he is @ Bristol doing the NCAA Tournament for them and was on Mike & Mike this morning and Gottlieb asked him point blank if he meant anything by his remarks after the Morehead State game.

What he said he meant by it was that he enjoyed coaching this team so much that he could walk away happy but he is not going anywhere and will be back on the sidelines for Louisville.

Like I said b4 our coach is a Drama Queen but knew he wasn't going anywhere because Louisville is going to be loaded for a BIG EAST/NCAA Title run next year.

Where can he go? He is already at a well respected school in a well respected conference. He gets players with little effort. He coaches well. He was able to walk away from Kentucky after winning a championship. Unless he really enjoys the rebuilding process of down teams, he's on top of the world!

(03-25-2011 10:48 AM)HtownOrange Wrote:  Where can he go? He is already at a well respected school in a well respected conference. He gets players with little effort. He coaches well. He was able to walk away from Kentucky after winning a championship. Unless he really enjoys the rebuilding process of down teams, he's on top of the world!

TV, I don't think he is long for coaching really. I would not be surprised if he doesn't retire after this coming season.

(03-25-2011 11:11 AM)Maize Wrote:  

(03-25-2011 10:48 AM)HtownOrange Wrote:  Where can he go? He is already at a well respected school in a well respected conference. He gets players with little effort. He coaches well. He was able to walk away from Kentucky after winning a championship. Unless he really enjoys the rebuilding process of down teams, he's on top of the world!

TV, I don't think he is long for coaching really. I would not be surprised if he doesn't retire after this coming season.

I would not either; he looks tired to me. I am sure every thing that has happened has taken its toll.

If/when Pitino leaves, who does UL go after?

(03-25-2011 04:23 PM)KnightLight Wrote:  If/when Pitino leaves, who does UL go after?

The hot name this week of course on UofL boards is Brad Stevens. If he was still at Butler when that times comes, who knows if the school would actually go in that direction. From his end, if he wouldn't leave for Louisville, then I suspect the list of schools he would leave Butler for has no more than 5 or 6 names on it.

(03-25-2011 05:22 PM)CollegeCard Wrote:  

(03-25-2011 04:23 PM)KnightLight Wrote:  If/when Pitino leaves, who does UL go after?

The hot name this week of course on UofL boards is Brad Stevens. If he was still at Butler when that times comes, who knows if the school would actually go in that direction. From his end, if he wouldn't leave for Louisville, then I suspect the list of schools he would leave Butler for has no more than 5 or 6 names on it.

Stevens would seem to make a great choice...as he seems to target players that play good TEAM basketball in his system.

Obviously, moving to UL would open up even more potential recruiting base for him but I think thats what makes him so successful in tournament play, as all his players know their role and play well as a TEAM...which some HS stars sometimes have a problem with when they move up to the college ranks (many of them want to be THE GUY...can't, won't or don't understand the TEAM aspect of the game).

Pitino looks worn out to me. He's been doing this a long time, and unlike other long-timers like coach K, he's moved around an awful lot, which has to be draining. And of course the scandal seems to have taken a toll as well. I forsee retirement in the next couple years.

i hate being "one of those posters" BUT i know someone who was fairly high up in the Athletic department of a big east school. (hes since moved on) I forget his exact phrasing, but he told me a few years ago that it wouldnt be suprising if Pitino went back to Providence some day just before he was ready to retire. Pitino and his wife both still have some fondness for the school and the area apparently. They may a home in Rhode Island still, their infant son is buried there etc. i think the idea was when rick left his son (or someone else of rick's choosing) would take over.
I DON'T THINK IT WILL HAPPEN but stranger things have. if PC's new coach doesnt work out and Louisville doesnt get further along in the tourny could it create the "opportunity"?

Oddly enough, one of my neighbor's was Pitino's first recruit at Providence, or so he says...

When Pitino is done at UofL, I seriously doubt it will be for another coaching job, either college or pro.

Pitino has said in the past (years ago), that he really is big on his one-on-one instruction with the players, and if a time came when he was too old and couldn't physically keep up in this department, that would factor into his retirement.

I have to think 3-4 years tops, unless we win one in the next 1-2 then he'd go ahead retire.

My short list would be
Stevens
Donavan
K Willard, if he continues on an upward trend

(03-26-2011 01:29 PM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  I have to think 3-4 years tops, unless we win one in the next 1-2 then he'd go ahead retire.

My short list would be
Stevens
Donavan
K Willard, if he continues on an upward trend

Donovan already turned down a huge program in your state, don't think he would come to UL. Although that would be the ultimate up yours to UK fans who tried and failed to land Billy.

