Rick Pitino keep it classy

[Ripcord65]

It is my firm belief that if Pitino had not left U.K., and had not become a public adulterer, and had not gotten involved with any NCAA problems, then U.K. would have by now at least tied UCLA for most NCAA Basketball Championships (11), and more likely would now have 12 or more NCAA championships. Only an unconscious Miles Simon in the 1997 final game kept the 'Cats from winning three in a row -- 1996 - 1998. Pitino-coached U.K. teams could and almost always did close out wins !

We had 7 championships at the end of 1998. I can easily see 5 more championships in the seventeen (17) seasons from 1999 through 2015. I could easily see more than 5 more championships in those 17 seasons. And with the material we have had since 2010, I certainly think there would have been more than one NCAA championship. Of course, there is no guarantee that Pitino could have recruited at U.K. like Calipari has recruited at U.K.

With the foregoing said . . . I cannot end this comment without stating my further opinion that since leaving U.K. Rick Pitino has proven himself to be a despicable human being whose banner should be taken down from the rafters of Rupp Arena.

 

[MychalG]

If we take down his banner, do we take down the 1996 NC banner as well?

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

Take down the jersey.

 

[U Go UK]

Well done. GBB

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Cal is definitely the better coach at this point in their careers, although the Cal haters will say just having 1 title hurts him on the all time coaching ranks and even vs. Pitino if you look at them head to head for their careers. 1 Title and 6 FF's for Cal and 2 Titles and 7 FF's for Pitino...pretty close. Cal has 100% cemented himself as the #2 best UK coach of all time ahead of Pitino IMO, as he has more Final Fours and will add some more before he is done and probably at least one more title.

 

[.S&C.]

People thinking it would have been a rinse and repeat scenario for Pitino are missing some influential factors . In reality had he stayed the NBA rumors would have continued his entire career and impacted recruiting . It was already impacting recruiting before he left , he had several of the players that went to Duke that year on campus and whiffed on all of them . I think it may have been Burgess , Brand , Avery and Battier on the same visit . There was no bumper crop of recruits coming after our title year and the reason given by either Brand or Avery was the Pitino to the NBA rumors .

The press was also losing it's effectiveness , maybe we foul teams to death like UL . He may have won another title but 4 or 5 would my have happened . You can throw out McGrady and Dirk but that's no guarantee of anything . Just for the record Cal at UL would have been scary , he throttled UK in Maui as the Memphis coach . MEMPHIS

But in this scenario Pitino says no to Boston, and I don't believe anyone would have ever matched his offer. I believe the opposite. I think Him saying no to full team control and an unreal amount of money(not to mention his favorite home team) would solidify his place at UK forever. Coach K said no to the lakers for less and it solidified his career at Duke. His recruiting did anything but dry up.

Pitino says no full control and HC of the Boston Celtics and the recruits pour in. We win 3 more championships before 2005.

 

[UKWildcatT]

Their president, AD, basketball and football coaches are complete sleaze...and they could care less

 

[ekywildcat]

Great thread, I've thought a lot about this over the years. RP had things rolling pretty good when he left, the only reason he started missing on some players was because of the NBA rumors every year.

UK was awesome to watch during that era. If we played a team that we should beat by 20...by George we put the hammer down and pounded them more often than not.

I was really upset when he went to Boston, but I understood why. When he came back and went to UL, and I believe the UCLA and Michigan jobs were open also, I couldn't believe it. I made the decision I would cheer for UL also, but I couldn't. So, now I hate his guts.

Sorry, kinda got off track, but if RP had committed to staying at UK his record would no doubt be comparable to Coach K and won multiple NC's, how many? No body knows.

 

[Roe07]

The funny thing about it is that Rick's only win over Cal since he's been in Lexington was a 3 point squeaker over our worst team in 30 years, which also happened to be their best team in 30 years.

 

[kat57]

A coach and a team should expect to be heckled when they go on the road. Ask Saul and Tubby about the hecklers. Not the first time pitino has been heckled and it won't be the last. I predict after this it will be worse for him. How can Louisville fans continue to take up for him. He is embarrassing their university. To most schools his actions would be a huge NO NO.

