[Van Hagar]

What’s everyone’s thoughts on this? No matter how I feel about Pitino personally, I have always considered him one of, if not the very best, college coach of this era.

[Jarons]

I think it was good thing for him to come back for Midnight Madness. I believe if Pitino could go back to 1997, he would not leave UK. I believe he regretted going to Boston, which is why Pitino went to U of L. IMO, he went U of L not to rub it in the face of UK , but because he fell in love with the Kentucky lifestyle and the people and wanted to come back. I don't think he imagined that he would get the reception that he got at Louisville because of his success at Kentucky.
I never held any ill will towards Pitino at Louisville, he went where he thought it was best for him. He is one of best ever to coach the game, he changed the with his style of play.

[King Kong]

I always had the upmost respect for Pitino.  Even after he left UK.  He's said many times it was a mistake leaving.  Glad he was in attendance.

[Old School Hound]

My mother adored Rick Pitino. Her all-time favorite coach.

[jetpilot]

What’s everyone’s thoughts on this? No matter how I feel about Pitino personally, I have always considered him one of, if not the very best, college coach of this era.

Same here. He seems like he is sincere in wanting to atone for his transgressions. I love him and it's awesome to have him on board. Video of him being cheered in Rupp was the best sports thing I've seen in ages.

[Granny Bear]

I was glad he came to Big Blue Madness, and the love between him and Pope was evident.
I may be wrong, but Pope just feels right in this position. His charisma and positivity is badly needed in that program!! And I loved the respect and kindness shown in his treatment of the older players.

That was the BEST Madness I've ever seen. And that LED floor is sick!!!

[Bluecat]

You could feel the excitement back in Rupp with this one. Even with the women's team. It may take a few games to get things headed right but I feel Pope will get it in the right direction. I also feel the women's team could be making a name for themselves as well in Brooks' first season. Should be a fun time for basketball in KY this year!

[Cactus Jack]

I was a child when Pitino left Kentucky, but even then I understood that you leave a college job (even UK) for the Boston Celtics. Hindsight is 20/20, but the decision he made in that moment is a no-brainer.

I was glad to see him get his roses. I don't blame him for taking the Louisville job either-- it's not like he said no to Kentucky to go to Louisville and if anything, it added to the rivalry. That's how I've looked at it since the day he took the Louisville job.

I think there's a place for all of the coaches who've won a national championship to come back to Lexington, and I think that this would extend to Calipari once he's retired from coaching or at least isn't at a school that we're really competing with.

[-STAT-]

The last time I watched Big Blue Madness, I was actually there and that was back in 2008.

For obvious (and some personal) reasons, I hadn't watched in 15 years, until Friday night. I had covid so I had nothing else to do.

First off, it was awesome seeing the 3pt contest come down to the 2 KY boys, Perry & Noah, seeing these 2 in the bright lights of Rupp just a few nights ago, and 7 months ago at the Sweet 16, was very special. Yet again Perry got the best of Noah, but 2 great players, and representatives of this state & this team.

That nostalgic feeling hit me, seeing all the former players coming out, with all the National Championship trophies, even hearing the sped up version of bittersweet symphony, something I hadn't heard in such a long time! I looked at my dad and said "he has to be there, he has to come out", he replied "I don't think he's there." Then all of a sudden there he is, Rick Pitino. We both started yelling & clapping like we'd won a National Championship, a tear nearly came to my eye. I was so glad to see him back at Camelot, I honestly never thought I'd see him there ever again in that capacity, it brought back so many great memories, of how his players & his teams represented the name on the FRONT of the jersey, just like Pope is doing now, the betterment of the team.

Obviously haven't played any games yet, but all the right buttons have been pushed, just a renewed since of energy & enthusiasm is back with this program that hasn't been there in many many years. I sure am excited for the first time, in many, many years!

[Granny Bear]

Me too STAT!! I sure wish them all the success there is to have!!!

[Old School Hound]

I was a child when Pitino left Kentucky, but even then I understood that you leave a college job (even UK) for the Boston Celtics. Hindsight is 20/20, but the decision he made in that moment is a no-brainer.

I was glad to see him get his roses. I don't blame him for taking the Louisville job either-- it's not like he said no to Kentucky to go to Louisville and if anything, it added to the rivalry. That's how I've looked at it since the day he took the Louisville job.