Is there a reason you mentioned Willard but not another BE coach who already made a lateral move from UC to UL when he was an assistant coach?

Wrong timing for Donavan to UK, could be right timing for him to UL. UF just doens't support basketball like we do with fans and dollars. He only was an assistant at UK for a couple of years, more allegiance to RP, so if RP works UL and him it could happen.

Why would Cronin leave his home city to come to UL if he was doing well enough to be a candidate? Willard from what I understand doesn't have a "home" school on the elite level...so he makes more since than Cronin. But Willard needs to get SH or another big 6 school to the tourney a couple of years before he's truly ready.

Maybe there is a an agreement between UL, RP, and the two coaches in the game today that is "Winner goes to UL in 2 years"....

LOL!

(03-26-2011 02:43 PM)RealDeal Wrote:  

(03-26-2011 01:29 PM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  I have to think 3-4 years tops, unless we win one in the next 1-2 then he'd go ahead retire.

My short list would be
Stevens
Donavan
K Willard, if he continues on an upward trend

Donovan already turned down a huge program in your state, don't think he would come to UL. Although that would be the ultimate up yours to UK fans who tried and failed to land Billy.

Is there a reason you mentioned Willard but not another BE coach who already made a lateral move from UC to UL when he was an assistant coach?

Donovan is more of a Pitino guy then UK guy so it is more likely to happen and really I think Pitino enjoys Louisville more then Kentucky for the simple reason is we are not crazy like those folks down in Lexington.

My guess is similar
Donovan would get the first call
Stevens is he not already @ a Duke, UNC, Indiana etc, etc.
Williard

(03-26-2011 02:43 PM)RealDeal Wrote:  

(03-26-2011 01:29 PM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  I have to think 3-4 years tops, unless we win one in the next 1-2 then he'd go ahead retire.

My short list would be
Stevens
Donavan
K Willard, if he continues on an upward trend

Donovan already turned down a huge program in your state, don't think he would come to UL. Although that would be the ultimate up yours to UK fans who tried and failed to land Billy.

Is there a reason you mentioned Willard but not another BE coach who already made a lateral move from UC to UL when he was an assistant coach?

Thats simply not a true statement at least in this era and coaches involved at that time, and that move simple explains that as a false statement.

Josh Pastner of Memphis is a candidate I would like to see looked at once Tom Jurich starts trying to fill the position.

(03-26-2011 04:23 PM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  Is there a reason you mentioned Willard but not another BE coach who already made a lateral move from UC to UL when he was an assistant coach?

Thats simply not a true statement at least in this era and coaches involved at that time, and that move simple explains that as a false statement.
[/quote][/quote]

I know it was not truly a lateral move. It was a huge pay increase and also the fact at the time was Pitino assistants were becoming head coaches and Huggins assistants were not. Obviously if UL wanted Cronin they could give him a huge pay increase again.

I also was not asking because I thought Cronin would be interested. I was more asking because I wasn't sure if you thought less of him than Willard for some reason. Cronin says UC is his dream job, I believe him, and college basketball experts agree that the job he has done so far has been terrific. However UC has a very cash strapped athletic department and if someone offered to double his salary I would worry some.

(03-26-2011 05:08 PM)RealDeal Wrote:  

(03-26-2011 04:23 PM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  Is there a reason you mentioned Willard but not another BE coach who already made a lateral move from UC to UL when he was an assistant coach?

Thats simply not a true statement at least in this era and coaches involved at that time, and that move simple explains that as a false statement.

[/quote]

I know it was not truly a lateral move. It was a huge pay increase and also the fact at the time was Pitino assistants were becoming head coaches and Huggins assistants were not. Obviously if UL wanted Cronin they could give him a huge pay increase again.

I also was not asking because I thought Cronin would be interested. I was more asking because I wasn't sure if you thought less of him than Willard for some reason. Cronin says UC is his dream job, I believe him, and college basketball experts agree that the job he has done so far has been terrific. However UC has a very cash strapped athletic department and if someone offered to double his salary I would worry some.
[/quote]


I just can't see Mick leaving for any job.

(03-26-2011 04:29 PM)BigOwensboroCard Wrote:  Josh Pastner of Memphis is a candidate I would like to see looked at once Tom Jurich starts trying to fill the position.

Are you serious? I think Louisville could do much better than that guy. He's a great recruiter, but what good is that when you are at best an average coach, AT BEST? Even many Memphis fans want to get rid of him.