Pitino and Iona

[quote="SJUNC" post=384430]For all those that want to take shots at Pitino, it is not a good idea to bet against him. He even wins his wrestling bets !

I was on record as wanting to hire Pitino last year and I love Mike Anderson. It is possible to do both.[/quote] exactly ! There are a lot of us who would have been very happy with Pitino who are happy with CMA. It’s possible to appreciate both fir their coaching
 
As far as Coaching goes , Rick Pitino is a great Coach . Would he be a great Coach here ? Probably . But , the School decided there was too much past history with Rick to hire him . Luckily , AD Cragg moved on to Coach Anderson which shows signs of being a excellent hire . As his Recruits come on Board , results should improve in the Wins column . Likely need another strong recruiting class after the incoming one to become a BE Contender .
 
Jon Rothstein
@JonRothstein
·

Rick Pitino tells me that he would take Iona to Rupp Arena to play Kentucky if the Wildcats return the game to MSG as part of a home-and-home series.

Also adds that Iona is aiming to play Minnesota next season at MSG thanks to a Wrestlemania bet with Richard Pitino.
 
I think the unspoken panic here is a little ridiculous. Duke, UNC, NC State are all in close proximity to each other. There are plenty of players to go around. Iona being ranked would not because they are stealing players that otherwise would go here. Iona playing in the Garden would be a non event in the city even if ranked, just as no one really cares when Syracuse plays an ACC game here. Their own fans show up and that's about it.
 
[quote="jerseyshorejohnny" post=384527]https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1247202870912581634?s=20

Iona attempting to play Kentucky and Minnesota at MSG[/quote]
If so, it'll be the first time I will have ever rooted for Kentucky.
 
Kinda funny, you may not love the guy if Pitino's coaching your team but you sure as hell love the results.
The guy's an absolute great coach, a super aggressive PR maniac, and a bulldog recruiter. Having him coach a rival local school will be irritating but manageable because we've got CMA--the ultimate class act.
Having him coach a rival Big East school would be a thorn in the butt and probably raise the BP on the Board 30 points, but again I think we'd be okay because CMA is also a great coach and the ultimate night-and-day contrast to Pitino.
 
[quote="Chicago Days" post=384551]Kinda funny, you may not love the guy if Pitino's coaching your team but you sure as hell love the results.
The guy's an absolute great coach, a super aggressive PR maniac, and a bulldog recruiter. Having him coach a rival local school will be irritating but manageable because we've got CMA--the ultimate class act.
Having him coach a rival Big East school would be a thorn in the butt and probably raise the BP on the Board 30 points, but again I think we'd be okay because CMA is also a great coach and the ultimate night-and-day contrast to Pitino.[/quote]
Pitino is a great, great coach and I was all in to hire him. The thing that gives me confidence is that CMA will never, ever not have a tough team.
 
[quote="jerseyshorejohnny" post=384527]https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1247202870912581634?s=20

Iona attempting to play Kentucky and Minnesota at MSG[/quote] Kentucky doesn't need to play Iona at MSG. They can get much better games then that in just about any location, and still pack the place. Heck, they'll draw more by playing a "buy" game at home. Might cost them more, but probably not too much, since they wouldn't have to travel, themselves.
 
[quote="redken" post=384548][quote="jerseyshorejohnny" post=384527]https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1247202870912581634?s=20

Iona attempting to play Kentucky and Minnesota at MSG[/quote]
If so, it'll be the first time I will have ever rooted for Kentucky.[/quote]

You rooted for Duke when they've played the Wildcats?
 
[quote="L J S A" post=384558][quote="redken" post=384548][quote="jerseyshorejohnny" post=384527]https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1247202870912581634?s=20

Iona attempting to play Kentucky and Minnesota at MSG[/quote]
If so, it'll be the first time I will have ever rooted for Kentucky.[/quote]

You rooted for Duke when they've played the Wildcats?[/quote]
I didn't root for Duke to win; I rooted for Kentucky to lose. I had the misfortune at the 1996 Meadlowlands Final Four of sitting behind a large contingent of UK fans who were, without question, the most obnoxious fans I've ever encountered. (Also, I'll always have a bad taste in my mouth about UK's ugly history, including Adolph Rupp's comment on our own Solly Walker in 1951: “You can’t bring that boy down here to Lexington.” Enough said.)
 
Last edited:
[quote="jerseyshorejohnny" post=384527]https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1247202870912581634?s=20

Iona attempting to play Kentucky and Minnesota at MSG[/quote]

There is no question at this point that Pitino has plenty of gas in the tank. Remember that Calipari and Pitino are close friends, and Calipari is a Pitino disciple. Cal would definitely be a solid bet to help Pitino out with a home and home series.

Strong moves by Pitino out of the gate.
 
Say what you want to say about Pitino but one way or the other he will resurrect that program , I doubt he stays though his ego is too big for him.
 
[quote="Roamer" post=384596]Say what you want to say about Pitino but one way or the other he will resurrect that program , I doubt he stays though his ego is too big for him.[/quote]

What is there to resurrect ? This is not SJU you are talking about it is Iona. They won their conference almost every year under Cluess and danced almost every year. The only thing Pitino can do better is win in the NCAA Tournament. Can they be a top 25 team, sure, but that would mean him doing very well one season and having almost everyone return with a strong recruiting class. If you believe he will stick around there for a few years great, it is a 50/50 possibility. But unless that happens and as we have seen to date, as he has gotten commitments from 6-7 kids in the last few weeks, top players are just not going to Iona, even to play for a Hall of Fame Coach.
 
