Love him or hate him Ricky P can coach.

[Creed Bratton]

Rick is a controversial character but you can't deny the man can get the job done on the sideline. He has the Johnnies at 20-3, sitting in first place in the Big East and on pace to win 30 games for the first time since 1985 in only his second year there.

 

[ukcatz12]

 

[sefleming]

One of the best X & Os coaches

 

[chevyman 50]

Yep he has always been a great coach.

 

[catlogic15]

Pope should look at the tape of St. John’s defense and effort last might against Marquette. Incredible.

 

[runt#69]

I know this is an impossible thought ...

But I just had a flash thinking of the offseason headline : "Pope gets Pitino to come BACK to Kentucky and join the staff as a defensive guru " ????

wonder if that would shock things into a new era of awesomeness?

I know, itll never happen, but it was a flash of a thought.

the more I think about it, the more I would love it. I really would.

 

[CATFANINFLORIDA]

I know this is an impossible thought ...

But I just had a flash thinking of the offseason headline : "Pope gets Pitino to come BACK to Kentucky and join the staff as a defensive guru " ????

wonder if that would shock things into a new era of awesomeness?

I know, itll never happen, but it was a flash of a thought.

the more I think about it, the more I would love it. I really would.

No way Pitino is going to be an assistant coach. He will probably retire at St. John’s.

 

[truebluewildcat]

History will show he can build a program anywhere, get them ranked, get them to a dance at the very least if not advance with them.

I’d argue he’s the GOAT over anyone else. Doesn’t have as many titles or FFs as some but he’s repeated high level success every where.

 

[Ripcord65]

Rick is a controversial character but you can't deny the man can get the job done on the sideline. He has the Johnnies at 20-3, sitting in first place in the Big East and on pace to win 30 games for the first time since 1985 in only his second year there.

You absolutely got this right, Creed. No doubt about it ! In terms of getting the job done on the sidelines - and apparently, in the practice gym - I don't think there's a better college basketball coach in the country.

Just MHO, of course ! Go 'Cats ! ! !

 

[dcw62]

I know this is an impossible thought ...

But I just had a flash thinking of the offseason headline : "Pope gets Pitino to come BACK to Kentucky and join the staff as a defensive guru " ????

wonder if that would shock things into a new era of awesomeness?

I know, itll never happen, but it was a flash of a thought.

the more I think about it, the more I would love it. I really would.

Hell Bring back Tubby as a defensive coach!

 

[Wonky]

You absolutely got this right, Creed. No doubt about it ! In terms of getting the job done on the sidelines - and apparently, in the practice gym - I don't think there's a better college basketball coach in the country.

Just MHO, of course ! Go 'Cats ! ! !

I agree completely, but I will add that if Pope had a healthy roster and RP’s schedule, he’d be 20-3 too. I don’t mean to hijack the thread, but the Pope hate on here is mind-boggling to me.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

If he had more runway left in his career, I'd be 100% fine hiring him if we didn't land Pope.

Pitino is 1 for 1 in terms of coaches who can get the most out of 3-star rosters. No one can do it like he does. Even casual college ball fans or ones that don't have a strong opinion of Pitino, one way or the other, will tell you hes top3. And I believe it.

This now might be his FIFTH team that he's gotten to some form of legit success (or a title).. Kentucky, UofL, Greece, Iona, and now St. Johns. Every where he goes, he just wins (not including the NBA and restaurants after hours).

 

[runt#69]

I agree completely, but I will add that if Pope had a healthy roster and RP’s schedule, he’d be 20-3 too. I don’t mean to hijack the thread, but the Pope hate on here is mind-boggling to me.

yeah, I don't get the Pope hate. I am assuming most of these people were Cal supernuthugg .. I mean superfriends during the last conflict of LoD vs superheroes when CCC was here.

Must still be butthurt Cal is gone. Pope has been amazing. Can't wait to see how things shape up over the next few years, I know it is going to be an awesome ride !

I just got that feeling again !

woohoo !

we're in fine hands with Coach Pope. He makes me proud (as if I never were, which is definitely NOT the case) to be a Kentucky fan !!

 

[ukcatz12]

No way Pitino is going to be an assistant coach. He will probably retire at St. John’s.

I think he really wants to become the first coach to take 4* schools to the Final Four. Doing it at St. John's would be the perfect way to end his career. And god forbid he win a title there his legend would grow even more. He's a NYC guy and went to high school 25 miles from St. John's. I really hope he's able to pull it off because it would be a really cool thing to see and I've always thought Pitino was the most interesting character in college basketball.

 

[runt#69]

I do have to say it, Coach Pitino is truly a great coach. The term GREAT gets over used as it is. But he is. Any way you slice it, results speak for themselves. His teams have been remarkable to see in action.

I hope Pope can have that same level of success in his time here. I think he will.

I firmly believe that if Pitino stayed, he'd have surpassed everyone and everything with Kentucky.

 

[WildcatUKx]

I do have to say it, Coach Pitino is truly a great coach. The term GREAT gets over used as it is. But he is. Any way you slice it, results speak for themselves. His teams have been remarkable to see in action.

I hope Pope can have that same level of success in his time here. I think he will.

I firmly believe that if Pitino stayed, he'd have surpassed everyone and everything with Kentucky.

Still have my doubts about Pope, him and Pitino are very different. Pitino has a killer mentality and that's what it takes to be successful here. I'm not sure if Pope has that mentality

 

[lakercat]

Rick is a controversial character but you can't deny the man can get the job done on the sideline. He has the Johnnies at 20-3, sitting in first place in the Big East and on pace to win 30 games for the first time since 1985 in only his second year there.

