Rick Pitino

[UKAlum88]

With all the threads lately wanting Pitino back, I’ve began to think about his UK tenure and UL tenure. Anyone remember UL 2011 loss to Morehead State? If I’m remembering correctly, it was a 13 over a 4 seed.

So with that being said, can we quit saying, “Oh Rick would have this team in the final four” or “Rick won with less talent.”

Rick is a good, not great coach that has had his fair share of bad losses. How quickly some here forget.

PS:I hate Cal and anything associated with him.

 

[FtWorthCat]

No, Pitino is a great coach. He is the best college coach in my lifetime, and I go back to the early 70s. He wins everywhere he goes. I would like to see him take the St. John's job and get them back in the national picture before he retires. I watched the Iona game last night, and he has that team playing so far over it's skill level that it's hard to believe. They were swarming everywhere all over the court. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Iona makes the second weekend.

 

[UKAlum88]

No, Pitino is a great coach. He is the best college coach in my lifetime, and I go back to the early 70s. He wins everywhere he goes. I would like to see him take the St. John's job and get them back in the national picture before he retires.

1 championship 30 years ago isn’t gonna live up to talks. He isn’t even in the top 10 best coach ever argument. You Pitino cultists are mind blowing.

 

[The Nightman2]

1 championship 30 years ago isn’t gonna live up to talks. He isn’t even in the top 10 best coach ever argument. You Pitino cultists are mind blowing.

Your one of those still butt hurt lol. He's regarded by many as one of the best of his generation lol. He took three schools to the final four. Two different schools to a championship even if the last one doesn't count.

 

[School boy]

With all the threads lately wanting Pitino back, I’ve began to think about his UK tenure and UL tenure. Anyone remember UL 2011 loss to Morehead State? If I’m remembering correctly, it was a 13 over a 4 seed.

So with that being said, can we quit saying, “Oh Rick would have this team in the final four” or “Rick won with less talent.”

Rick is a good, not great coach that has had his fair share of bad losses. How quickly some here forget.

PS:I hate Cal and anything associated with him.

The program is in a bad spot. But nobody who knows about the sport would want him back unless they are another teams fans. We got him back everyone would make fun of us. You think losing in the first round or what Rupp may or may not have done years back is bad? Get him we will stay the laughing stock forever.

But some may truly think he would be good. Man we declined.

 

[Dead Cat Bounce]

Pitino’s tenure at UK is one of if not THE most impressive stretch of coaching in the modern era. His conduct since leaving has been deplorable, and I’d never wish him back, but what he accomplished at UK was the best I expect to ever see.

 

[FtWorthCat]

OP forgot about this game from last year.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401365250

 

[plumdog69]

With all the threads lately wanting Pitino back, I’ve began to think about his UK tenure and UL tenure. Anyone remember UL 2011 loss to Morehead State? If I’m remembering correctly, it was a 13 over a 4 seed.

So with that being said, can we quit saying, “Oh Rick would have this team in the final four” or “Rick won with less talent.”

Rick is a good, not great coach that has had his fair share of bad losses. How quickly some here forget.

PS:I hate Cal and anything associated with him.

Pitino is one of if not the best coach I have ever watched.

 

[UKAlum88]

Your one of those still butt hurt lol. He's regarded by many as one of the best of his generation lol. He took three schools to the final four. Two different schools to a championship even if the last one doesn't count.

Cal has almost the same exact resume as Pitino and Cal sucks.

 

[UKAlum88]

Pitino’s tenure at UK is one of if not THE most impressive stretch of coaching in the modern era. His conduct since leaving has been deplorable, and I’d never wish him back, but what he accomplished at UK was the best I expect to ever see.

Ummm, stats prove that to be a lie. Sorry.

 

[UKAlum88]

Pitino is one of if not the best coach I have ever watched.

Glad you feel that way. Sucks his resume doesn’t reflect that.

 

[FranklinRaider315_rivals]

Does Lexington have a Porcini’s?

 

[Gromcat_rivals]

With all the threads lately wanting Pitino back, I’ve began to think about his UK tenure and UL tenure. Anyone remember UL 2011 loss to Morehead State? If I’m remembering correctly, it was a 13 over a 4 seed.

