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

These boos from the Kentucky devoted when Rick Pitino returned to varsity basketball to teach archrival Louisville?

A factor of the previous.

Pitino returned to Rupp Area in acquainted Wildcats colours Friday as a part of Large 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 characteristic present Kentucky head coach Mark Pope.

“I’m so completely happy to be again,” Pitino mentioned Friday (h/t Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Chief). “I mentioned earlier than I pack it in, in teaching, I wish to return to Camelot for yet one more time. And there is no means 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 a number of nice coaches right here, a number of nice ones—however we get to root for somebody that that identify Kentucky is what he is all about,” he mentioned.

“It is not about Pope. You will by no means hear him say. Essentially 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 guide 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 Last 4 appearances, two SEC regular-season crowns and 5 SEC match titles. He finally left to teach the Boston Celtics, however it was his return to varsity basketball that did not sit properly with Kentucky followers for a few years.

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

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