Pitino Gets Extension Through 2022 and More

“There’s nothing that could drive me away from this city. It’s my life now. I was born a New Yorker, I want to die a Kentuckian.” Rick Pitno said after he signed an extension with Louisville through 2022. This contract will make him the Louisville Cardinal Head Coach until he is 70.

He gave the game of basketball a lot of love during his press conference this afternoon. Pitino says “I don’t know if I could live without basketball.”

My favorite thing he said today, gave the city of Louisville something to be proud of. “There’s never a bad minute working at this place,” Pitino said. “The people are awesome, the fans are awesome; it’s just an awesome, awesome place. I’m not sure I could survive without this university and this program.”

Pitino claimed that he was going to retire after the 2016-2017 season last December. Though Pitino has been known to say things just to inspire and lead people the wrong way. Apparently over the last year, he has changed his mind and decided another 5 years wouldn’t be too bad.

That leads us to today, where he said that both Blackshear and Behanan were beat out for their positions and probably were not the starters going into the season. After a season where Behanan put the Cards on his back, Pitino has Montrezl Harrell starting in his spot. “Chane didn’t have the best summer in the world,” Pitino said. “He didn’t live in the gym like the rest of the guys. He’ll catch up.” He says the same thing about Blackshear.

This is “probably” the Louisville starting five going into the season…

Peyton Siva
Russ Smith
Luke Hancock
Montrezl Harrell
Gorgui Dieng

It is hard to wrap your head around that Louisville has a top 10 prospect in Wayne Blackshear and he isn’t even going to be a part of the starting lineup. Back to the previous point, Pitino has been known to say things to get under players skin and push them so only he knows whether he is actually being truthful.

I hope Pitino is doing the right thing and pushing the right buttons with Behanan and Blackshear. It could be a case where Pitino doesn’t want another Terrence Williams situation on his hands. If Pitino were to be harder on Williams, god only knows where he could be with all his athleticism. But now Williams has been cut by the Detroit Pistons and is on his way to China to play overseas.

On a happy note, Pitino gave high praise to Russ Smith, Peyton Siva, and Luke Hancock. Praising their ability to create their own shot.”That’s something we haven’t had in a long time.” Also going on to say that freshman center Mangok Mathiang is “going to be a special player.”