Video: Rick Pitino Honored By Kentucky, Will get Standing Ovation in Return to Rupp Enviornment

These boos from the Kentucky devoted when Rick Pitino returned to school basketball to educate archrival Louisville?

A factor of the previous.

Pitino returned to Rupp Enviornment in acquainted Wildcats colours Friday as a part of Huge Blue Insanity forward of the 2024-25 marketing campaign. He addressed the group in what was clearly an emotional second for him and was met with raucous applause.

The previous Kentucky coach led the Wildcats from the 1989-90 season by means of the 1996-97 one. His 1995-96 staff gained the nationwide title and simply so occurred to function present Kentucky head coach Mark Pope.

“I’m so completely happy to be again,” Pitino stated Friday (h/t Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Chief). “I stated earlier than I pack it in, in teaching, I need to return to Camelot for yet one more time. And there isn’t any method I can return higher. This is without doubt one of the finest nights I’ve had in a very long time, as a result of I go to all my gamers. I go to the followers that made me completely happy for each single day for eight years.”

He additionally did not hesitate to reward the Wildcats present coach and his former participant.

“And now we get to root for a gentleman that—there have been numerous nice coaches right here, numerous nice ones—however we get to root for somebody that that title Kentucky is what he is all about,” he stated.

“It isn’t about Pope. You may by no means hear him say. Probably the most selfless, humble younger man I’ve ever coached in my lifetime. One of many nice, nice examples of what Kentucky basketball is all about. Mark Pope goes to steer you to greatness, in each sense of the phrase.”

Pitino is a Kentucky legend due to his eight seasons of teaching that additionally included three Closing 4 appearances, two SEC regular-season crowns and 5 SEC event titles. He finally left to educate the Boston Celtics, however it was his return to school basketball that did not sit nicely with Kentucky followers for a few years.

In any case, he returned to educate Louisville and was met with boos when his Cardinals groups performed at Rupp Enviornment.

There was no booing Friday, and he’s clearly again within the fanbase’s good graces because the Pope period begins.