 

[Deli owl]

I have one word for you. They are so incapable of seeing the truth.

 

[kat57]

Hey Louisville how is winning at all costs working out? By pitino's record against Calipari, it looks like it isn't working out for them.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

The funny thing about it is that Rick's only win over Cal since he's been in Lexington was a 3 point squeaker over our worst team in 30 years, which also happened to be their best team in 30 years.

2012-2013 was not our worst team in 30 years. It is probably in the top 5 though.

 

[ymmot31]

Were they heckling him at Providence when he went there and got his ass handed to him? He was supposed to come out at halftime because they were celebrating him. Piece of shit stood them up because he was losing. If he would have been up by 30 instead of losing by that much, bet your life he would have been out there.

Same is true of our game Saturday. Rick would fought several large men to get to the podium and brag about how he was able to overcome what he thinks is Cal's best team ever if he had gotten lucky enough to win.

It is a total shame that someone with such low moral standards and lack of self discipline is allowed to be a mentor and coach to young, impressionable minds.

 

[Xception]

But in this scenario Pitino says no to Boston, and I don't believe anyone would have ever matched his offer. I believe the opposite. I think Him saying no to full team control and an unreal amount of money(not to mention his favorite home team) would solidify his place at UK forever. Coach K said no to the lakers for less and it solidified his career at Duke. His recruiting did anything but dry up.

Pitino says no full control and HC of the Boston Celtics and the recruits pour in. We win 3 more championships before 2005.

There weren't a fraction of the K rumors to the NBA as there was for Pitino . I think coaches floated that stuff to undermine Rick and it worked . Saying no to the Celtics doesn't stop those rumors every year , the Celtics were in terrible shape and a better situation could always be seen as more of a lure . I'm not trying to convince you that you're wrong or that I'm right , that's impossible to do in a hypothetical situation but I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum .

People believe what they've seen and quantify based on that information . For example what if Rupp left after the 1958 season , do you think people would speculate that he would win zero titles his last fourteen years ? No , they would be throwing up wild numbers like six more titles because he just won four of the last ten . So goes the same with Pitino , he left at a zenith and people erroneously extrapolate his future based on that info while simultaneously dismissing a fact such as going pro hurting recruiting .

 

[FickusDuckus]

Kinda like Izzo? Pitino? Williams? Who is this coach besides maybe Coach K (12 final fours, 5 titles) who isn't "brain dead" most of the time?

Well I have no use for Pitino, never have. Didnt like him when he was here. Back then I was a bit closer to the program so I was privy to some stuff that others werent. Lets just say he is no different now than then. Its just known now. Then to flip over to Cal. Not a fan of his either. I have my reasons. I am happy with the success he has brought but lets be honest. Have any of those coaches on your list had 26 pros in 7 seasons with only one title? Cal has had more talent in 7 years than Izzo has in 20 plus. Coach K is probably the closest but we all know a kid rockets up the rankings for picking Duke so a lot of his talent wasnt legitimate it was over ranked. We em to get a lot of the cream of the crop. Guys who would be top 5 out of high school had the rules not changed. Not many schools can claim that, we might be the only ones.

I guess what Im getting at here is the old to whom much is given much is expected line of thinking. Also he is labeled as this great molder of talent but the last time I checked very few kids went higher than projected out of high school that played for him. A lot more fell lower than projected out of high school and I can count on one hand the number of guys he developed into pros that were nobodies coming in. Folks get so caught up in hate or love of a person in this fan base they overlook the details. Fact is Pitino is the same dog he has been for 30 years, Cal is an average coach with the clipboard but a great recruiter and probably the best promoter at the college level. It is what it is. When he came in if you had told me he would have 26 pros in 7 seasons with only one ring Id have laughed at you...but here we are.