So with that being said, can we quit saying, “Oh Rick would have this team in the final four” or “Rick won with less talent.”

Rick is a good, not great coach that has had his fair share of bad losses. How quickly some here forget.

PS:I hate Cal and anything associated with him.

Rick Pitino is a revolutionary coach who implemented strategy and excellent game planning. No coach is above losing games. It’s like some of you think great coaches shouldn’t have a black eye or two.

He’s thought of as one of, if not the best, modern coaches in history. There are guys who do this for a living that will tell you without the career mistakes he’s the best coach they ever saw.

You can’t win at Louisville in the modern era and he did. They’ll never produce again. Watch.

He came to Kentucky, with us on probation, and turned it into one of the best dynasties in history. He took coach K‘s cookies and ate them.

Lol these threads.

 

[Gromcat_rivals]

Ummm, stats prove that to be a lie. Sorry.

Ok so you’re obtuse, don’t apply context to things, and throw it all in a vacuum.

I figured this would be pointless

 

[kywildcat1021979]

Rick Pitino is a revolutionary coach who implemented strategy and excellent game planning. No coach is above losing games. It’s like some of you think great coaches shouldn’t have a black eye or two.

He’s thought of as one of, if not the best, modern coaches in history. There are guys who do this for a living that will tell you without the career mistakes he’s the best coach they ever saw.

You can’t win at Louisville in the modern era and he did. They’ll never produce again. Watch.

He came to Kentucky, with us on probation, and turned it into one of the best dynasties in history. He took coach K‘s cookies and ate them.

Lol these threads.

I know some people act like they forget what a great basketball coach he was when he was our coach. They let his decisions post UK cloud the true reality!

 

[TriCountyCAT]

I really hope when Cal goes that he takes Mitch down with him. What a spineless AD!

 

[Fadhi]

Cal has almost the same exact resume as Pitino and Cal sucks.

Yea a guy who takes every school to a final four and was asked to coach the Celtics and Knicks sux.

 

[Kycatspaws]

 

[UKAlum88]

Rick Pitino is a revolutionary coach who implemented strategy and excellent game planning. No coach is above losing games. It’s like some of you think great coaches shouldn’t have a black eye or two.

He’s thought of as one of, if not the best, modern coaches in history. There are guys who do this for a living that will tell you without the career mistakes he’s the best coach they ever saw.

You can’t win at Louisville in the modern era and he did. They’ll never produce again. Watch.

He came to Kentucky, with us on probation, and turned it into one of the best dynasties in history. He took coach K‘s cookies and ate them.

Lol these threads.

1 championship, that’s burns your buns don’t it? Lol

 

[UKAlum88]

L

Ok so you’re obtuse, don’t apply context to things, and throw it all in a vacuum.

I figured this would be pointless

I can provide 10 coaches with better resumes? Care to sit around and chat awhile?

 

[blackcat714]

Cal has almost the same exact resume as Pitino and Cal sucks.

Iona 14 straight wins UK 4 pretty close i have to agree

 

[JoeBeeHall]

Rp thinks cats fans are #1.
He told the fans as much exiting Rupp.
He is such a great coach Cal OWNED his azz at uofsmell.

 

[dc513]

1 championship 30 years ago isn’t gonna live up to talks. He isn’t even in the top 10 best coach ever argument. You Pitino cultists are mind blowing.

He is the best I have seen. And as a 78 yr old following college bb since age 20 I say this.

 

[Gromcat_rivals]

L


I can provide 10 coaches with better resumes? Care to sit around and chat awhile?

No. Not if you’re this obtuse and stuck in the mud.

 

[Crawfords Corner]

If we were to really really delve in to this everyone would have 100k word essays on this subject.


When talking strictly X's and O's it's not even close. People will always point to the Laettner play. Well, how about Duke even needing the Laettner play to begin with. Kentucky got to a 2 seed with Jamal Mashburn and a bunch of role players in only Pitino's 3rd season and 1st with any eligibility for the tournament. That right there is one hell of a coaching feat and I don't think anyone really talks about it because it's UK. Imagine if the shoe were on the other foot and this was Coach K and Duke. They'd call it one of the greatest coaching seasons in history.


