Rick Pitino to attend Kentucky vs Vanderbilt football game. Will he be at Big Blue Madness?
LEXINGTON — Rick Pitino confirmed rumors Tuesday he'll be back in the Bluegrass State this weekend.
"Yes, I will be flying in for the UK/Vandy game on Sat. I'll be on the sidelines helping Coach Stoops," Pitino wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, adding a winking emoji at the end of his post.
Pitino is entering his second season as the St. John's head basketball coach.
But he had an illustrious tenure at Kentucky, guiding the program for eight seasons (1989-90 through 1996-97).
Pitino compiled a 219-50 (81.4%) record with the Wildcats, taking a program that was within inches of the NCAA's death penalty and delivering it back to prominence almost immediately. UK was ineligible for the NCAA Tournament in each of his first two seasons. In the six seasons the Wildcats were eligible, however, Pitino piloted them to the Elite Eight, or better, five times. That included a national championship in 1996, a national runner-up in 1997 and another Final Four in 1993.
One of the team captains for the 1996 title winners is first-year UK coach Mark Pope. Though it hasn't yet been officially announced, it's been widely speculated Pitino also will make an appearance during Kentucky's annual Big Blue Madness event Friday night.
Regardless, Pope could hardly contain his excitement.
"Coach (Pitino) hit me up a week ago and he kind of asked me — but he really told me — that he was coming to practice," Pope said. "So believe it or not, I sat down with the (coaching) staff. I'm like, 'Guys, you're going to have to carry the day, man. This is my guy coming in here, Coach P.'"
Yes, I will be flying in for the UK/Vandy game on Sat. I'll be on the sidelines helping Coach Stoops 😉
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) October 8, 2024
In 36 seasons as a college coach, Pitino has an on-court record of 854-306 (.736) during stints at Hawaii, Boston University, Providence, Kentucky, Louisville, Iona and St. John's. Pitino's record, per the NCAA, is 731-303 after he was forced to vacate 123 victories during his time at U of L, which included a national title in 2013 and a Final Four appearance in 2012.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Rick Pitino returning to Lexington KY: Will he be at Big Blue Madness?
