Rick Pitino compares UConn fanbase to Kansas, Kentucky among college basketball's best

Rick Pitino and his St. John’s squad will be waiting to see their fate on Selection Sunday after getting ousted from the Big East Tournament by UConn on Friday. And it was practically a home environment for the Huskies in Madison Square Garden.

That’s despite MSG and St. John’s both being in New York City. But after the 95-90 loss to UConn, Pitino credited the Huskies fanbase.

“They’re the Kentucky of the East. They’ve got the greatest fanbase in basketball. Kentucky had the greatest fanbase in their part of the country. Kansas has the greatest fanbase in their part of the country,” Pitino said, according to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello.

And along with his praise for the Huskies and their fans, he made clear he thinks St. John’s will be on par with the Big East rival soon.

“We’ll get it back,” Pitino said.

Pitino knows Kentucky well, and recently discussed his past tenure there

Pitino recently reflected on his coaching career and played a little revisionist history with Kentucky. Pitino won a national title in 1996 and led the Wildcats to a runner-up finish the next year before leaving for the Boston Celtics.

That move changed the trajectory of his coaching career. When it didn’t work out in Boston, he returned to college with Louisville and had a long, successful tenure.

Joining Pardon My Take, Pitino said he would change some things if given that opportunity again.

“I was offered about seven or eight pro jobs before the Celtics, obviously I was the Knick coach, and that’s a dream for me being a New Yorker, but hindsight is 2020,” Pitino said. ‘If I had to do it all over again, I’d probably never leave Kentucky. You know, Dick Vitale, every time I speak to him, ‘if you would have stayed at Kentucky, you’d have more wins than any coach,’ and you think back on that. 

“But I learned a lot. To coach the Boston Celtics, even if you didn’t do a great job, it’s just too much. You know, you got Red Auerbach, you got Bill Russell,  Havlicek … and so many greats. It was worth the experience. But if I had to do it all over again, I had a choice, I probably would have stayed in Kentucky.”

Pitino was memorable in one way with Boston, his press conference referencing Larry Bird. The coach finished his time with the Celtics 192-220, with two playoff appearances, but was fired during the 2000-01 season.

“Larry Bird’s not walking through that door,” Pitino said at the time referring to the Celtics’ struggles. The press conference moment is still remembered today.

“I know. It’s great. The only probably good thing I’ve ever done in Boston,” Pitino said. “I didn’t know 25 years later you’d still be playing it.”