Rick pitino

[IL Wildcat]

I dont think his methods kept great recruits away, he was a great recruiter at one point, he had many amazing players come through UK. I just dont think he evolved with what high school kids want. There was just better options. Who wants to go to UL when NBA scouts are at every game in Lexington and every UK, UNC, Duke, KU game is televised? They all want the NBA, Pitino didnt push the NBA, and one recruit even mentioned that he'd likely sit the bench at UL his first year. UL doesn't even have enough fan interest to get a Midnight Madness thing. Talking a John Wall to UL over Duke and UK isn't easy.

If all players were exactly equal, and it was just up to coaching, Pitino would be the best. And dont count him out yet, it wasn't even a year ago that a legit program tried to hire him. Wasn't it UGA, cant remember. But that was a wise move by the AD.....he's the only coach that can make anyone a title contender quickly. Edit- besides Cal

His style in the early-mid 90s was a novelty. The full court press and the focus on the 3pt shot was the going thing for college ball during that time period. Others copied it and took the same approach. But as with any style or approach, coaches figured it out. Rick bolted for the NBA and tried the same approach there and it failed miserably. He came back to college and adapted a bit, went with a scorched earth approach, throw bodies at people, win a game of attrition. It worked to some degree. And, as I said above, he always got the best out of his guys because he pushed them so hard and monitored their body fat % and made them play tenacious defense even when they couldn't compete athletically and skill-wise.

But those are the methods I say most high school kids aren't interested in, at least not the top recruits. The top recruits want to play with other top recruits. They want to have a chance to win right away and play right away. They want to get to the NBA and they want to have some fun along the way. Pitino's approach will make them better players, no doubt, but he can't recruit the top guys anymore for multiple reasons. Now that he's ruined his name and his reputation, he's lost the primary reason ANY good player would play for him. That's why he became desperate enough to cheat and compromise whatever to win.

Karen Sypher and his 15 seconds on a restaurant table was the beginning of his end. He's done. I wouldn't hire him for all the tea in China at this point, even if I thought he could put a winning product on the floor. I wouldn't sell my soul to the devil, which is what he has become. Top schools wouldn't take that chance and could do better anyway.

Edit: and this Bowen issue may be the nail in his coffin. Even if he manages to continue coaching, who will want to touch him at this point? No high major will want him.

 

[wildcatwelder]

I agree with everything except the last sentence. I think it'd be nice to see him get an ovation at Rupp. He brought UK out of the darkness, those were some really really fun times. How can anyone be upset he went to UL? He nearly destroyed that program, embarrassed them for years, lost to us regularly and even got eliminated by us TWICE. I dont get it. Its not like he stole Anthony Davis or John Wall.
The man even said he shouldve never left UK.....WHILE HE WAS STILL AT UL.
Could you imagine if any UK coach said something like that? They'd burn his house down.

It literally went as perfect as we couldve planned it.

Oh I agree, I was speaking in terms of when he first went to UL; there were a lot of PO'd Kentucky fans that day.

The fact that he did in fact destroy their program gives me immense happyness, and the irony of it all makes it even sweeter.

 

[Louis_Skunt]

His style in the early-mid 90s was a novelty. The full court press and the focus on the 3pt shot was the going thing for college ball during that time period. Others copied it and took the same approach. But as with any style or approach, coaches figured it out. Rick bolted for the NBA and tried the same approach there and it failed miserably. He came back to college and adapted a bit, went with a scorched earth approach, throw bodies at people, win a game of attrition. It worked to some degree. And, as I said above, he always got the best out of his guys because he pushed them so hard and monitored their body fat % and made them play tenacious defense even when they couldn't compete athletically and skill-wise.

But those are the methods I say most high school kids aren't interested in, at least not the top recruits. The top recruits want to play with other top recruits. They want to have a chance to win right away and play right away. They want to get to the NBA and they want to have some fun along the way. Pitino's approach will make them better players, no doubt, but he can't recruit the top guys anymore for multiple reasons. Now that he's ruined his name and his reputation, he's lost the primary reason ANY good player would play for him. That's why he became desperate enough to cheat and compromise whatever to win.

Karen Sypher and his 15 seconds on a restaurant table was the beginning of his end. He's done. I wouldn't hire him for all the tea in China at this point, even if I thought he could put a winning product on the floor. I wouldn't sell my soul to the devil, which is what he has become. Top schools wouldn't take that chance and could do better anyway.

Edit: and this Bowen issue may be the nail in his coffin. Even if he manages to continue coaching, who will want to touch him at this point? No high major will want him.

But he was just linked to big programs showing interest. He could get a big time school if he accepted...and i wish he would. College is more fun with him in the mix.

I dont think he's a great man of integrity, but when it comes to coaching, he's top 2 still in the game.
The fact that he took a team full of 1 star talent (The Unforgettables) and beat Duke with Laetnner, Grant Hill, and Hurley, which is possibly the best college team in history...that speaks volumes. And i say BEAT, because if the game was called fairly (the stomp) Cats win.

Correct, the NBA was a flop for him. He couldn't run a full court press every night. But hey, good for him thinking outside the box and trying it.

He came back to college and did well. 3 final fours at UL, a program that was garbage at the time is awfully impressive.

I think many AD's were willing to take a chance. And i guarantee theyre will be a couple more after this year. Whats that old quote, something about if you win everything else is forgotten.