Rick Pitino led Kentucky basketball to immense success but, now coaching at Iona, the former Wildcats leader had some big praise for his former team.
John Calipari is getting Kentucky basketball prepared for a monstrous SEC matchup on the weekend as the Wildcats will take on the No. 2-ranked Auburn Tigers on Saturday, a team that many around the sport believe could be the best team in the country right now.
While Auburn is the toast of college hoops, though, Kentucky has made tremendous strides throughout the season. They got off to a bit of an inauspicious start but have come out on the other side as a team that looks like a real threat to challenge in the SEC and perhaps make a run in March Madness.
One person who is taking notice, however, is former Kentucky basketball head coach and current Iona Gaels head coach Rick Pitino.
Kentucky basketball: Rick Pitino praises Wildcats for massive improvement
During an interview with NJ.com, Pitino called Kentucky the most improved team in college basketball this season, saying, “Kentucky has made the greatest strides. Kentucky’s always been very young. They’re no longer young, they have experience, along with outstanding young players.”
For good measure, Pitino also listed the Wildcats among the teams he believes have a chance to make the Final Four (and he added his Gaels to that mix too, because why not):
Final Four prospects. Most I’ve seen, some I haven’t: Kentucky, Auburn, LSU, Duke, Miami, Purdue, Wisconsin, UCLA, Kansas, USC, Texas Tech, Iona, Loyola of Chi, Baylor, Villanova, Seton Hall. I snuck one in to see if your paying attention😂🙏
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) January 19, 2022
While what Pitino is saying is evident to anyone watching the Wildcats right now, the fact of the matter is that it’s good to see a coaching legend (and someone familiar with Big Blue Nation), see the same things.
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