Rick Pitino on why he wasn’t in Christian Laettner film

By Nathaniel Reeves | Mar 17, 2015

Mar 28, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino reacts in the first half in the semifinals of the midwest regional of the 2014 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship tournament against the Kentucky Wildcats at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Current Louisville basketball head coach Rick Pitino offered a simple reason why he wasn’t in ESPN film “I Hate Christian Laettner.”

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Only a few people have a legitimate reason to hate Christian Laettner, but Lousiville head coach Rick Pitino might be one of them.

Laettner’s famous last-second shot in 1992 the East regional final gave Duke a 104-103 overtime win over Kentucky and Pitino, preventing the coach from reaching his second Final Four and first with the Wildcats. So, why wasn’t Pitino in ESPN’s documentary “I Hate Christian Laettner?”

In a conversation with Jeff Greer of The Courier-Journal, Pitino said he was approached about appearing but gave a simple reason for declining to appear.

Pitino on "I Hate Christian Laettner" doc: "They asked me to be a part of it and I said no -- because I don't hate Christian Laettner."
— Jeff Greer (@jeffgreer) March 17, 2015

Many ESPN announcers, including Duke alums Shane Battier and Jay Bilas, echoed that statement while promoting the film during conference championship week.

Big Blue Nation will certainly never forget Laettner’s shot, and helped end many other team’s tournament runs while starting in four consecutive Final Fours. Combined with the nationwide hate of Duke and the stomping of an opponent in that same game, and it’s easy to see why Laettner may still be disliked in some circles.

Kentucky and Duke are both one seeds in the 2015 tournament and couldn’t meet until the championship game, while Pitino would only face the Blue Devils if he can guide fourth-seeded Louisville to the Final Four.

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