(This Colonel Sanders impersonation will fit in great in the new arena.)
Well look at it this way Rick, there is no where to go but up. To say the last year has been unkind to Rick Pitino may be as big of an understatement as saying that Kate Gosselin likes attention. Sure he’s still a multi-millionaire with 4 final fours, a NCAA championship ring, and a closet of suits that (to steal a line from Anchorman) would make Sinatra look like a hobo, but that doesn’t mean he’s not feeling the sting. The waves have been crashing into him for almost a year now and the horizon doesn’t appear to be any brighter.
Lets rewind to April 2009. Pitino and his boys had just finished off an extremely impressive season in which they won the Big East regular season and conference tournament. This being the year that the Big East was better than any conference has ever been. Ever. A somewhat unsatisfying burnout to Izzo and Michigan St. in the Elite 8 left a bitter taste in some fans mouths (much like UK’s this year) but it still was a season to remember.
Last summer was filled with tabloid-esque stories of extortion, adultery, and “medical bills.” A lot of people wondered if the off-season distractions would impact or distract Pitino and his players at the start of the upcoming season. Still, with 3 returning starters, and 3 seniors in the rotation, UL looked to have the makings of a solid squad. Early season losses to Charlotte and Western Carolina, mixed with a loss to school rival UK, and coaching rival John Calipari, however, had most people wondering if UL would even make the tournament.
Two huge wins over Syracuse later, one of which was the perfect send off to Freedom Hall and UL was firmly in the NCAA Tournament. This was probably the last time Slick Rick smiled. After a first round loss to Cal, it was time for the off-season, the new arena opening and the late signing period for the 2010 recruits.
UL announced that next season it will begin playing in its new (and absolutely gorgeous) downtown arena. They scheduled NCAA Runner Up Butler as their first game, and the entire city is abuzz with anticipation. What could screw that up? Oh I don’t know, how about calling it the KFC Yum! Center. It should be mentioned that UL was looking for roughly 30 mil for the naming rights but sold it for 13 to the home of heart disease instead. Tough times. Fans are still very fried up though. I'm interested to see how many buckets Siva makes. Two breasts and a thigh, sounds like Pitino's friday nights. Okay that's enough.
That’s okay though.. off to the recruiting front. Pitino’s best recruit next season is a SG/SF named Justin Coleman who is ranked around the 50’s by most scouting services. This would lead you to think that UL would be in the mix for at least some of the top level talent left. Wrong. UL was not and/or is not being considered by any top 50 player left for 2010. You really have to wonder what Pitino is doing with his spare time if he can’t get his hat in the ring for a single one of these kids. To make matters worse rumors are starting to fly around that Coleman may not qualify. Although I still say if Eric Bledsoe can qualify, anyone can. Have you heard that kid attempt to speak? Brutal.
Luckily for Pitino he has an absolutely loaded class coming in for 2011, er, did have an absolutely loaded class coming in for 2011. His prized recruit, top ten player, and beastly beast Michael Chandler has decommitted and the word on the street is that he’s liking the UK/Cal flavor and will consider bringing his beastliness to Lexington. Then came the stomach punch that was the Marquis Teague recruitment. Pitino recruited this kid harder than any coach has ever recruited a player. He started with him almost 2 years ago, has seen him play live over 15 times, and even hired his former coach/mentor to the UL Basektball staff. Short of buying him a golden pony (which is surprisingly allowed by NCAA rules) there is nothing else he could have done. Losing this kid in the past month to Cal and UK has to be devastating to Pitino. UL fans and followers can try to twist it any way they want, but basically what it means is that if Cal and UK really want a player, Pitino will not be able to get him. That has to be a tough realization for a man that takes a backseat to no one.
As if all that wasn’t enough the near future isn’t bringing a lot of hope either… he lost his starting point guard and leading scorer. His best big man wants to stay in the NBA draft (although it would be wise for him to return), and he has a summer filled with the aforementioned abortion/extortion/adultery trial.
Where does Pitino, and more importantly UL go from here? Well UL is still a top 10 program, and despite everything listed above UL still is not near as low as UK was at the end of the Gillispie Era. That being said, how much more has to happen before UL fans realize that Pitino is way past his prime and is a shell of his former self. I know it’s hard to knock a guy that took you to a final four, but eventually you have to stop bailing water and let the ship sink. Just make sure he doesn’t take you down with him.
Brian "KFC mashed potatoes should be their own food group" Reinhart
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