 

[irishcat1965]

I don't believe he would have won the tourney in 1998. He should have won it 1993 and 1997. As far as any other titles if he had stayed? Maybe. Maybe not. The bottom line is he had the NBA itch. I think the bigger question is if he had won the lottery and drafted Tim Duncan for the Celtics, would he have ever left the NBA? I say no.

 

[Xception]

I think the bigger question is if he had won the lottery and drafted Tim Duncan for the Celtics, would he have ever left the NBA? I say no.

What an incredible impact not getting one player in a draft can have on the trajectory of so many lives . No Sypher , no hookers and probation , reduced to flipping of the fans . A simple ping pong ball , that's life .

 

[irishcat1965]

Well I have no use for Pitino, never have. Didnt like him when he was here. Back then I was a bit closer to the program so I was privy to some stuff that others werent. Lets just say he is no different now than then. Its just known now. Then to flip over to Cal. Not a fan of his either. I have my reasons. I am happy with the success he has brought but lets be honest. Have any of those coaches on your list had 26 pros in 7 seasons with only one title? Cal has had more talent in 7 years than Izzo has in 20 plus. Coach K is probably the closest but we all know a kid rockets up the rankings for picking Duke so a lot of his talent wasnt legitimate it was over ranked. We em to get a lot of the cream of the crop. Guys who would be top 5 out of high school had the rules not changed. Not many schools can claim that, we might be the only ones.

I guess what Im getting at here is the old to whom much is given much is expected line of thinking. Also he is labeled as this great molder of talent but the last time I checked very few kids went higher than projected out of high school that played for him. A lot more fell lower than projected out of high school and I can count on one hand the number of guys he developed into pros that were nobodies coming in. Folks get so caught up in hate or love of a person in this fan base they overlook the details. Fact is Pitino is the same dog he has been for 30 years, Cal is an average coach with the clipboard but a great recruiter and probably the best promoter at the college level. It is what it is. When he came in if you had told me he would have 26 pros in 7 seasons with only one ring Id have laughed at you...but here we are.

Average coach? Please. His results destroy your argument. Name another coach in college basketball that has beaten more higher seeds in the NCAA tournament? And how exactly do you include his seventh year when it isn't even finished yet?

 

[irishcat1965]

What an incredible impact not getting one player in a draft can have on the trajectory of so many lives . No Sypher , no hookers and probation , reduced to flipping of the fans . A simple ping pong ball , that's life .

I agree. The Celtics could have been the Spurs during this period. No way he would have left a Duncan led team. No way.

 

[kat57]

That's definitely pulling the bird faster than his previous 15 seconds..

If he was really saying we're #1 why put your hand down that fast? Why would he say he is #1 to a team that had just beat him and this higher in the rankings then his team? smh at people who believed this. Some people aren't very smart.

 

[michaeluk26]

It is my firm belief that if Pitino had not left U.K., and had not become a public adulterer, and had not gotten involved with any NCAA problems, then U.K. would have by now at least tied UCLA for most NCAA Basketball Championships (11), and more likely would now have 12 or more NCAA championships. Only an unconscious Miles Simon in the 1997 final game kept the 'Cats from winning three in a row -- 1996 - 1998. Pitino-coached U.K. teams could and almost always did close out wins !

We had 7 championships at the end of 1998. I can easily see 5 more championships in the seventeen (17) seasons from 1999 through 2015. I could easily see more than 5 more championships in those 17 seasons. And with the material we have had since 2010, I certainly think there would have been more than one NCAA championship. Of course, there is no guarantee that Pitino could have recruited at U.K. like Calipari has recruited at U.K.

With the foregoing said . . . I cannot end this comment without stating my further opinion that since leaving U.K. Rick Pitino has proven himself to be a despicable human being whose banner should be taken down from the rafters of Rupp Arena.

Pitino coached UK teams were notoriously terrible in close games, like his 1-7 record in overtime games. Not to mention his winning % of games decided by 3 points or less is by far the lowest among active elite coaches.

Look I know its hypothetical but I think its pure insanity to think we would have 12 championships had he stayed. That's winning 6 more titles here, giving him 7 titles. No freaking way. Pitinos recruiting was already falling off. There is no way he could sustain that success, especially as his press was already becoming less effective.