Yes, Calipari is having issues now and for the last few seasons. The 8 year stuff is exaggerated because UK has had some good teams in that time, but the FF absence is true. Calipari has also taken 3 teams to the Final Four and has coached in 1 less National Championship game than Pitino. Guys who can't coach don't take 3 teams to the Final Four.


Come on though. If we take 2 teams that are dead even who do you think wins in a 7 game series. If you are being honest with yourself and ignoring all the off the court stuff and don't hold him going to Louisville against him you are going to choose Rick Pitino.

 

[JonathanW_rivals]

Because of his age, Pitino is NOT a good fit for UK now. That is ignoring the bad blood he created while at U6. But I think most would forgive for that. But we can’t make him younger. And don’t want the next coach to be 5 years or less.

But Pitino is one of the all-time great coaches (top 10-15). Yes he lost as a 4 to a 13. He probably lost others shouldn’t have. Didn’t the consensus GOAT coach (K) lose as a 15 to a 2? Losses happen sometimes. Just don’t let it be a pattern.

But the whole coaching thing makes me wonder, do most UK fans value excitement/entertainment or winning more from a coach?
Bennett would win, but would be like watching paint dry.
Pearl would be entertaining, but would have some down years.

 

[ruppcat]

1 championship 30 years ago isn’t gonna live up to talks. He isn’t even in the top 10 best coach ever argument. You Pitino cultists are mind blowing.

Fort those of us who lived through the Pitino years I will, for one, say that was the most exciting brand of basketball I've seen UK play.

I go back to 1978.

 

[Crawfords Corner]

When you coach over 1000 college basketball games you are eventually going to lose to some teams you should have never lost to. Even the almighty Coach K's teams lost to programs he shouldnt have lost to. That's going to happen.

 

[Ukbrassowtipin]

Rick isn't old Rick. He's one of the greatest coaches ever, but UK wouldve fired him if he had the first 7 seasons or whatever be had at uofl, combine that with the sideshow of banging ******.

He never really got that good at uofl until calipari showed up, and he had to cheat to keep up

 

[JonathanW_rivals]

Yes, Calipari is having issues now and for the last few seasons. The 8 year stuff is exaggerated because UK has had some good teams in that time, but the FF absence is true.

Very true.

2017- very good year, we were CV one of the top 5 if not higher teams, hosed by the rooferee and still took a OT buzzer beater vs another top 5 team in E8 to beat us.
2019- lost in E8 in OT again with refs swallowing their whistles last 10 minutes
2020- was looking very good again, top 6 team, #1 backcourt, but tourney canceled so we will never know
2022- another very good season, but the horrific ending (in part caused by injuries) casts a bad shadow on it.

But those do not make 2021 inexcusable!
And this year hugely disappointing.

 

[UKUGA]

No. Not if you’re this obtuse and stuck in the mud.

There is an endless supply of morons you can argue with on the Internet.

Choose wisely.

 

[NavyCat88]

Timing is poor for a Pitino return, but I will say:

I started paying attention to UKBB in 1974.

Since that time Rick Pitino is the best UK coach I have witnessed with a keen balance of recruiting and X&O skills that is unmatched IMO.
I was sad to see him go to the NBA, mad to see him go to Louisville, but glad to see him find success with Iona.

I believe UK can find a more appropriate young HC to replace the current coach, BUT truth be told....if you gave me a binary choice between modern day JC or modern day RP to coach next year at UK, I would take Coach Pitino six days a week and twice on Sunday.

GBB!

 

[UKAlum88]

No. Not if you’re this obtuse and stuck in the mud.

What I thought!

 

[UKAlum88]

Cal, the guy we all hate and who can’t coach, bent Pitino over regularly and repeatedly when RP was at UL. Cal, the guy we all hate and who can’t coach, is the reason Rick ever started cheating in the first place. Let that one sink in….


3,2,1….. Go! Pitino cultist, let the excuses fly!

 

[Gromcat_rivals]

Cal, the guy we all hate and who can’t coach, bent Pitino over regularly and repeatedly when RP was at UL. Cal, the guy we all hate and who can’t coach, is the reason Rick ever started cheating in the first place. Let that one sink in….


3,2,1….. Go! Pitino cultist, let the excuses fly!

