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Friday, Apr. 06, 2007

Pitino praises Gillispie

UOFL COACH SAYS HE DID NOT COUNSEL DONOVAN

LOUISVILLE — The University of Kentucky's new basketball coach got an enthusiastic endorsement from one of its former coaches Friday afternoon, with University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino praising the hiring of Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie.

"On a 10-star scale, I give it an 11, that's how good a hire that was," Pitino said. "He is a great coach, a great recruiter, a great worker and he's dying to be there. It's a great hire. If I was an athletic director, he'd be one of my top three choices."

The paths of Pitino and Gillispie crossed for the first time — ironically now — in Rupp Arena last month when A&M edged UofL 72-69 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They'll cross again next season when the Cards visit Rupp to play the Wildcats.

Pitino added that he had no role in Florida coach Billy Donovan, a close friend and former player and assistant under Pitino, turning down the UK job.

"First, let me say that contrary to certain opinions, I had no stake in this and I did not talk Billy into or out of having any interest in the University of Kentucky," Pitino said.

Pitino said he talked to Donovan following Florida's win over UCLA in the semifinals of the Final Four, then again Wednesday night after Donovan had decided to reject UK's overtures.

"We spoke after the first semifinal and did not even mention a word about Kentucky, we just talked about the final game," Pitino said. "Then he called me late Wednesday night, told me he went to the beach with (his wife) Christine, talked with her and he would not be coming to Kentucky. He was staying at Florida."

I told him we're going to get together for a 20th reunion of our Final Four team at Providence College and we planned that a little bit. I had no pros and cons in that (UK) at all. So contrary to what some idiots were saying, I had no stake in this at all."