No Pitino

[bbnkat02]

Serious question. Be honest.
Do you want Cal around the program???

Eventually, yes. Cal was always good about promoting the program and speaking highly of BBN (at least until the last few years). But we all know how the last few seasons went. The talking down to fans, the comments about the SECT not mattering at all (even if it's true from the NCAA's eyes, it matters TO US, the Sharpe situation, etc. And that's going to need time to heal and scab over before I'm ready for him to come back and be an ambassador for the program.

 

[bbnkat02]

The Pitino hate is hysterical because it validate Louisville as a legit competitor, which they aren't.

"I can't forgive Pitino because he went to Louisville" is the equivalent of saying, "Louisville is a legit program."

They're not.

Maybe stop legitimizing them with your hatred of them.

I will "hate" UofL until the day I go to glory. They don't have to be legit to hate them. They just have to be.....them.

 

[Lempface]

I could be in the minority here but I just don’t want him around the program. He coached at Louisville of all places. Then he has made comments about their players and putting them above the UK 90’s players. Just my opinion he screwed up and I don’t want to play any team he is associated with.

1000000% absolutely eff this guy entirely.

 

[PhattyJ4UK_rivals309166]

The hilarity of people wanting pitino back while simultaneously pretending cal stole their woman and kicked their dog has been so funny to watch.

 

[wildcatdon]

I could be in the minority here but I just don’t want him around the program. He coached at Louisville of all places. Then he has made comments about their players and putting them above the UK 90’s players. Just my opinion he screwed up and I don’t want to play any team he is associated with.

Let the hatred go. Time heals all wounds. I will welcome him back here anytime. His time here was the best. He regrets leaving.

 

[wildcatdon]

I am in complete agreement with you. I know he was Pope's coach and he has a lot of respect for him, but Pitino is a garbage human being and really should be kept away from Kentucky.

Wrong.

 

[wildcatdon]

Pitino is an *******. He’s just an older ******* at the end of his career trying to hang on with a reputation and hair dye.
He will have the most over rated team in college basketball again next season but no one will notice until another 10th place SEC team puts him out of the tournament.

Seek help

 

[Game Se7en]

Seek help

Why would he need help? Everything he said was 100% factual.

 

[Wunky]

I really have to wonder about the folks who hate Rick Pitino so passionately. Regardless of your opinion of him as a person, regardless of your opinion of him as a basketball coach. Like… just as a fellow human being. How many years do you hold grudges/judge people/refuse to forgive people before you realize it’s only making YOU more bitter, hateful, jaded, and cynical? It’s doing absolutely nothing to the other person.

 

[Skyguyb27]

It’s amazing that half of the crowd is pissed some can’t seem to forgive Ricky when he coached here 30 years ago and the other half complain it’s been a year already why can’t we forgive Cal. BBN is definitely a fickle bunch.

 

[KFuqua]

Wrong.

It's really not wrong at all. I usually agree with you Don, but not on this. Pitino was a good when he was at Kentucky., but his real self showed while he was at Louisville.

 

[AllBall]

What did Pitino do while he was head coach of KY?

At the time of taking the job not many were knocking down the door to take over for a program on probation. He pulled us out of a dark time and rejuvenated UK basketball .

He admitted leaving was a mistake and refers to this place as Camelot. What coach offers to write an NIL check to another university? Pope and Pitino truly have a great bond and admiration between one another. If Pope's on board, then it's alright by me.

Personally, I wish Pitino nothing but the best. He had a profound impact on my youth when I attended his basketball camps.

 

[cathouse_rivals216755]

The hilarity of people wanting pitino back while simultaneously pretending cal stole their woman and kicked their dog has been so funny to watch.

The hilarity of people wanting Cal back, who completely destroyed our program, yet hating on the guy who built a championship program from the ashes of probation, AND left a National Championship roster for the next coach that followed him to UK is really funny to watch.

One guy still loves UK, BBN, and hopes CMP wins a national championship. One guy despises UK, the BBN, the AD and the dam horse he rode in on, and hopes CMP falls on his face.
Now, that is hilarious to watch.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Serious question. Be honest.
Do you want Cal around the program???