Honestly at most I think he has 3 total championships coming close to a 4 the but by now he would have slowed down considerably. 3titles at max. I'm not a hater, just know its easy to have these dramatically rosy assessments based on conjecture because of his last few years.

 

[KendallCat]

I guess what Im getting at here is the old to whom much is given much is expected line of thinking. Also he is labeled as this great molder of talent but the last time I checked very few kids went higher than projected out of high school that played for him. A lot more fell lower than projected out of high school and I can count on one hand the number of guys he developed into pros that were nobodies coming in. Folks get so caught up in hate or love of a person in this fan base they overlook the details. Fact is Pitino is the same dog he has been for 30 years, Cal is an average coach with the clipboard but a great recruiter and probably the best promoter at the college level. It is what it is. When he came in if you had told me he would have 26 pros in 7 seasons with only one ring Id have laughed at you...but here we are.[/QUOTE]

Not sure what to say about this except I disagree strongly with your assessment of Cal as a coach. He is an excellent recruiter, has an eye for talent in regards to taking not just the top recruits but the right top recruits, and his kids typically don't go backwards talent wise.

How many top recruits go to a school and disappear and do not make it up the draft boards, go in tne first round/lottery, or become NBA All Stars? Cal has succeeded on all levels with all of the above.

If Cal is an average coach how do you explain him succeeding at UMass, Memphis, and UK with FF's and title games at all stops. If you were starting a college program and had your choice of one coach to develop it the list would start and end with Cal. Kids and parents go to where he coaches because they trust him and their kids improve and become first rounders at a very high rate. Look at Kansas who has had a similar level of recruiting success as UK with Cal and name their NBA hits? Case closed.

 

[ville 77]

Taking the school out of the equation, if you had a son that could play college basketball for either Coach Pitino or Coach Calipari, which one would you "honestly" prefer him to play BB for? And why?

The answer to your questions depends upon what your goals and expectations are.

If you are elite top 15 player who believes he is 1 or 2 years and done, playing on a top 10 team team and good enough to be in the top 7 rotation at UK then Cal's track record says he is your man. His system is not perfect and he does have guys leave that become flops in the NBA but they usually get their shot and most get drafted.

On the other hand if you have a son that is say 20-100 talent and want him to get a degree, and yet still play on a top 20 team and become the best player possible in 3-4s year and get playing time on a regular basis then Rick would be my guy. UL right now has had a 100% perfect APR score for years and graduates most every 4 year player. Rick unlike Cal plays guys down to 10 or 11 on the bench on a regular basis and in blow out they play a lot ( 5-10 minutes) while Cal gives his top 7 guys most all the playing time to develop them. You have some guys who are pretty good and never play in some games. Hawkins and Willis would be my examples. Some games they just don't play more than a couple of minutes. Had Briscoe been healthy Hawkins probably sits most of Saturdays game.
That is just his system.

 

[IL Wildcat]

I note that none of the UL fans here have even attempted to defend Pitino, the man. The reasons are obvious since he's indefensible. Anyone fool enough to think the morality and integrity of a man doesn't matter to recruits or their parents deserves the results they get. The kind of recruits who don't care about these things are the kind who would, well, sleep with a hooker and get drunk on a recruiting visit. It's no wonder Louisville attracts these kinds of guys.

 

[Supafuzz75]

If he was really saying we're #1 why put your hand down that fast? Why would he say he is #1 to a team that had just beat him and this higher in the rankings then his team? smh at people who believed this. Some people aren't very smart.

He flipped the bird just as sure as I died from diverticulitis a couple of months ago.. And my ribs still hurt from CPR..

 

[55wildcat]

Pitino's meltdown still not as good as Mike Davis in 2002...

 

[ville 77]

He's a great, HOF coach....but ours is better. If he wasn't Rick would actually beat us atleast sometimes. Let's summarize:

If we play at home we win, away we win, neutral court we win, if their favored we win, in years their backcourt is better we win, when their post is better we win, if we have injuries we win, if we get down we win, if they have more experience we win, if we are in foul trouble we win, if they have better shooters we win, if our freshman play terrible we win, if they're a deeper team we win...it literally does not matter the situation, we win the game.

