First of all, Pitino was no 3rd choice. Not at all. It’s just that our AD at the time didn’t know he was even available and didn’t inquire. He never thought Pitino would have any interests and even almost talked him out of taking it. He was 100% not a 3rd choice. He likely would have been a 1st choice had Newton actually thought he was interested lol. Some of these stories are just nonsense. Newton has explained this many times and Pratt used to love talking about it. Pitino wanting this job was an absolute shocker to all involved. The first thing our AD said to Pitino when he realized he wanted the job, “why”? We were coming off probation and Pitino was one of the hottest younger names in basketball. And HE WANTED IT. LOL!!
Also, PJ wasn’t some scrub and Kentucky might have made him one of the best. He went on to the NBA in 93 and never left. That’s the real reason he turned UK down, he wanted to go to the pros. That was something he actually said years ago, he had a hard time leaving SH but wanted to coach in the NBA.
Olsen wanted this job. It’s probably the only Job he would have even considered. Some of you need to get this at some point. Being turned down doesn’t matter, how interested were they is what matters. Kentucky is so attractive it can get guys who would never leave where they are to take a hard look. Drew opting not to take it because of his wife didn’t mean sht when it comes to UK. The fact that he wanted the job after winning a title, and when he’s never even look at anyone else, is what matters.
“Calipari had a lesser program”. So what? He was out recruiting UK, making final fours over UK, and was winning well beyond UK, and beating UK. And guess what? THIS board said he wouldn’t leave Memphis for Kentucky. This board has been constantly wrong about the power of this job and it’s doing the same sht again. And there are some really bad historians here too.
Kentucky is not a job every man can take. You’re in a fishbowl, you’re famous, and you have to win to elite levels. The best typically want that, it’s why Calipari wanted it. The difference is some aren’t that type of competitor, or they have some kind of ties where they just can’t do it. But they want it. This is the most coveted job in the sport. That’s not going to change at all, and just because some can’t take it or their wife doesn’t want to move their kids doesn’t mean what some of you think it means.
Oh, Donovan was an eyelash from taking this job also, he nearly took it over taking the NBA positions. But he wanted to coach pros at the end of the day. Donovan doesn’t go pro, he leaves his 2 time championship pedigree at Florida to come to UK.
All of this other stuff is nonsense.
