Rick Pitino

Players today want to be coached hard, but you can only be tough on them collectively, not individually in front of the team

Today you can be tough on the team but you can't be tough on 'em individually in front of the team. If you wanna be tough individually, you call 'em in your office, you go one-on-one and you tell 'em the way you feel... collectively as a team you can get after them and they'll be very receptive.

You cannot win big in college basketball with high school kids anymore

I I don't think you can win and win big with high school kids. Huh? I don't, I really don't believe it. I wish it was true now. Good recruiting. I I think New York is more attractive away from New York than in New York. I agree that as somebody who used to live in New York.

The NCAA 20-hour rule for practice is 'absurd' in the NIL era

The ncaa, I've always said this about them, they are never proactive. They're always reactive. The fact that we have a 20 hour rule right now is, is absurd. Now, we don't spend 20 hours now this part of the season because we don't want to get injured. But in the beginning, in the summertime, they give you five hours a week. That's crazy.

Indiana should immediately hire Chris Beard without interviewing anyone else

If I was the ad at Indiana, I would immediately not even interview anybody else and hire one of the premier coaches in all of college basketball. And that's Chris Beard from Ole Miss. I wouldn't even think about another person. He's perfect for that job. He's a tough, hard-nosed coach. He's a superstar top three coach in my estimation.

Mark Pope is an excellent teacher of basketball and will succeed at Kentucky

Mark Pope is, is a... excellent teacher of basketball. He also has, you know, He was also a terrific basketball player that got the maximum of his abilities because he gave it all... I think the fans are gonna fall in love with Mark. 'Cause the thing about him... It's always about team. It's always about Kentucky.

St. John's is much bigger and faster this season and I'm bullish on the team

Well, we're much bigger. We're 7-1, 7-foot, 6-10, 6-9... I have a young man from Utah, Deivon Smith, who is faster than, as fast, if not faster than Peyton Siva... I'm really bullish on this basketball team.

Reggie Bush should get his Heisman Trophy back

The Heisman people will do [it], give that Heisman trophy back to Reggie Bush... there's probably half of those guys that won the Heisman Trophy that [got benefits].

Billy Donovan belongs in the Basketball Hall of Fame

One of my biggest disappointments with the Hall of Fame is the fact that [Billy Donovan] is not in it. Because I think there's only five or six programs that have won back to back. He's one of them. And he's had a great playing career. Great coaching career. Now he's in the pros. If anybody deserves the Hall of Fame, it's Billy the Kid.

Dan Hurley is a great coach but his sideline behavior toward refs is annoying

Danny is a tremendous coach. There's things about Danny that bother me. The way he gets on referees bother the hell outta me 'cause he gets calls. But as far as my respect for his coaching ability, he's a great coach. Great coach. Offensively as well as defensively preparation wise, he has all the answers.

American youth basketball has lost the art of the bounce pass

I've been able to get my team to throw bounce passes... in a radius of six to eight feet, you are not allowed to throw chest passes... it has taken so long because they've grown up without throwing a bounce pass. I don't think it's taught at the AAU level.

Reed Sheppard is a top 8 NBA pick and reminds me of Rex Chapman

He's tremendous. He's a great shooter, great passer... He's got a big decision to make. He's probably a top eight pick in the draft. He's the closest thing to the Pat Riley days... the closest thing to a Rex Chapman for Kentucky.

Purdue will win the National Championship this year

I think Purdue's gonna win it. I remember Tony Bennett lost to the 16 seed... following year won a championship. Purdue last year lost to FDU... I feel that it's their year. I think they're gonna win the national championship this year.

I do not like the current state of free agency in college basketball

I'm not enjoying what goes on right now in college basketball... I may be looking at three guys returning next year and I gotta bring in 10. They all become free agents... it's just not something I like. I think Jay Wright got out of it because of that.

Joe Biden should retire from the presidency and enjoy life

I don't wanna do what President Biden's doing at his age. I think he should just enjoy life a little bit. I don't know why he's doing it.