Now? No

Eventually? Yes

Like it or not, John Calipari is a rather large part of our history. He's the second winningest coach in UK history, has the second most Final Fours in school history, is in a four-way tie for second in titles at UK, and is third in winning percentage behind Rupp and Rick.

Time heals all wounds, and if Cal lives long enough to see it, his jersey will one day go in the Rafters of Rupp right beside Joe B., Rick and Tubby. But it won't be while he's coaching an SEC team.

Tubby left in 2007 under not so good circumstances. Fourteen years later, he was welcomed back to a standing ovation. Pitino left us in 97, took the Cards job in 2001 and flipped us off in Rupp in 2016. Eight years later, he got a standing ovation in Rupp. My guess Cal is welcomed back sometime in the early 2030s.

 

[jeffky]

I am in complete agreement with you. I know he was Pope's coach and he has a lot of respect for him, but Pitino is a garbage human being and really should be kept away from Kentucky.

" if you can't forgive those that wrong you how can the father in heaven forgive you " forgiveness is truly a virtue of good character .

 

[wildcatdon]

The hilarity of people wanting Cal back, who completely destroyed our program, yet hating on the guy who built a championship program from the ashes of probation, AND left a National Championship roster for the next coach that followed him to UK is really funny to watch.

One guy still loves UK, BBN, and hopes CMP wins a national championship. One guy despises UK, the BBN, the AD and the dam horse he rode in on, and hopes CMP falls on his face.
Now, that is hilarious to watch.

Bingo

 

[Stenchymouse]

I forgive Pitino at this point.

Pope has returned to playing the style we all love.

Pope loves Pitino, I love Pope = I'm over the grudge.

 

[65pacecar]

Serious question. Be honest.
Do you want Cal around the program???

No. I didn’t want him here to begin with, I was sick of Cal when he was still at Memphis. Glad he’s gone, hope he never has any association with UK again.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I would have had it not happened the way it did. Coaching Arkansas who cares but they I’m staying then bolting and taking the recruits so nope. I love that we have Pope now but still not happy with how it happened.

Pope took players too (JR and Chandler) and no on here seemed to take issue with it. Just to state the obvious nature of the business we are n with transfer portal and NIL.

A lot of things to not like Cal for but him taking z, Wagner, thiero and a couple of high school recruits isn't high on the list IMO.

On the thread, idc if pitino or cal are brought back for celebrations of their title teams. I think 20 years for cal n 2032 allows enough time to pass. Pitino should be back n 2026 for his 30th and so forth.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Idk I kind of see two sides arguing while both sides still hate someone they don’t know personally. I have no hate for Cal or Rick. I’m glad they were both coaches here and each brought us a title and many great memories.

I’m glad we have Pope now and I see no reason to be angry. Rick didn’t leave us for UL —- he left us for the NBA. Cal didn’t poop on the floor at Rupp —- he gave up millions to go to Arkansas and we didn’t have to pay a buyout.

Being angry with either one is unproductive and I find that it muddies up the past for no good reason. Example being everyone hates Cal so we can’t acknowledge how good the 2022 team was before late season injuries. Everyone hates Cal so we can’t acknowledge that he was very skilled at getting a new group of talent to gel and play together. For many, they can’t say good things about Cal but get angry at the people who can’t say good things about Rick. I say they were both coaches here and both are flawed. Everyone isn’t going to move on immediately but it’s still a dirty diaper even if you like sitting in it.

 

[cathouse_rivals216755]

Now? No

Eventually? Yes

Like it or not, John Calipari is a rather large part of our history. He's the second winningest coach in UK history, has the second most Final Fours in school history, is in a four-way tie for second in titles at UK, and is third in winning percentage behind Rupp and Rick.

Time heals all wounds, and if Cal lives long enough to see it, his jersey will one day go in the Rafters of Rupp right beside Joe B., Rick and Tubby. But it won't be while he's coaching an SEC team.

Tubby left in 2007 under not so good circumstances. Fourteen years later, he was welcomed back to a standing ovation. Pitino left us in 97, took the Cards job in 2001 and flipped us off in Rupp in 2016. Eight years later, he got a standing ovation in Rupp. My guess Cal is welcomed back sometime in the early 2030s.

