you have said yes?

Rick actually called numerous boosters and AD staff after Cal left. He basically begged to come back to Camelot for a three year stint, at almost any cost extended. He wanted to be here. Three years. Coaching, to end his career at the place he loved most. He wanted it. Booster majority wanted it. Mitch did not.

Thoughts?

 

[Big BlueBeard]

I’ve never heard this. But yea, I’d definitely have backed that. If this is indeed true, my disdain for Mitch grows even more.

 

[true-blue1]

Is this true?

 

[Cats4321]

I never understood why we didn't do this. Take a proven coach for a few years to make sure the program was in good hands after Cal. Pope would have come at any point if he started having success at BYU. We didn't have to experiment with an unproven coach. Pitino was sitting there as a safe pick.

Plus it would have made a great story.

 

[Cats4321]

Different situation, but I would also take Bruce Pearl now for a 3-4 year stint. In this era, you don't really have to rebuild. That's plenty of time to have top level success.

 

[MakinMusic_rivals]

Absolutely would have taken him back for 3 years. Prefer to find a younger version but Pitino would have done well for 3 years.

 

[Damage_inc]

I’ll things that didn’t happen for $200

 

[TuesdayBoost]

Of course. Feel like boosters would pretty much get what they wanted if they really wanted Pitino. Hard to believe that story is true. Not saying it isn’t. But I don’t believe both sides.

I can see Pitino wanting the job. I can see boosters wanting him. I don’t see both of those being true and him not on our side line right now.

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

I would have been fine with it. If true and Mitch nixed it, he deserves a 5 hour blanket party and immediate retirement.

 

[Ash Williams]

In. A. Heart. Beat.

 

[yoshukai]

I never understood why we didn't do this. Take a proven coach for a few years to make sure the program was in good hands after Cal. Pope would have come at any point if he started having success at BYU. We didn't have to experiment with an unproven coach. Pitino was sitting there as a safe pick.

Plus it would have made a great story.

Rick Pitino, Bruce Pearl, and Kelvin Sampson all fit the bill . But none of them come close to passing Barnharts morality standards.

 

[dynastydreamuk]

Mark pope was like maybe 40 to 50th on coaches list if we had to drop that low. Pitino was like 10th.

Yes I would have taken Pitino for 3 years in a heart beat If I had known Mitch would hire somebody unqualified.

I also never understood why we didn't hire Prime Pitino back after Tubby left.... he would have left Uof smell.

If OP statement is true that's sad.

 

[wildcatdon]

If Rick wanted to come back to coach here after Cal left - would you have taken him back. If he wanted to come back and give us three years, would you have said yes?

Rick actually called numerous boosters and AD staff after Cal left. He basically begged to come back to Camelot for a three year stint, at almost any cost extended. He wanted to be here. Three years. Coaching, to end his career at the place he loved most. He wanted it. Booster majority wanted it. Mitch did not.

Thoughts?

I wanted him back but not sure I believe what you said above about him calling boosters. He would’ve righted the ship.

 

[BlueSince92]

Absolutely and Mitch Barnhart is a douchebag.

 

[fs-ripcord65]

Is this true?

My friend, if you read it in a post by BWO, you can take it to the bank !
Go 'Cats !

 

[CRZ4UK]

I’ll things that didn’t happen for $200

I’ll take we didn’t hire Snellenburger for 1000. We have probably made more bad choices than any program.

 

[RedwoodHigh]

Buzz fitted the bill -
Beard fitted the Bill
May fits
St Louis , High Point , George Mason , Layola , Santa Barbara - COACHES FIT

 

[Global Havok]

I wouldn't have wanted him representing my alma mater. There were tons of qualified coaches without the baggage he has.

 

[Jtf2217]

People can say what they want but I remember people freaking out that Pope invited him back for the into press conference.....
Rick P would be welcome here in my eyes. He knows he screwed up by leaving.
However with the NCAA stuff at UL that probably put a nail in that coffin.

 

[Goingfor9]

If Rick wanted to come back to coach here after Cal left - would you have taken him back. If he wanted to come back and give us three years, would you have said yes?

Rick actually called numerous boosters and AD staff after Cal left. He basically begged to come back to Camelot for a three year stint, at almost any cost extended. He wanted to be here. Three years. Coaching, to end his career at the place he loved most. He wanted it. Booster majority wanted it. Mitch did not.

Thoughts?

Yes I would have accepted pitino and the winning that comes with him. I will go a step further and ask why the heck Barney didn’t go hard for pitino in 2007. A massive failure Barney could have brought out on back in his prime instead he helped torment the hatred toward pitino. Mitch Barnhart is a shrewd and corrupt leader for a quarter of a century. I think there needs to be a total cleaning of the AD. This dude hired a rapist and the list of crappy coaches is way to long for this guy to stick around for a quarter century. The university needs to act fast to ditch this guy and strip this goon or his name for the athletic complex

 

[Goingfor9]

I never understood why we didn't do this. Take a proven coach for a few years to make sure the program was in good hands after Cal. Pope would have come at any point if he started having success at BYU. We didn't have to experiment with an unproven coach. Pitino was sitting there as a safe pick.

Plus it would have made a great story.

Pope was never gonna be the right guy. He is a culture class with Kentucky.

 

[kywildcat1021979]

If Rick wanted to come back to coach here after Cal left - would you have taken him back. If he wanted to come back and give us three years, would you have said yes?

Rick actually called numerous boosters and AD staff after Cal left. He basically begged to come back to Camelot for a three year stint, at almost any cost extended. He wanted to be here. Three years. Coaching, to end his career at the place he loved most. He wanted it. Booster majority wanted it. Mitch did not.

