Sports

Former Cardinals Hooper Refutes Rick Pitino’s Assertion That He’s Unwelcome At Louisville

#Rick Pitino
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Coach Rick Pitino at a Kentucky basketball event.

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St. John’s basketball coach Rick Pitino was in Lexington over the weekend, making a return to one of his old coaching stops. While there, he took in a Kentucky football game in Kroger Field.

Pitino was asked about that return while speaking to media on the sidelines where he not only applauded the Wildcats for having him back but shaded a rival over supposed bad blood.

Kentucky and Louisville are two schools on less than friendly terms. The instate universities share a deep hatred for one another when it comes to athletic competition.

It just so happens that Rick Pitino coached at both!

After leading the Wildcats to a national championship in 1997, he did the same for the Cardinals in 2013. While success was seen at each school, the exits couldn’t have been more different.

Pitino bolted from Lexington to give it his best shot in the NBA. After flopping with the Boston Celtics, he returned to the college ranks.

At Louisville, his tenure was marred with controversy which ultimately led to a legal battle over his eventual firing. A breach of contract lawsuit was later settled. The animosity wasn’t, according to the head coach.

Rick Pitino claims that he’s unwanted at Louisville.

“I love that place, and I love the fans at Louisville, but I’ve never been invited back to Louisville. They fired me quite abruptly and not nicely, but I harbor nothing against the fans and certainly nothing against my players. I love them dearly.

“But I’ve never been invited back, not one time.”

-Rick Pitino

He says he’s never been invited to return to his old stomping grounds. One of his former players says that’s not true.

Luke Hancock, who played on the national championship winning squad in 2013, says he’s personally invited his old coach back to Louisville for reunions. Pitino’s just never showed!

Hancock scoffed at Pitino’s assertion that he’s unwanted at UL. He’s made the effort, but his head coach hasn’t complied.

Whether true or not, it does little to mend the broken relationship between the two sides.