One might say Pitino is the one who actually runs the athletic department, not Tom Jurich.
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"I've experienced quite a few NCAAs, " said Pitino, who is coaching his seventh Final Four team.
Pitino also asked the crowd inside Lucas Oil Stadium to chant Ware's first name.
Pitino wiped his eyes as Ware was wheeled out, as did several Louisville players.
Pitino said it was the same injury former Louisville running back Michael Bush had in football.
"Russ had a heavy heart tonight, " said Pitino, who also called Curran a good friend.
"It really was a storybook ending for the two guys playing tonight, " Pitino said.
Keatts said Pitino's message to Smith underscores his importance to the Cardinals' postseason hopes.
Pitino hesitated, worried about abuse from notoriously intense Kentucky fans if he agreed to coach their rival.
Both steered Cinderella darlings to the Final Four (Pitino with Providence in 1987, Calipari with UMass in 1996).
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Two decades on, Pitino is now at Louisville, doing the same thing with a new bunch of overachievers.
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Bill Martin, Michigan's athletic director then, said Pitino never had the job because they hadn't agreed on compensation.
Pitino said he had warned his players that Wichita State wanted to play exactly the way they did.
"Our players totally understand the challenge that lies ahead with this Wichita State team, " coach Rick Pitino said.
Pitino also asked the crowd of nearly 35, 000 people inside Lucas Oil Stadium to chant Ware's first name.
In fact, when Pitino made out his "dangerous" list before the tournament began, Colorado State was on it.
Pitino couldn't introduce his point guard before the game, only mentioning his name to avoid emotions overtaking him.
"I think we're a very good offensive basketball team, but we needed to get better defensively, " Pitino said.
Goldencents, who is part-owned by Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino, is coming back a month after the San Felipe.
" Smith said Pitino's message for the team at halftime was simple: "Don't lose this game for Kevin Ware.
The injury happened right in front of Pitino and the Louisville bench, and several Cardinals were overcome with emotion.
Pitino conceded his players were marginal NBA prospects, not even in the top five among his most talented groups.
Coach Rick Pitino's team will take a 15-game winning streak into the final.
"We talked about it every timeout, 'Get Kevin home, '" coach Rick Pitino said.
Pitino had tears in his eyes as he tried to console his players.
Hearing what coach Rick Pitino said afterward is going to be downright terrifying.
"That's possible every night with Russ Smith, because he's crazy and out of his mind and insane, " Pitino said.
"Obviously, we're rooting for Goldencents, but the Derby is something that you never know" how it will evolve, Pitino said.
"It wasn't the fact that he was upset that you were asking whether he'd step down, " the 60-year-old Pitino said.
Pitino set a goal for his team to close the season with seven straight wins following the Notre Dame marathon.
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