Kentucky Basketball vs. Rick Pitino, Memorable Matches Against Former Coach

LEXINGTON – After Adolf Rupp, Rick Pitino could be the best coach In Kentucky basketballthe rich history of

Or it could be John Calipari.

Pitino’s winning percentage (81.4) is second only to Rupp (82.2). But Calipari, who stayed nearly twice as many seasons (15) as Pitino (eight) at UK, is ahead of his rival as coach in total victories (410 to 219) as well as Final Four appearances (four to three). Pitino and Calipari won a national title with the program.

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If Pitino hadn’t left Lexington for the NBA in 1997he would undoubtedly have added to his formidable legacy with the Wild cats. Instead, he returned to the college game in 2001 — at Kentuckythe rival of the state Louisvillenothing less.

Pitino and the Cardinals faced Calipari’s Cats 10 times (UK had an 8-2 advantage in those fights) before the former’s tenure ended in 2017. Kentucky won two-thirds of its games against Pitino (12 of 18) as opposing coach.

Now with Pitino as your guide Saint John and prepares to face the United Kingdom – led by one of the captains of his national title winner 1995-96 team, Marc Pope — December 20 of this year CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta, a look back at the most memorable confrontations between the Wild cats and their legendary ex-coach:

History of Kentucky Basketball vs. Rick Pitino

Memorable games

December 21, 2016: Louisville 73, Kentucky 70

Synopsis: No one could have known that at the time. But it was to be the last Battle of the Bluegrass with Pitino in charge of Louisville. He was fired less than 10 months later due to a recruiting scandal. But what a game it was. Ten draws. Nine changes of leader. And an unlikely hero for UofL: Quentin Snider. In his two previous meetings against the United Kingdom, he scored no points. In that win, which ended a four-game series skid for the Cards, he exploded for a career-high 22 pointshelping hosts repel cats.

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December 29, 2012: Louisville 80, Kentucky 77

Synopsis: After Calipari took the reins at Lexington before the 2009-10 season, he immediately turned Kentucky’s fortunes around against Louisville. Before his arrival, the Cardinals had won consecutive games against the Wildcats and four of seven since 2002. Calipari won his first four games as UK’s coach against Louisville. That’s why this contest was so important to Pitino’s program. That ended the four-game slide in the national rivalry — and happened in the same season as the Cardinals. won his third national title (which has since releasedeven if calls remain return the championship banner to the rafters of KFC Yum! Center). UofL held on for a three-point victory at home behind a trio of double-digit scorers: Russ Smith (21), Chane Behanan (20) and Peyton Siva (19). It was also a day Gorgui Dieng he will never forget – not so much for his play but for what happened off the field. He scored six points and pulled down seven rebounds (tied for the team lead). More importantly, his parents, Momar Dieng and Seynabou Diagne, sat just six rows behind the Louisville bench, the first time they saw their son in person in a college basketball game.

March 31, 2012: Kentucky 69, Louisville 61

Synopsis: Without a doubt, it was the the greatest game in the history of UK/UofL rivalry. It’s the only time they’ll meet on the sport’s biggest stage. This was the second time Pitino and Calipari faced each other in the Final Four. Pitino’s Cats took down Calipari’s Minutemen81-74, March 30, 1996; The United Kingdom won everything. Calipari avenged this loss almost 16 years to the day. The superstar striker from the United Kingdom, Anthony Davistortured UofL on that night in New Orleans, posting a double-double (a game-high 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and grabbing another game-high 14 rebounds) to go along with five blocks. UofL topped UK, 40-33; this included a 19-6 advantage in offensive rebounds. But the Wildcats were just too tough, leading by as many as 13 points in the second half. However, the Cards didn’t go quietly, ripping off a 15-3 run to knot the game at 49 with 9:11 to play. Kentucky made more plays down the stretch, however, advancing to the national title game for the first time since its previous championship in 1998.

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January 2, 2010: Kentucky 71, Louisville 62

Synopsis: Pitino and Calipari had previously faced each other 13 times as college coaches – five times when Pitino was at UK while Calipari led UMassthen eight more meetings when Pitino took over at UofL while Calipari guided Memphis. Not to mention six fights when they were NBA coaches (Pitino with Boston and Calipari with New Jersey). But this contest marked their first presence on the opposing sideline in the Bluegrass State’s flagship series. To say it was intense was an understatement. The teams combined for five technical fouls. It was also sloppy: the teams combined for 37 turnovers. Freshman big man DeMarcus Cousins was a big success for Kentucky: 18 points, 18 rebounds. The two peaks of the match. Teammates Patrick Patterson And John Wall had 17 points each for help Wildcats improve to 15-0.

December 29, 2001: Kentucky 82, Louisville 62

Synopsis: This one speaks for itself. Remembering this game, Pitino said earlier this year it was “the hardest day of my coaching career” with the Cardinals. “I had to walk into Rupp Arena (for the first time with UofL). I tried not to show it,” he said, referring to the contempt the local crowd inflicted on him. That was about as memorable as the match got. Even though the Cardinals trailed by only four points (36-32) at the break, the Wildcats dominated the second half en route to a 20 point victory.

Contact Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

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This article was originally published in the Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Basketball Game at St. John’s, UK History vs. Rick Pitino