This is quite the Pitino quote

[elimunelson]

"I was offered three really good jobs last year," Pitino said. "But I told the one job, it was a big-time job, I said, 'Look, I've got a $5 million buyout. I had $10 million prior to that. I'm not worth that.'"

Sources told CBS Sports the job Pitino is alluding to is Maryland, which hired Kevin Willard — a former Iona coach and someone in Pitino's circle. (Holy Cross and Rhode Island also inquired.)

With his name cleared, Rick Pitino must make a choice to stay at Iona or take one more shot at a big-time job

'I want to coach five or six more years,' the former Kentucky and Louisville coach told CBS Sports. 'I want to do something special.'

www.cbssports.com

 

[Fly Rodder]

SU also offered.

 

[elimunelson]

Holy Cross inquiring is quite the eye opener IMO. I wonder if they have designs on FINALLY moving up to the Big East after dismissing it back in the late 70s.

You don't reach out to Rick without some thoughts about grand plans up there in Worcester.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Holy Cross inquiring is quite the eye opener IMO. I wonder if they have designs on FINALLY moving up to the Big East after dismissing it back in the late 70s.

You don't reach out to Rick without some thoughts about grand plans up there in Worcester.

LOL this is as batsplit crazy as UMass to the big.

 

[elimunelson]

LOL this is as batsplit crazy as UMass to the big.

Probably but why on earth would they even reach out to him. It seems foolish in a vacuum considering he's at the New Rochelle HC already

 

[UnknownOrange]

 

[Cusefan0307]

Probably but why on earth would they even reach out to him. It seems foolish in a vacuum considering he's at the New Rochelle HC already

I'll be shocked if he does not become the coach of St. Johns.

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

I'll be shocked if he does not become the coach of St. Johns.

That's... actually quite reasonable.

 

[dasher]

LOL this is as batsplit crazy as UMass to the big.

It wasn't back in the late 70's. Which sadly, I remember quite well. The Cross thing as opposed to the UMass thing.

 

[Bayside44]

I'll be shocked if he does not become the coach of St. Johns.

Mike Anderson has some years left on his contract if they can figure it out. Best move for Ricky, doesn't have to move.

 

[Cusefan0307]

It wasn't back in the late 70's. Which sadly, I remember quite well. The Cross thing as opposed to the UMass thing.

I am not saying it wasn't but they have won 27 games the last 4 years. They are a bottom 30 program in D-1.

 

[elimunelson]

I am not saying it wasn't but they have won 27 games the last 4 years. They are a bottom 30 program in D-1.

That's performance based. Holy Cross was considered for the Big East. BC was selected. Not sure if chicken and egg because HC > BC in basketball history at that point for the most part.

I'm being slightly parabolic about them now but there isn't anything holding them back absent a good coach. To me they fit perfectly in an all catholic (or mostly catholic) basketball conference like the Big East.

Back to Pitino, he sent out that smoke signal to let the world know he's open for business. My guess the following jobs are in play for him (if he wants to remain on the east coast):

1. St Johns
2. Georgetown
3. BC (they are building a basketball practice facility)
4. Kentucky 2.0 if Calipari decides to bolt for the NBA (or is nudged out by UK)

I'm curious what other jobs he'd be looking at. GA Tech?

 

[Scooch]

That's performance based. Holy Cross was considered for the Big East. BC was selected. Not sure if chicken and egg because HC > BC in basketball history at that point for the most part.

If I'm not mistaken, Holy Cross actually turned down a Big East invite.

Not the best decision.

 

[hoopsupstate]

BC keeps getting better under their coach. They are not going to hire Pitino.

 

[Cusefan0307]

That's performance based. Holy Cross was considered for the Big East. BC was selected. Not sure if chicken and egg because HC > BC in basketball history at that point for the most part.

I'm being slightly parabolic about them now but there isn't anything holding them back absent a good coach. To me they fit perfectly in an all catholic (or mostly catholic) basketball conference like the Big East.