So clearly you’re being told by many who witnessed it, lived it, guys who follow this sport 50 years, writers who follow the sport for a living, guys who’ve played. Some say he might actually be the greatest modern coach of all time, the stupid career choices aside which had a horrible effect on his outcomes….

And your answer is NUH UH!….

This is fine. Be that way.

All coaches lose games. All coaches don’t matchup as well with some. Not all coaches made the right moves and were in the right place, but with Pitino you can see when program and timing was right, he was the best.

This thread didn’t go your way because you’re wrong. But stick in that mud buddy!

 

[UKAlum88]

So clearly you’re being told by many who witnessed it, lived it, guys who follow this sport 50 years, writers who follow the sport for a living, guys who’ve played. Some say he might actually be the greatest modern coach of all time, the stupid career choices aside which had a horrible effect on his outcomes….

And your answer is NUH UH!….

This is fine. Be that way.

All coaches lose games. All coaches don’t matchup as well with some. Not all coaches made the right moves and were in the right place, but with Pitino you can see when program and timing was right, he was the best.

This thread didn’t go your way because you’re wrong. But stick in that mud buddy!

The best at what? Clearly not coaching basketball as his resume suggests he’s a good, not great coach. I don’t care how long you follow, play or coach, a coach with 1 championship 30 years ago is not the . The cheating isn’t even what derailed his career. His career was already on its backside and will not win anything substantial again. I’d bring him on staff to coach defense only, I’ll say that much for him. And no not on Cal’s staff, Cal needs to hit the door!

 

[Gromcat_rivals]

The best at what? Clearly not coaching basketball as his resume suggests he’s a good, not great coach. I don’t care how long you follow, play or coach, a coach with 1 championship 30 years ago is not the . The cheating isn’t even what derailed his career. His career was already on its backside and will not win anything substantial again. I’d bring him on staff to coach defense only, I’ll say that much for him. And no not on Cal’s staff, Cal needs to hit the door!

I totally trust your opinion over all the UK fans that think he’s one of the best ever, the writers who’ve said it, the former players who’ve said it, guys who have followed this sport for profit who’ve said it, my own eyes and experiences, most in the thread….

You are clearly Uhtred of Bebbanburg when it comes to calling the greats of ncaa coaches.

 

[bbnkat02]

Rick Pitino is a revolutionary coach who implemented strategy and excellent game planning. No coach is above losing games. It’s like some of you think great coaches shouldn’t have a black eye or two.

He’s thought of as one of, if not the best, modern coaches in history. There are guys who do this for a living that will tell you without the career mistakes he’s the best coach they ever saw.

You can’t win at Louisville in the modern era and he did. They’ll never produce again. Watch.

He came to Kentucky, with us on probation, and turned it into one of the best dynasties in history. He took coach K‘s cookies and ate them.

Lol these threads.

Rick is 0-1 versus Duke at UK actually.

 

[Gromcat_rivals]

Rick is 0-1 versus Duke at UK actually.

I’m talking about coach k starting the 90’s by winning back to back, almost prevented by Pitino at UK right off of probation, then Pitino stacks the deck and steals team of the decade once he had it rolling.

Not to mention putting together the sagarin rated number 1 team of all time in the process.

Kentucky and Pitino halted coach K in the 90’s. I believe that’s why he was so keen on UK when we got Calipari. He’d already seen UK halt his momentum and didn’t want it happening again.

 

[Catfan2226]

I never missed a game at Rupp when Pitino was here.Fun times indeed.Coming out of probation nobody knew what to expect but that first team he had at UK was a joy to watch.Going 14-14 was a huge accomplishment.It only got better,later the greatest game ever played happened...UK-Duke in 92 followed by a final 4 run with Mash and company.then the greatest team ever put together in 96 that won it all followed by another run at the title in 97...the style was fun,the crowds were loud and we won...the best period of UK basketball in my lifetime.
The first 6-7 seasons of Cal were also fun but whatever happened after the chase for perfection in 2015 changed Calipari.Factor in that stupid contract as well.its not fun anymore.Its like having a hemorrhoid watching UK lately and I'm sick of it.Im sick of the same routine,rinse,lather and repeat.Pitino isn't coming back,but the program can't keep going like it is with Calipari at the helm.Times change and there always comes a point in time when change is needed...we are at that point.