That's my point. The posters on here who want nothing to do with Pitino and not have him around the program, yet want to suck up to Cal now, 20 years from now, whenever.......like, WTH??

Now replace John Calipari's name in your post with Rick Pitino and read it again. Rick Pitino is a HUGE part of UK basketball history. He accomplished something no other coach not named Rupp has ever done at this university, and I will forever be grateful for the man completely rebuilding our program from ashes and leaving a championship roster when he left for Boston.

Now let's talk about how Cal left the program and on what terms.....
That's right. There is NO COMPARISON to the two coaches tenure at UK and HOW they left our program....

 

[jessieshorts8]

Pitino and Cal are both ********.

 

[MegaBlue05]

That's my point. The posters on here who want nothing to do with Pitino and not have him around the program, yet want to suck up to Cal now, 20 years from now, whenever.......like, WTH??

Now replace John Calipari's name in your post with Rick Pitino and read it again. Rick Pitino is a HUGE part of UK basketball history. He accomplished something no other coach not named Rupp has ever done at this university, and I will forever be grateful for the man completely rebuilding our program from ashes and leaving a championship roster when he left for Boston.

Now let's talk about how Cal left the program and on what terms.....
That's right. There is NO COMPARISON to the two coaches tenure at UK and HOW they left our program....

My main point was that Cal had done enough in the annals of our history to be eventually welcomed back into the fold, but not while coaching a conference rival.

Rick is similar (Second in UK winning percentage, tied for third in Final Fours, tied for second in titles at UK). Rick was eventually welcomed back, but it wasn't overnight - just like it won't be with Cal. Rick spent 2001-2024 in BBN exile. I doubt Cal's exile period will be as long due to his age.

I was over Tubby leaving in 2007 ... in 2007. I harbored no ill will towards Rick until he became the UL coach, and I basically let it all go when he got canned. I was ready for Cal to leave, was happy he did, and won't root for Arkansas. But I don't have a burning hot hatred for him like you and many others seem to.

 

[cathouse_rivals216755]

My main point was that Cal had done enough in the annals of our history to be eventually welcomed back into the fold, but not while coaching a conference rival.

Rick is similar (Second in UK winning percentage, tied for third in Final Fours, tied for second in titles at UK). Rick was eventually welcomed back, but it wasn't overnight - just like it won't be with Cal. Rick spent 2001-2024 in BBN exile. I doubt Cal's exile period will be as long due to his age.

I was over Tubby leaving in 2007 ... in 2007. I harbored no ill will towards Rick until he became the UL coach, and I basically let it all go when he got canned. I was ready for Cal to leave, was happy he did, and won't root for Arkansas. But I don't have a burning hot hatred for him like you and many others seem to.

I do not hate John Calipari.
I only hate what he did to our program. That is a big difference.

I do not respect Cal for several reasons, but I certainly don't hate the man.

Nice try, though.

 

[LmdCat]

He messed up by leaving UK. He's admitted that. He messed up when he went to UL instead of Michigan or UNLV which both were open at the time. He has returned somewhat and I'm all for it. Frankly I wish he never left in 97.

Those who don't like him are mostly too young to know just how he kept this program from tanking after the NCAA gave us the death penalty.

 

[Tapemaster8]

Those who don't like him are mostly too young to know just how he kept this program from tanking after the NCAA gave us the death penalty.eathe

We didn’t get the death penalty!

 

[Cats_2010]

Not right now. Time needs to go by. People need to cool off. It might take 20 years for the wounds to heal. Pitino has paid his dues and stayed away. It's a timing thing.

I don’t think I will ever welcome back cal because he never respected what made UK basketball UK basketball. He changed UK basketball for his own version and when it was successful the first 5 seasons we fans turned a blind eye to things but when the losing kicked in and the fans started to turn on him he doubled down hard. I hated seeing pitino at UofL but I hated when Pitino left here, Cal didn’t leave Lexington soon enough. Never thought I’d hate a coach more than smith but cal took those honors easily.

 

[LmdCat]

We didn’t get the death penalty!

You can call it whatever you like. However, RP saved this university's butt in a way that I don't think another coach at the time could have and that is a fact whether you like it or not.

