We have heard Rick Pitino’s name associated with the Arizona job search, and then the Kings and the Hawks with the NBA, yet he is still the head coach at the University of Louisville. Now he is being mentioned as a possibility to replace Tim Floyd at USC.

I don’t buy it. Why would Pitino fly across the country to coach at a school that is dwarfed by it’s football program and is destined for probation?

Sure, the whole Sypher extortion case is ugly and it is bound to get uglier with the trial on the horizon. Still, I don’t see this case alone as reason enough to simply throw in Pitino’s name every time there is a coaching vacancy.

I have also heard many people mention that Pitino is ready to get out because John Calipari is now in Lexington. Should we really expect someone, with the coaching prowess of Rick Pitino, to flee the Bluegrass in fear of Calipari?

Sure, Calipari’s recruiting class is stellar, but let’s not forget that he has yet to coach a game in Lexington.

Pitino has been exceedingly quiet during the offseason. Personally things have been rough for him and I expect him to remain silent for a while.

But, come October his mentality will be completely devoted to basketball. And when John Calipari’s Wildcats meet the Louisville Cardinals for the first time, fully expect Pitino to be up for the challenge and right there on the opposing bench.