By ADAM ZAGORIA
Rick Pitino returned to Camelot one more time.
The St. John’s coach and Naismith Hall of Famer attended Kentucky’s “Big Blue Madness” Friday night along with the living members of Kentucky’s eight national championship teams. The 1996 team, coached by Pitino, featured current Wildcats coach Mark Pope.
Pitino was appearing at Rupp Arena for the first time since Dec. 26, 2015 when John Calipari’s Kentucky team edged Pitino’s Louisville squad, 75-73. Pitino wore Kentucky blue for his return.
It’s rare — if not unheard of — for a coach of one school to attend the Midnight Madness event of another school. But Pitino is one of a kind. He won an NCAA championship at Kentucky and has often described his time there as “Camelot.”
“Before I pack it in, in coaching, I want to come back to Camelot one more time,” he told the crowd.
Rick Pitino is wearing Kentucky Blue and being cheered in Rupp Arena again.
“Before I pack it in, in coaching, I want to come back to Camelot one more time.” pic.twitter.com/2qfQqWqmyZ
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) October 12, 2024
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Pitino is not on good terms with Louisville, which fired him in 2017 in the wake of the FBI investigation into bribery in college basketball, but he was treated like a returning hero at Rupp Arena. One fan held up a shirt that read, “I love Rick Pitino.”
Asked if he ever thought he’d return to Rupp, he said, “Once I left Louisville, I said I’d sleep in Kentucky blue.”
Did Rick Pitino ever think he would be wearing Kentucky blue again?
“Yeah, I thought so. Once I left Louisville, I said I’d sleep in Kentucky blue.” pic.twitter.com/xKqn7yQpXW
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) October 12, 2024
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RICK PITINO IS BACK IN RUPP ARENA! #BBN pic.twitter.com/6mXDXKMmJf
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) October 12, 2024
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Pitino had said he wouldn’t be at Big Blue Madness because St. John’s had practice. Perhaps he was trying to keep his appearance under wraps.
He previously told ZAGSBLOG he will be on the sidelines for Saturday’s SEC clash between Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Vanderbilt, of course, is coming off a monumental home upset of then-No. 1 Alabama last Saturday.
Pitino said St. John’s and Kentucky will play a home-and-home during the next two seasons, with the 2025-26 game at Rupp Arena to honor the 30th anniversary of the ’96 championship team, and the 2026-27 game at Madison Square Garden.
(Photo/Tristan Pharis)
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