Thoughts?

In a ******* heartbeat!

 

[kywildcat1021979]

Of course. Feel like boosters would pretty much get what they wanted if they really wanted Pitino. Hard to believe that story is true. Not saying it isn’t. But I don’t believe both sides.

I can see Pitino wanting the job. I can see boosters wanting him. I don’t see both of those being true and him not on our side line right now.

Don’t underestimate that stupid ******* we have as an AD he’s a worthless piece of ****. He’s been running our basketball program into the ground for a long long time

 

[Goingfor9]

If Rick wanted to come back to coach here after Cal left - would you have taken him back. If he wanted to come back and give us three years, would you have said yes?

Rick actually called numerous boosters and AD staff after Cal left. He basically begged to come back to Camelot for a three year stint, at almost any cost extended. He wanted to be here. Three years. Coaching, to end his career at the place he loved most. He wanted it. Booster majority wanted it. Mitch did not.

Thoughts?

Simple. Fire Mitch hire Pitino 3-5 year deal. I think he has it in him. What a assss Barney i think they guy need to take the next bus out of Lexington. How UK fans give Rooferee heck but Barney a pass. I mean seriously there will be couches burned if Barney is sent out. It will be a big party. Can anyone explain how this guy lasted for this ridiculous amount of time with all the failures in hires and contracts? I mean it’s gotta be the absolute worst thing to ever happen to UK bb.

 

[Anon1751517317]

So you want to hire the guy who just lost to the guy that we are firing?

 

[AllBall]

If Rick wanted to come back to coach here after Cal left - would you have taken him back. If he wanted to come back and give us three years, would you have said yes?

Rick actually called numerous boosters and AD staff after Cal left. He basically begged to come back to Camelot for a three year stint, at almost any cost extended. He wanted to be here. Three years. Coaching, to end his career at the place he loved most. He wanted it. Booster majority wanted it. Mitch did not.

Thoughts?

Shocker. Mitch is a cancer to our program. Self righteous punk.

 

[AllBall]

I never understood why we didn't do this. Take a proven coach for a few years to make sure the program was in good hands after Cal. Pope would have come at any point if he started having success at BYU. We didn't have to experiment with an unproven coach. Pitino was sitting there as a safe pick.

Plus it would have made a great story.

We couldn't dare tarnish the good name of Mitch Barnhart. Heaven forbid do something outside his purview bc that's doing us so well.
He's been here way too long.

 

[Randy Bob]

Rick would have been great at Ky.

 

[Vek96]

I would have taken him after Calipari left, and I would take him now.

 

[UK4Life#9]

I forgive Rick for a lot but he is by far the most overrated coach in the history of college basketball by both the media and our fans. He’s a good, possibly great coach but he’s not what some people want him to be. There’s 4-5 active coaches right now who have had more success or as much success as Pitino did at UK. It was a great run but for that 7 year stint, that resulted in one championship, it gets him in the goat conversation 30 years later??? If not for that stint at UK, what else has he done to make you want him at UK in 2026????

Nothing he did at UL counts in my opinion, since buying prostitutes for underage kids is a form of pedophilia.

 

[MarvinHagler89]

Is there any basis or truth to this? Just curious. If so Mitch needs to be removed in handcuffs and mocked throughout the entire state.

 

[Vek96]

I forgive Rick for a lot but he is by far the most overrated coach in the history of college basketball by both the media and our fans. He’s a good, possibly great coach but he’s not what some people want him to be. There’s 4-5 active coaches right now who have had more success or as much success as Pitino did at UK. It was a great run but for that 7 year stint, that resulted in one championship, it gets him in the goat conversation 30 years later??? If not for that stint at UK, what else has he done to make you want him at UK in 2026????

Nothing he did at UL counts in my opinion, since buying prostitutes for underage kids is a form of pedophilia.

Uh, he took Providence to a Final Four. Dominated at Kentucky. Won a title at Louisville, and has turned a doormat St John’s program back to prominence.

I think he’s underrated.

 

[BGCATFAN2012]

People can say what they want but I remember people freaking out that Pope invited him back for the into press conference.....
Rick P would be welcome here in my eyes. He knows he screwed up by leaving.
However with the NCAA stuff at UL that probably put a nail in that coffin.

With the ay for play now it seems we should hire Rick and the hookers.

 

[cat tat2]

I would give him a 5 year contract today.

 

[Anony Moose]

Pitino hasn't won **** in over 10 years. It's not like SJU is some powerhouse. We literally beat him and his team.

Would some of you morons go play on I-75 and quit trying to destroy UK basketball even more.

 

[Johnnie Africa]

How awesome would it have been for us to be upset by Cal in the NCAA tournament and then be awful this year. Oh ya!

 

[Bleedin Blue in Ohio]

I would have hired Rick. He is and probably always will be my all-time favorite coach in my lifetime. I enjoyed his style of play and the teams he built came so close to a 3 peat. That is flat getting it done. What could have been if he would have just chose to make UK a career. he would have went down as one of the greatest of all time.

 

[cat tat2]

Just like getting beat at home by Cal and being awful this year. Add in another loss tomorrow… let the good times roll.

 

[Bluetick2100]

My friend, if you read it in a post by BWO, you can take it to the bank !
Go 'Cats !

that don't mean the check will cash

 

[HappyBlue]

I see a lot of people saying they would want him back. For the ones that say they would want him back, how would you feel watching him on the sideline knowing he has that hideous UL Cardinal tattoo on his back?