The House of Blue

Pitino was the biggest name in coaching. What he would've done at Kentucky is scary. I doubt anybody could've touched what he would've built. Rick has a NC, something that Calipari has yet to deliver to Kentucky (granted it's only been 3 years). Until he does, it isn't really close, IMO.

Given the scenario of Pitino never leaving and what might have been? Not having to deal with the Tubby and woeful BCG years and the period of being an afterthought? That makes it a no brainer. Pitino

Who is the better coach and has a more fun system today? No brainer Cal.

I'm happy with having Cal here. I don't like listening to his condescending tone and comments but the man can recruit, coach, and wins games. Can't ask for much more... 8, 9, 10...

We would have ran Pitino off if he went 5 years without going to the Final Four or if he never won another title during his time here.

Heck, we possibly could have won another title or two under Pitino and still ended up with Calipari today. Cal is the perfect coach for UK... it's like destiny... not the stripper Destiny either...

Great point... I considered that myself (still ending up with Calipari that is)

I would choose Cal. I agree that we may not have won #7 if Pitino was still here and who knows what would have happened in the years after. Considering how much I despise Pitino, I'm happy to be where we are now and I'm pretty happy that we haven't had to deal with all the slick rick drama.

I just remember all of the drama that Pitino was constantly injecting into the program, the community, etc. Literally everything he touched. He is such a diva. I don't miss that at all.

Another thing is, what happened to him 2 years ago with the extortion and trial (or something similar) likely would have happened here only sooner.

Me, I don't miss him or wonder "what if" at all.

Love Cal. Not only as a recruiter or a coach but as a personality. The dude could talk nails out of a wood fence, which is why he recruits so well. He is such a great communicator. Both he and Pitino have egos no doubt, but Cal still seems to have this bit of humble sprinkled into his.

Both were very exciting times, but if I had to choose...I choose having Cal. I'd rather have a shot at a NC every year with Cal (not necessarily win one but be right there) than to hace a NC with Pitino.

Honestly, I may have traded the NC we won with pitino on order to have this much fun with Cal.

I agree that Pitino would not have won the 98 championship, but he would have probably re-loaded and won a couple more.

But, knowing what we now know about Pitino's predelictions, I would hate to have had UK dragged through a big sex scandal. Unlike at UofL, I don't think a coach could survive that at UK.

I don't mean this to be a mean spirited response, but I always find these "what if" games tedious. There's no way to know what would have happened if Pitino remained our coach and hadn't left to go to the Celtics. I suspect that he wouldn't have been here the whole time, no matter what happened then. That being said, I'm pretty happy where we are right now.

I know... these hypothetical's really do suck sometimes. I get that. I just thought it'd be interesting to see what (or who) most people would prefer, given where Cal has the program today... compared to where it was when Pitino left. It's actually more split than I thought it would be. Both Pitino AND Calipari got us back to prominence and competing for "ships", so it truly is a difficult decision.

I will just say this... I'm happy where we are right now as well.

Yeah, it's not hard. . . If I don't like something that others seem to, I choose not to participate usually. . .

Edge