Rick Pitino explains public backing of Mark Pope: 'I root for my guys'

Rick Pitino was the first person to advocate for Mark Pope when it was announced in April that he would be taking the vacant Kentucky head coaching job after John Calipari’s departure to Arkansas.

Pope, Pitino’s team captain from the Kentucky team that won the 1998 national championship, wasn’t greeted with the warm reaction he received at his introductory press conference when the hire was first announced. Instead, it was Pitino’s endorsement of Pope that quelled Big Blue Nation’s fears and led the way for the fanfare that was to come.

According to Pitino, it’s something he’d do for any of his former players.

“I root for Louisville because they have Peyton Siva on their staff, right? I root for my players,” Pitino explained during a recent appearance on Pardon My Take. “I’ve always rooted for my players. I watch them on TV and the pros. I watch them coaching — Mick Cronin at UCLA, Billy Donovan with the Bulls. All my guys out there, Travis Ford was with St. Louis, Mark Pope, and now Kevin Willard at Maryland. I root for my guys.”

Pitino’s approval gave BBN the push they needed to accept Pope as their new coach. At the same time, the changing of the guard in Lexington led the way for Pitino himself to be opened back to Kentucky with open arms.

He was notably showered in ‘boos’ from fans inside Rupp Arena when he returned to the Wildcats home court with a red tie coaching the Louisville Cardinals in 2001. Over two decades later, former head coach John Calipari received a similar ovation when he returned to Lexington in similar colors. From personal experience, he called for Kentucky fans to be fair to Calipari in his return to Rupp Arena.

“I made a statement that Kentucky should cheer John Calipari when he goes back,” Pitino said. “They won a national championship. And I say that because I knew firsthand how much it hurt me to be booed by 24,000 people. I understand it going to Louisville, but I didn’t go from Kentucky to Louisville. I went from Kentucky to Celtics to Louisville.

“I understand it, but it made me feel great being welcomed back.”

Perhaps Calipari will receive a similar ovation from BBN one day, as his name will be hung from the rafters of Rupp Arena someday like Pitino’s is today. Pitino may know better than any coach that the UK fanbase will let you know how they feel in any situation, which may have been cause for his endorsement of Pope, as well as his call for fans to take it easy on Calipari.

Pitino is batting .500 in that respect.