Oddly enough cards fans always claim Cal only wins with talent but Pitino coaches..interesting what did Briscoe, Skal, and Murray do. Nothing. He beat you with upperclassmen, 2nd rd picks, and a kid from Richmond, KY.

Let's not forget he's a 6 million dollar a yr, paid crybaby, who complains about refs at halftime, refuses to do postgames, and makes ungracious comments on radio afterwards. I know a coach who doesn't do that, will admit defeat, lives in the moment, has lively halftime interviews after getting T'd up and gets yelled at in every arena in the country but doesn't flip people off.

Face Turd fans your coach is a joke..he has turned completely into what you are...little brother

Cal beats Rick because he has better players most years. Pretty simple! Cal the recruiter is much better than Rick the recruiter. Because Rick is playing with less talented players and they never are playing in top form in December. Pretty sure the one year RIck has better players UL won and even won the title while UK went to the NIT and lost first round.

You do realize when RIck and Cal had similar talent at UL and Memphis in the same league RIck beat Cal most years. In the end in Cals era at UK he as 4 final 4's and 1 title. In the same period Rick has 3 final 4's and one title. I can live with that.

 

[kat57]

We know, you have a coach that had sex with a woman on a restaurant table (while said coach was married to his best friend's sister), you guys are living with that also the hooker scandal and you are living with that. There is a book about that. Live with it. Your coach is a cheater both on the court and off.

 

[UKrazycat2]

Small numbers. Huge meaning.

 

[kat57]

And also that was not one of Cal's best teams but Louisville only managed to win by 3 on their homecourt.

 

[ukfan79]

2012-2013 was not our worst team in 30 years. It is probably in the top 5 though.

Yeah not even close to being the worst. 87-88? Both BCG teams? Hell even Rick's first team although fun to watch was not as good as the 12-13 team.

 

[ukfan79]

Pitino's meltdown still not as good as Mike Davis in 2002...

View embedded media

Still one of my all time favorite games attended in person. The butt hurt from the IU fans walking out of Freedom Hall that day was glorious.

 

[CatOfDaVille]

Cal beats Rick because he has better players most years. Pretty simple! Cal the recruiter is much better than Rick the recruiter. Because Rick is playing with less talented players and they never are playing in top form in December. Pretty sure the one year RIck has better players UL won and even won the title while UK went to the NIT and lost first round.

You do realize when RIck and Cal had similar talent at UL and Memphis in the same league RIck beat Cal most years. In the end in Cals era at UK he as 4 final 4's and 1 title. In the same period Rick has 3 final 4's and one title. I can live with that.

This is all kinds of wrong, dude. First of all, Rick has 2 FF and 1 title since Cal has been here.

Secondly, while I agree that Cal has had better players, they are YOUNG players typically which would not be at their best in December unlike Rick's experienced players who should be at that time.

Third, this game was won by a kid from Richmond who won't play in the NBA, a senior second round draft pick, and a sophomore 5'9" PG. Not knocking our kids, but don't act like this game was won by our most talented players. Our freshmen studs were non-factors.

 

[uky8unc5]

Cal beats Rick because he has better players most years. Pretty simple!

Yes, we agree that Cal is Rick's Daddy (UK vs UL).
But what matters most: Cal has impeccable character. Rick is a despicable character.

 

[UKBrassowTipIN]

Cal beats Rick because he has better players most years. Pretty simple! Cal the recruiter is much better than Rick the recruiter. Because Rick is playing with less talented players and they never are playing in top form in December. Pretty sure the one year RIck has better players UL won and even won the title while UK went to the NIT and lost first round.

You do realize when RIck and Cal had similar talent at UL and Memphis in the same league RIck beat Cal most years. In the end in Cals era at UK he as 4 final 4's and 1 title. In the same period Rick has 3 final 4's and one title. I can live with that.