[quote="redmannorth" post=384601][quote="Roamer" post=384596]Say what you want to say about Pitino but one way or the other he will resurrect that program , I doubt he stays though his ego is too big for him.[/quote]

What is there to resurrect ? This is not SJU you are talking about it is Iona. They won their conference almost every year under Cluess and danced almost every year. The only thing Pitino can do better is win in the NCAA Tournament. Can they be a top 25 team, sure, but that would mean him doing very well one season and having almost everyone return with a strong recruiting class. If you believe he will stick around there for a few years great, it is a 50/50 possibility. But unless that happens and as we have seen to date, as he has gotten commitments from 6-7 kids in the last few weeks, top players are just not going to Iona, even to play for a Hall of Fame Coach.[/quote]

I see him getting Iona to a top 25ish(note the “ish”) within 3-4 years. At that point, having reached his ceiling there, he looks to jump to much bigger program. IMO he’s already thinking of where he may be in 3 or 4 years, and he ain’t thinking Iona. Purely speculation on my part, of course.
 
[quote="Monte" post=384604][quote="redmannorth" post=384601][quote="Roamer" post=384596]Say what you want to say about Pitino but one way or the other he will resurrect that program , I doubt he stays though his ego is too big for him.[/quote]

What is there to resurrect ? This is not SJU you are talking about it is Iona. They won their conference almost every year under Cluess and danced almost every year. The only thing Pitino can do better is win in the NCAA Tournament. Can they be a top 25 team, sure, but that would mean him doing very well one season and having almost everyone return with a strong recruiting class. If you believe he will stick around there for a few years great, it is a 50/50 possibility. But unless that happens and as we have seen to date, as he has gotten commitments from 6-7 kids in the last few weeks, top players are just not going to Iona, even to play for a Hall of Fame Coach.[/quote]

I see him getting Iona to a top 25ish(note the “ish”) within 3-4 years. At that point, having reached his ceiling there, he looks to jump to much bigger program. IMO he’s already thinking of where he may be in 3 or 4 years, and he ain’t thinking Iona. Purely speculation on my part, of course.[/quote]

Speculation which I believe is very accurate! :)
 
[quote="Monte" post=384604][quote="redmannorth" post=384601][quote="Roamer" post=384596]Say what you want to say about Pitino but one way or the other he will resurrect that program , I doubt he stays though his ego is too big for him.[/quote]

What is there to resurrect ? This is not SJU you are talking about it is Iona. They won their conference almost every year under Cluess and danced almost every year. The only thing Pitino can do better is win in the NCAA Tournament. Can they be a top 25 team, sure, but that would mean him doing very well one season and having almost everyone return with a strong recruiting class. If you believe he will stick around there for a few years great, it is a 50/50 possibility. But unless that happens and as we have seen to date, as he has gotten commitments from 6-7 kids in the last few weeks, top players are just not going to Iona, even to play for a Hall of Fame Coach.[/quote]

I see him getting Iona to a top 25ish(note the “ish”) within 3-4 years. At that point, having reached his ceiling there, he looks to jump to much bigger program. IMO he’s already thinking of where he may be in 3 or 4 years, and he ain’t thinking Iona. Purely speculation on my part, of course.[/quote]

I'm going to disagree. At 70, he will have nothing else left to prove, and if he is successful, will have redeemed his sullied past. He is plenty rich, and a crowning achievement to his career would be to make Iona a top 15 program. He does that, and unless he is insatiable for more money, he can retire from there when he is ready. IMHO, he is easily a top 10 all time coach, who really destroyed his reputation.
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=384607][quote="Monte" post=384604][quote="redmannorth" post=384601][quote="Roamer" post=384596]Say what you want to say about Pitino but one way or the other he will resurrect that program , I doubt he stays though his ego is too big for him.[/quote]

What is there to resurrect ? This is not SJU you are talking about it is Iona. They won their conference almost every year under Cluess and danced almost every year. The only thing Pitino can do better is win in the NCAA Tournament. Can they be a top 25 team, sure, but that would mean him doing very well one season and having almost everyone return with a strong recruiting class. If you believe he will stick around there for a few years great, it is a 50/50 possibility. But unless that happens and as we have seen to date, as he has gotten commitments from 6-7 kids in the last few weeks, top players are just not going to Iona, even to play for a Hall of Fame Coach.[/quote]

I see him getting Iona to a top 25ish(note the “ish”) within 3-4 years. At that point, having reached his ceiling there, he looks to jump to much bigger program. IMO he’s already thinking of where he may be in 3 or 4 years, and he ain’t thinking Iona. Purely speculation on my part, of course.[/quote]

I'm going to disagree. At 70, he will have nothing else left to prove, and if he is successful, will have redeemed his sullied past. He is plenty rich, and a crowning achievement to his career would be to make Iona a top 15 program. He does that, and unless he is insatiable for more money, he can retire from there when he is ready. IMHO, he is easily a top 10 all time coach, who really destroyed his reputation.[/quote]

It's not about the money. Pitino is extremely driven. Always has been, always will be..as long as he's healthy. . Getting Iona in to the top 25 may seem like a nice accomplishment to Pitino right now, but I don't think it will feel that way once he gets there. IMO he's going to want to get back to the top, and that ain't happening at Iona unless they move up to one of the major conferences. I could be way off, but that's what my gut tells me right now.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top