Anyone see Any Similarities Between RJ Luis and the Rodrick Rhodes Situation for Coach P?

[onearmedjesus]

Always felt that Rodrick Rhodes, although a great kid, was a detriment to UK winning at the highest level while he was here. Pitino cut him loose the way that he seems to be doing with Luis. The Cats win big the next year. Can that be addition by subtraction again for Pitino?

 

[catben]

He was the first thing I thought of when I saw Rick sitting RJ Luis at the end of that game. Similar to Rhodes in the SEC Tournament Final in 1995 against Arkansas and later in the Elite 8 against UNC.

 

[BlueBomb]

For those too young to know about the Rhodes fiasco -- it was quite the soap opera. Many felt kicking him to the curb was a huge mistake. But then that Arkansas game happened. He cried on national TV. We went our separate ways.

 

[ralphdaltonfan]

I blame Pitino for the Arkansas game benching. You rock with what you have and it's Pitino's fault he had a team of bricklayers and thought because he ran through a watered down Big East comparative to the past Decade, that he'd be able to advance by "out toughing" or "athleting" the field.

He's a fantastic coach and doing a wonderful job at St. John's but to throw Luis under the bus when he had games like this before-as did the team--I mean Kadary Richmond was in foul trouble the entire game and was key player for Luis and other guys because he got them looks.

Rhodes was a different situation because he was on that vision quest and so close he could smell it and knew if he ran him off-he had replacements he liked more on the way-and low and behold what followed was '96-'98 Run/Era (know he was in Boston for '98 but you get my point)

 

[bthaunert]

Rhodes was a phenom coming out of high school. He and Jason Kidd were the top of that recruiting class. That was a strong class with Rhodes, Kidd, Othello Harrington and Corliss Williamson among the group.

Dude's career at UK ended he missed both free throws with 1.2 seconds left to win the game. Biggest difference between Luis and Rhodes is that Rhodes was inconsolable on the bench and was not any any shape to be put back into the game. I always felt for Rod. He actually had a really good senior year at USC and climbed back up draft boards into the first round.

 

[bthaunert]

One other thought on Rhodes. man, he started off his freshman year on fire. 3 of his first 4 games as a Wildcat:

16 points against Wright State
27 points against Georgia Tech
20 points against UL

I remember when had a reverse dunk against UL and Vitale goes, "Hello! Hello America! My name is Rodrick Rhodes. Mashburn is the king and I am in the prince but ultimately one day I will be the king"

 

[BlueBloodKyFan]

He was the first thing I thought of when I saw Rick sitting RJ Luis at the end of that game. Similar to Rhodes in the SEC Tournament Final in 1995 against Arkansas and later in the Elite 8 against UNC.

I was at that UNC game in Alabama, he was AWFUL.

 

[bnewt]

never really knew the behind the scenes story with Rhodes
I always thought that he listened to his handlers too much
they kept filling his head that he was better than he actually was
may not have been true, just what I had always thought & heard

 

[cats#1again]

Rhodes was a phenom coming out of high school. He and Jason Kidd were the top of that recruiting class. That was a strong class with Rhodes, Kidd, Othello Harrington, Corliss Williamson, Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace among the group.

Dude's career at UK ended he missed both free throws with 1.2 seconds left to win the game. Biggest difference between Luis and Rhodes is that Rhodes was inconsolable on the bench and was not any any shape to be put back into the game. I always felt for Rod. He actually had a really good senior year at USC and climbed back up draft boards into the first round.

Pitino ruined Rhodes is what he did. Yes he had Mercer coming and it was a different sport back then. Rhodes was as talented as they come and ended up being pg for USC at 6'7". Pitinos ego always got the best of him. Still to this day. Had 4 really good teams at uk and won 1 title with them.
The laetner play was horrible coaching
Rhodes incident
Not playing Anderson and we lost in overtime
He was done after that.

I'm not sure pitino would have went on to win like people think he would had he stayed. The 98 team would have been completely different

 

[bthaunert]

never really knew the behind the scenes story with Rhodes
I always thought that he listened to his handlers too much
they kept filling his head that he was better than he actually was
may not have been true, just what I had always thought & heard

Here is a good interview with KSR back in 2014. He talks about his time at UK.

Rhodes 2014 KSR Interview

 

[TucsonCat]

Jackass just gives up on players. Also reminds me of Chauncey Billups and Rick. Traded the possible Hall of Famer for beans his rookie year. I remember he had the same quote about both, because liars always repeat themselves. Rhodes was his son's favorite player and Billups was his wife's favorite player.

He's a decent coach, but he's a terrible GM.

 

[1war]

Rhodes was a phenom coming out of high school. He and Jason Kidd were the top of that recruiting class. That was a strong class with Rhodes, Kidd, Othello Harrington, Corliss Williamson, Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace among the group.

