Rick Pitino Says Louisville Cardinals one year away from ‘mini-dynasty’

Apr 8, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino (middle) poses with his family after the championship game in the 2013 NCAA mens Final Four against the Michigan Wolverines at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino (middle) poses with his family after the championship game in the 2013 NCAA mens Final Four against the Michigan Wolverines at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 8, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino (middle) poses with his family after the championship game in the 2013 NCAA mens Final Four against the Michigan Wolverines at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino (middle) poses with his family after the championship game in the 2013 NCAA mens Final Four against the Michigan Wolverines at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /

Usually, coaches shy away from the championship talk before the season. Even more usually they completely stay away from talking about the D-word.

Talking dynasties can give your team overconfidence and brings a sense of overwhelming pressure if the talk goes to the media. Apparently Pitino thinks his team can handle it.

"It’s going to be an exciting season,” the Cardinals coach said, according to The (Louisville) Courier-Journal. “We are one year away from a potential mini-dynasty — one year.”[source: ESPN]"

He went on to say that the Cardinals are nowhere near their potential and are ready for this kind of challenge. “If these players rise to the occasion once again, win another conference championship, go back to the Final Four. It takes three to have the makings of a dynasty”.

The Cardinals will return plenty of experience to the court, though junior forward Chane Behanan has been suspended, indefinitely. If there’s any coach ready for the run at the next ‘mini-dynasty’, it’s Pitino, especially since his team are the returning champs.