Connect with us

Men's Basketball

Rick Pitino Open to Playing Kentucky in Rupp Arena

Rick Pitino

Rick Pitino is open to returning to Rupp Arena to play the Kentucky Wildcats.

Pitino was named the head coach at Iona in March and has mentioned playing Kentucky in multiple interviews.

The former Kentucky and Louisville head coach first mentioned the idea during an appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show” in March.

I would love to schedule Kentucky in the The Garden in the Jimmy V Classic,” Pitino said. “I think that would be a great draw and would be exciting to see. I hope John (Calipari) would entertain that.”

Calipari talked to Pitino shortly after he accepted the job at Iona, but said the two didn’t discuss scheduling.

“We didn’t talk schedule,” Calipari said. “I saw Dickie V go crazy about having us play there and I would imagine having Iona come to Rupp would be something that would be considered and I would expect our fans to be positive as they always are.”

It sounds like Pitino is open to the idea of returning to Rupp, as long as the Wildcats return the favor with  a game at Madison Square Garden, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

“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,” Rothstein wrote on Twitter earlier this week.

What do you think? Should Kentucky schedule Pitino for a game in Rupp Arena and should the program recognize him for his time at Kentucky? I’d expect mixed reactions from fans.

More in Men's Basketball