 

[Randy Bob]

He a great coach, good friend of coach Pope, No body is perfect.

 

[Ash Williams]

I don’t think I will ever welcome back cal because he never respected what made UK basketball UK basketball. He changed UK basketball for his own version and when it was successful the first 5 seasons we fans turned a blind eye to things but when the losing kicked in and the fans started to turn on him he doubled down hard. I hated seeing pitino at UofL but I hated when Pitino left here, Cal didn’t leave Lexington soon enough. Never thought I’d hate a coach more than smith but cal took those honors easily.

You might be right. I'll probably be dead before Cal gets welcomed back.

 

[Morgousky859]

If you’re not old enough to remember the 90’s, then you really don’t understand the Pitino situation. It’s that simple. It was the single greatest era of UK at least in the modern era. There’s no question. So if you didn’t live that then you don’t understand. For those of us who were growing up in that era it’s the single reason we’re so infatuated with UK. There never was, and never will be, anything like the 90’s Pitino era.

Louisville lessened his name power so the younger group also doesn’t understand that Pitino was seen as an absolute goat of the game at that time. He surpassed coach K during those years for sure. At least in some ways.

In 1997 Pitino, to college basketball was, the man Kentucky was the program, and everyone else was firmly behind us.

Cal had a helluva crazy stretch there for a few, and was close for some years but never hit that peak that Pitino hit. So if you’re not old enough to remember Pitino at UK and only know of his UL days you’re simply not going to get why we want him back and are loving this current era.

 

[GoBigBlue1224]

Farrrrrr Pitino!!

I don’t care if he’s around the program or not. Pope knows what’s good for the program and business more than I do.

 

[Tf2217]

Everyone has that one girlfriend where they're like damn I messed that one up. Pitinos was UK. He's sorry.

 

[stereonut]

Everyone has that one girlfriend where they're like damn I messed that one up. Pitinos was UK. He's sorry.

His girlfriend was the 15 second gal.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I don’t think I will ever welcome back cal because he never respected what made UK basketball UK basketball. He changed UK basketball for his own version and when it was successful the first 5 seasons we fans turned a blind eye to things but when the losing kicked in and the fans started to turn on him he doubled down hard. I hated seeing pitino at UofL but I hated when Pitino left here, Cal didn’t leave Lexington soon enough. Never thought I’d hate a coach more than smith but cal took those honors easily.

I'd argue it was successful his first 11 seasons.

Not giving 2017 and 2019 and even 2020 credit as good seasons seems a bit of a stretch to me. If Pope loses an elite 8 game n overtime or on a last second shot I bet this board would view it different. Just IMO.

 

[sk73]

Not right now. Time needs to go by. People need to cool off. It might take 20 years for the wounds to heal. Pitino has paid his dues and stayed away. It's a timing thing.

I have no problem with Cal now. I get that in his last 4 years we didn't do much in the tournament. He was a great coach for us for several years. His lack of a relationship with Jones and the Crafts didn't help him but, I understand why he didn't want to be around Matt Jones.

 

[JoeBeeHall]

What a great role model for a coach at a religious school.

 

[Bluesbrother]

No one will ever duplicate what Cal has done to the NBA. There will never be another time in history where so many high level pro players came from one college program.
That is my biggest issue with Cal, he should have won more with the talent that came through Lexington in his time here.

... and that is my biggest complaint with Cal. He was dishonest with regard to his intent, IMO. In the end, he overachieved in doing LESS with MORE. He was handed the keys to a super-charged Lambo at UK and proceeded to drive it into a ditch only to make excuses or blame everyone but himself. Ironically, BBN couldn't "hide" him anymore at UK. He is truly a CLOWN. He has NEVER left a job under good relations ... because it's WHO he is. The same scenario will unfold at Arkansas.

 

[Wildcats1st]

When they retire pitino and cal will have a radio show. They will go to all the games together as retired 80-90 years old.

 

[KFuqua]

" if you can't forgive those that wrong you how can the father in heaven forgive you " forgiveness is truly a virtue of good character .

I'm well aware of the Bible and know that quote well, but I also know there's a difference in what I'm talking about and that verse. I can not want Pitno around the Kentucky program and still not hate the man...big difference.