Rivalry Never Dies: Rick Pitino Doesn't Think There Are Any Real Similarities Between Him And John Calipari Except, Well, 'We're Both Italian'

This has been going on for I don't know 15 years or so? Maybe even longer when you go back to when Calipari was at Memphis and Pitino was at Louisville. They have been compared to each other, especially when Cal took over Kentucky. They both took over Kentucky at low points, Pitino when they tried to screw our program with the death penalty and Cal when Billy G tanked us. 

Outside of that, yeah, I don't get the comparison. Two completely different styles of coaching. Pitino used to run that matchup press that he made famous, Cal the dribble drive offense. There's been obviously a ton of talk over the years how they aren't the best of friends and even didn't like it each other. Pitino brings it up here. They don't know each other's wives or kids. But you know what they do know? 

Being Italian. That and loving ball. Not a bad combo if you ask me. They aren't going to sit down and share the fra diavolo but they both are going to eat it no matter what happens. At this point it's shameful that we won't get Pitino in the white suit and Cal in whatever suit he wants to wear. It's only right damnit. I do love that Pitino isn't hiding anything here. He's not close with Cal, big deal. I don't know why people keep trying to ask for comparisons between the two of them. We know the story. 

Couple guys who are Italian and love hoop in Providence. This is what the committee and America all started talking about when the bracket came out on Sunday.