False..this is the nonsense rick feeds you. Yes, we usually get better players, but u card fans are leaving the obvious out....Rick can't develop talent..if last yr didn't teach you that, nothing ever will. I'll explain:

Montrezl is preseason all american poy candidate..finishes not there and is a second rd draft pick....meanwhile Cauley Stein chases butterflies for 2 yrs, then becomes the first player in history to be named all american not avg double figures and is the 6th pick.

Shaquan Aaron..higher rated recruit than Booker. One can't get off the bench, the other is a lottery pick. If Booker went to uofl he'd still be there.

You've had Character, Samardo Samuels (the overall #1 recruit), Peyton siva who was good but never improved, Blackshear who never improved, and on and on. He can't develop talent. The funny thing now, Rick claims he hates OAD, even though a simple rivals recruiting search shows louisville by their offer list, because he claims you dont have that relationship...yet he's now bringing in 5th yr guys for 1 yr......bc they don't need to be developed. It's no coincidence Rick is the only coach in history to have the overall #1 recruit twice..Samuels and Delray Brooks, and get neither drafted.

And my OP gave you every scenario...it doesn't matter we win. Other coaches have beat Cal with less talent, so how are you making excuses for Rick? Seems contradictory. Why is it so difficult for you to admit he is in fact better. Rick's best run of his career was his 7 yrs at UK...when he had alot of talent...and Cal has accomplished more than he ever did here in a shorter time. It hurts, but Cal can coach. The defensive play to have ulis start on Lee the last play of the game Saturday because he knew a down screen was going to happen and have everyone switch on screens so Poythress would end up on him isn't a coincidence....sorry

 

[FickusDuckus]

Its just an opinion, thats all. 26 pros in 6 years, I was counting this year but shouldnt have. Im also not saying he makes kids go backwards but I think if you look at projected out of high school and actual draft spot more kids went lower or right around where they were projected out of HS than went higher. Quite a few held their ground (Townes and Davis come to mind). Folks get caught up in this love affair with successful coaches here and they miss the blemishes, its natural. The fact is right now cal is looked at in the same light as Dean Smith if you look outside BBN and you guys know what we thought about Dean. He SHOULD have the results he had if not MUCH better given the talent he had playing for him. We cant hold him to the same standard as a Denny Crum or a Joe B Hall. Cal has the best talent, the best fan base and the best or close to the best venue/town/state/college behind him. No other school has all those advantages. If he doesnt win another ring he is gonna be looked at as another Smith in hindsight. Again, it is what it is. its not our fault. But were he coaching anywhere but here and only had one ring with the draft picks he has had our board would light him up daily for his lack of hardware.

 

[irishcat1965]

Cal beats Rick because he has better players most years. Pretty simple! Cal the recruiter is much better than Rick the recruiter. Because Rick is playing with less talented players and they never are playing in top form in December. Pretty sure the one year RIck has better players UL won and even won the title while UK went to the NIT and lost first round.

You do realize when RIck and Cal had similar talent at UL and Memphis in the same league RIck beat Cal most years. In the end in Cals era at UK he as 4 final 4's and 1 title. In the same period Rick has 3 final 4's and one title. I can live with that.

You do realize Pimptino has been at your ghetto commuter school since 2001? Compare stats when Cal has been at UK an equal number of years. Pimptino has 3 final fours at UL in 14 years. Do you also realize your scum of the earth, adulterous, abortionist, whore hiring coach stated he has 7 NBA players on this year's team? And still lost? You tard fans are a national joke.

 

[ok-cats-computer]

I can't think of anything that could realistically happen that would be worse than Fifteeno's humiliations during the last few years. Despite the frequent scandals surrounding the Louisville basketball program, the Card fans continue to think that Ricky Three Stacks is a great person. They are actually shameless enough to attempt calling out the ethics of other programs while standing with Pitino and Petrino. I've never seen anything quite like it. Seriously, is there anything that Pitino could do that would make Card fans turn on him?

 

[ukfan79]

Losing 9 out of 10 to UK and Calipari?