Back to Pitino, he sent out that smoke signal to let the world know he's open for business. My guess the following jobs are in play for him (if he wants to remain on the east coast):

1. St Johns
2. Georgetown
3. BC (they are building a basketball practice facility)
4. Kentucky 2.0 if Calipari decides to bolt for the NBA (or is nudged out by UK)

I'm curious what other jobs he'd be looking at. GA Tech?

That's a fair list. We are a long way from the 1970's. They've had 2 winning seasons in the past decade and a half. I think it's fair to say it's a tough job. Holy Cross is about the same size as Lemoyne and 40% smaller than PC.

 

[bigmike]

It’s settled then, Pitino to LeMoyne, and then in to the Big East.

 

[DoctorBombay]

SU also offered.

If the 'Cuse offered he'd have to get the Godfather's approval before accepting. I would think JB wouldn't let Slick anywhere near this program. I mean, what if he turned us around and we grab another NC?

To paraphrase movie-mogul Jack Woltz to Tom Hagen, right before getting Khartoum's head as a bedtime present:
"It'd make me look ridiculous. And I am not a man who likes to look ridiculous".

Note: I'm off today and just finished watching this on A&E.

 

[OrangeDW]

I'll be shocked if he does not become the coach of St. Johns.

And they’ll be way better than us while he’s there.

We’re so stodgy and boring.

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

And they’ll be way better than us while he’s there.

We’re so stodgy and boring.

They already are. The gap between SU and regional competitors is only getting larger.

 

[elimunelson]

If I'm not mistaken, Holy Cross actually turned down a Big East invite.

Not the best decision.

I think it's semantics. Jake wrote about this on Cuse.com years ago (Crouthamel). He said HC was considered but BC was the choice. It was written in a way where HC probably was given an option and decided to not take a meeting. So in theory may have never been offered.

 

[elimunelson]

BC keeps getting better under their coach. They are not going to hire Pitino.

They have been under .500 pretty much every season since 2009. If they had a shot at Rick, I'd can terminate Earl Grant. I actually think with the new AD there from Miami (who didn't hire Earl) he has some wiggle room with his terrible 2 year record so far.

I wouldn't sleep on BC trying to make a move. The bigger q would be if Rick wanted to return to Boston after the Celtics debacle. Guy is still persona non grata up there. I wonder if a rejuvination at BC is something he feels like would help him in Boston (which he always claimed to love)

 

[Scooch]

I think it's semantics. Jake wrote about this on Cuse.com years ago (Crouthamel). He said HC was considered but BC was the choice. It was written in a way where HC probably was given an option and decided to not take a meeting. So in theory may have never been offered.

I don't recall what Jake wrote, but they were offered and declined.

Tony Weaver examines decision by Holy Cross not to join the Big East Conference 40 years ago

The chair of the Sport Management Department authored a research article published in the Journal of Amateur Sport, a publication for scholars to share scholarship relevant to the amateur sports realm.

www.elon.edu

"Weaver concluded that although the Big East presented many opportunities, Holy Cross administrators at the time valued the academic brand of the institution and refused to sacrifice that brand in the pursuit of big-time athletics."

It wasn't a BC or Holy Cross choice, they both would have been in the conference had HC accepted.

They would have considered Holy Cross as owning the Central/Western Mass. "market" and BC owning Boston, the way St. John's owned NYC and Seton Hall owned Northern NJ.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Well this hurts.

 

[Cuseball]

They already are. The gap between SU and regional competitors is only getting larger.

Do you consider 10 losing seasons out of the last 23 better than us? Do you consider 4 NCAA tournaments and two tournament wins over those last 23 seasons better than us? We all agree we are not in a great spot but this is a major reach.

Cuse

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

Do you consider 10 losing seasons out of the last 23 better than us? Do you consider 4 NCAA tournaments and two tournament wins over those last 23 seasons better than us? We all agree we are not in a great spot but this is a major reach.

Cuse

They are right now. We can play the arbitrary look-back game all day long. Right now, they are the healthier program and would be on a totally different level if they hire Pitino for next year and we retain JB.