Love Ricky P as a coach. Pope might need to take notes from Billy D, and hire an assistant coach who can cover his weakness(es), which appear to be on the defensive side. When Billy D hired Larry Shyatt, I knew they would take off, and Florida won back-to-back titles almost immediately thereafter.

 

[Myth Buster51]

Pope should look at the tape of St. John’s defense and effort last might against Marquette. Incredible.

Takes a helluva lot more than just film review to get a college team to play defense the way Pitino’s teams do. Very, very few college coaches have the ability to extract that kind of consistent defensive intensity from their teams. Pitino does. Sadly Pope doesn’t.

 

[Tim0808]

Rick is a controversial character but you can't deny the man can get the job done on the sideline. He has the Johnnies at 20-3, sitting in first place in the Big East and on pace to win 30 games for the first time since 1985 in only his second year there.

Best Coach in the history of the game.

 

[Creed Bratton]

If he had more runway left in his career, I'd be 100% fine hiring him if we didn't land Pope.

Pitino is 1 for 1 in terms of coaches who can get the most out of 3-star rosters. No one can do it like he does. Even casual college ball fans or ones that don't have a strong opinion of Pitino, one way or the other, will tell you hes top3. And I believe it.

This now might be his FIFTH team that he's gotten to some form of legit success (or a title).. Kentucky, UofL, Greece, Iona, and now St. Johns. Every where he goes, he just wins (not including the NBA and restaurants after hours).

Whether he won is debatable but he definitely scored. I guess Karen wasn't very good at defense either.

 

[BlueSince92]

Hell Bring back Tubby as a defensive coach!

Absolutely. Rick would never stoop to that but Tubby very well might and it sure is looking like we could use him. Unlike the Jon Welch::Egopari thing, Mark Pope would absolutely have the intelligence to keep his damn hands off the defense if Tubby started getting results.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Pitino is two buzzer beaters from being 22-1.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Best Coach in the history of the game.

He's probably top 5 Xs and Os in the history of the college game. He'd have four or five titles if he never left UK in 1997. Breaks my heart. Would have had a fun 1999 team too with Mouton and Yarbrough on the wing.

He got Iona to the tourney; Louisville, UK, and Providence to the Final Four; and now has St. John's tapping on the door of winning the Big East.

 

[ukatecowboy]

I agree completely, but I will add that if Pope had a healthy roster and RP’s schedule, he’d be 20-3 too. I don’t mean to hijack the thread, but the Pope hate on here is mind-boggling to me.

Didn’t we

 

[CondorCat]

Is Pitino the only coach in history to take 3 different schools to the Final Four???
Cal would have done it too (UMass, Memphis, UK) but for the vacated seasons.

 

[BlueSince92]

Pitino is two buzzer beaters from being 22-1.

Pitino is also one buzzer beater and one snapped ACL from having three titles instead of just one title under his belt.

I mean two titles.

No, you definitely mean just one title. Haha. Snort
—NCAA

 

[bigbluedon]

Pitino is the best. Love Pope but still wish Rick was our coach.

 

[bnewt]

You absolutely got this right, Creed. No doubt about it ! In terms of getting the job done on the sidelines - and apparently, in the practice gym - I don't think there's a better college basketball coach in the country.

Just MHO, of course ! Go 'Cats ! ! !

have to agree
he is no doubt the best in the game now
he has done it too many times at too many places
his teams always play hard and give maximum effort
I also like that he is in control, not the players

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

Is Pitino the only coach in history to take 3 different schools to the Final Four???
Cal would have done it too (UMass, Memphis, UK) but for the vacated seasons.

Here’s his Twitter/X bio

x.com

x.com

“St. John's Basketball Coach. 2013 Basketball Hall of Fame. Two time National Champion & one of two coaches to take three different schools to the Final Four”

So, inadvertently, he is sharing a stat with Cal in his bio.

 

[Someguywhodoesntlikeyou]

Dean Smith was 2-11 in FF’s

Pitino 2-6

Cal 1-6.

Dean Smith is regarded above both.

 

[MrHotDice]

I agree completely, but I will add that if Pope had a healthy roster and RP’s schedule, he’d be 20-3 too. I don’t mean to hijack the thread, but the Pope hate on here is mind-boggling to me.

The Pope hate is stupid and everyone knows it. Its easy to blame but insofar as UK basketball is concerned, Pope is a winner, period.

 

[UKortho]

You absolutely got this right, Creed. No doubt about it ! In terms of getting the job done on the sidelines - and apparently, in the practice gym - I don't think there's a better college basketball coach in the country.

Just MHO, of course ! Go 'Cats ! ! !

I would love for Pitino to be what Pat Riley is for the Heat.

 

[rick64]

No one has ever doubted his coaching ability.

 

[Someguywhodoesntlikeyou]

No one has ever doubted his coaching ability.

He’s a man of low character and low morals.

But he’s a good basketball coach.

For some folks the latter is more important than the former.

 

[Ripcord65]

I agree completely, but I will add that if Pope had a healthy roster and RP’s schedule, he’d be 20-3 too. I don’t mean to hijack the thread, but the Pope hate on here is mind-boggling to me.

And, Wonky ... I agree completely with your observation - that the "Pope hate" that has appeared on RR recently is mind-boggling ! Oh well, for some folks it's always, "What have you done for me lately ?"
Nevertheless ... Go 'Cats ! ! !