Dude's career at UK ended he missed both free throws with 1.2 seconds left to win the game. Biggest difference between Luis and Rhodes is that Rhodes was inconsolable on the bench and was not any any shape to be put back into the game. I always felt for Rod. He actually had a really good senior year at USC and climbed back up draft boards into the first round.

Rasheed Wallace and Jerry StAckhouse were in the next years recruiting class.

 

[Skyguyb27]

I blame Pitino for the Arkansas game benching. You rock with what you have and it's Pitino's fault he had a team of bricklayers and thought because he ran through a watered down Big East comparative to the past Decade, that he'd be able to advance by "out toughing" or "athleting" the field.

He's a fantastic coach and doing a wonderful job at St. John's but to throw Luis under the bus when he had games like this before-as did the team--I mean Kadary Richmond was in foul trouble the entire game and was key player for Luis and other guys because he got them looks.

Rhodes was a different situation because he was on that vision quest and so close he could smell it and knew if he ran him off-he had replacements he liked more on the way-and low and behold what followed was '96-'98 Run/Era (know he was in Boston for '98 but you get my point)

Let me ask you, do you believe Cal struggles against zone defense? I’m really surprised Rick didn’t throw a lot of different things at Cal to break up the rhythm Arkansas seem to get going.

 

[kycottontail]

Say and think what you will, but Ky was dead when he arrived...Took a bunch of Ky boys and made them competitive...One of my favorite teams ever, then Mash arrived and Ky was back...He was and is to a point one of the greatest,,not just a recruiter like Cal or a in game tech like Tubby, Pittino was it all..Great recruiter, defense, offense, and most of the time you gave him a few days, he would beat you. Now his personality and (habits) are another thing

 

[Bluegrassking]

Is the adoration of Luis anything much beyond his portal ranking?

It isn't that I don't see a quality player but more he doesn't seem the any better fit than other options and maybe less so.

 

[Titpwhami2014]

I remember attending the Pitino Father-Son camp in 1994. Pitino had Rhodes and Delk play one-on-one during one drill session. Obviously Rod was 6-7, and Delk was 6’1 — but Rhodes absolutely cooked poor Tony for about 10 straight minutes. The 12-year old version of me was shocked because I thought Tony was the far superior player. Probably was the better overall player in the grand scheme of things—but not that day!

 

[bthaunert]

Rasheed Wallace and Jerry StAckhouse were in the next years recruiting class.

You’re right…they were juniors when Rhodes and kid were seniors. Good catch .

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Let me ask you, do you believe Cal struggles against zone defense? I’m really surprised Rick didn’t throw a lot of different things at Cal to break up the rhythm Arkansas seem to get going.

Pitino not going zone really surprised me too.

 

[ralphdaltonfan]

Let me ask you, do you believe Cal struggles against zone defense? I’m really surprised Rick didn’t throw a lot of different things at Cal to break up the rhythm Arkansas seem to get going.

One thing I will say--I hope Pope doesn't talk with Pitino about beating Calipari because once Calipari got to a power conference level, he's smacked the piss out of him.

 

[Catluv]

One other thought on Rhodes. man, he started off his freshman year on fire. 3 of his first 4 games as a Wildcat:

16 points against Wright State
27 points against Georgia Tech
20 points against UL

I remember when had a reverse dunk against UL and Vitale goes, "Hello! Hello America! My name is Rodrick Rhodes. Mashburn is the king and I am in the prince but ultimately one day I will be the king"

I worked with RR roommate. He told me RP told RR to back off this was JM team. This was after Vitale went off about how good RR was playing. I think RP was wrong not to let them both shine. I don’t think RR ever got his mojo back!! I don’t have any other contacts with anyone.

 

[trueblujr2]

For those too young to know about the Rhodes fiasco -- it was quite the soap opera. Many felt kicking him to the curb was a huge mistake. But then that Arkansas game happened. He cried on national TV. We went our separate ways.

The irony that a game against Arkansas was it for both of them.

 

[wkycatfan]

Yes.

 

[onearmedjesus]

Yes.

Concise.

 

[Wildcats1st]

Pitino ruined Rhodes is what he did. Yes he had Mercer coming and it was a different sport back then. Rhodes was as talented as they come and ended up being pg for USC at 6'7". Pitinos ego always got the best of him. Still to this day. Had 4 really good teams at uk and won 1 title with them.
The laetner play was horrible coaching
Rhodes incident
Not playing Anderson and we lost in overtime
He was done after that.

I'm not sure pitino would have went on to win like people think he would had he stayed. The 98 team would have been completely different

Pitino made some bad coaching moves but there was no one else at the time who could do what pitino did reviving the program. I absolutely agree though pitino wasn’t perfect. It was miracle to even have us in a spot to make a run year one.