I think there's a place for all of the coaches who've won a national championship to come back to Lexington, and I think that this would extend to Calipari once he's retired from coaching or at least isn't at a school that we're really competing with.

I have really never understood the Pitino hate. I didn't blame him for taking the Boston job or the Louisville job. Kentucky fans are so bad for things like hating on guys who leave for other jobs.

[-STAT-]

I was a child when Pitino left Kentucky, but even then I understood that you leave a college job (even UK) for the Boston Celtics. Hindsight is 20/20, but the decision he made in that moment is a no-brainer.

I was glad to see him get his roses. I don't blame him for taking the Louisville job either-- it's not like he said no to Kentucky to go to Louisville and if anything, it added to the rivalry. That's how I've looked at it since the day he took the Louisville job.

I think there's a place for all of the coaches who've won a national championship to come back to Lexington, and I think that this would extend to Calipari once he's retired from coaching or at least isn't at a school that we're really competing with.

I have really never understood the Pitino hate. I didn't blame him for taking the Boston job or the Louisville job. Kentucky fans are so bad for things like hating on guys who leave for other jobs.

I never hated Pitino leaving for Boston, I was pretty young when he did, so I was mainly just sad. 

I always liked the Celtics growing up, so they instantly became my new favorite team, and still to this day, especially at that time having Antione Walker, and Ron Mercer. 

Money talks, and bullshit walks as they say, getting paid nearly $8-9 mill a year in the late 90's? Can't blame him for leaving to get his barrels full. He has openly admitted that leaving Kentucky was the biggest mistake he ever made, bc he flopped tremendously in Boston. I have always said that if he stayed, UCLA would be 2nd in National Championships, Pitino would have a statue in front of Rupp, they'd have to name something after him! 

I'll never forget when he took the Louisville job, I was more shocked than anything else, but being 12 years old at that time, and as I got older I knew he would build them into a perennial winner, and that he did in a quick time. I've never like Louisville, but never wavered as a Pitino fan. Despite the 2013 Championship being taken away from the record books, I'll never forget watching that whole tournament, and remembering him coaching his heart out every single game, probably his best coaching job that season. 

I got all the jokes, and people making fun of him, and the stain that he had on his reputation not only as a coach, but as a human, but nothing can take away how great of a coach he was and still is, everything he done for Kentucky Basketball, brought it back from the depths after it was on the brink of death. 

Rick Pitino is my all-time favorite. So glad he was back at Camelot.

[Old School Hound]

Ricky P sits down with Matt:

[Cactus Jack]

I think Pitino to the NBA was inevitable at some point. Even if we imagine that he repeats in '97 and three-peats in '98, there was only so much he could accomplish.

He was already pretty successful with the Knicks before Kentucky, so even if he turns down an amazing offer from Boston in '97, you'd have to think it would only be a matter of time before he made the jump.

Enormous payday aside, the Celtics and Lakers are the two most storied franchises in the NBA. At the time Pitino took the job, they had the 2nd worst record and a >27.5% chance at landing consensus #1 pick Tim Duncan; Vancouver actually had the worst record, but couldn’t get the first pick. On top of that, Boston also had the 6th best odds for another lottery pick (which was an additional>8.8% chance at #1).

I know the C's needed a complete rebuild, but lost in hindsight is the entirety of what he'd have been turning down by telling them no.

[King Kong]

I was a child when Pitino left Kentucky, but even then I understood that you leave a college job (even UK) for the Boston Celtics. Hindsight is 20/20, but the decision he made in that moment is a no-brainer.

I was glad to see him get his roses. I don't blame him for taking the Louisville job either-- it's not like he said no to Kentucky to go to Louisville and if anything, it added to the rivalry. That's how I've looked at it since the day he took the Louisville job.

I think there's a place for all of the coaches who've won a national championship to come back to Lexington, and I think that this would extend to Calipari once he's retired from coaching or at least isn't at a school that we're really competing with.

I have really never understood the Pitino hate. I didn't blame him for taking the Boston job or the Louisville job. Kentucky fans are so bad for things like hating on guys who leave for other jobs.

I never understood the hate for Pitino either. 

Once he left for Boston,  I finally had a NBA team to pull for.  I became a Boston fan for a little bit. 

Now I don't pull for any certain NBA team.  I just follow former UK players and keep up with them.