The off season for University of Louisville basketball is often as intriguing as the regular season, and it appears that we’re already off and running again.
- Steve Masiello leaving to take over the Manhattan College reins. No surprise here, with Masiello rapidly approaching middle age. Almost overdue.
- Richard Pitino returning to Louisville as an assistant coach again, accompanied by Billy Donovan-fueled mutterings of a “coach in waiting.” In the process, Donovan perhaps eliminating himself as the person who would welcome the pressures connected with college basketball’s most profitable program.
- Tim Fuller, the mysterious assistant coach with the Nike shoe strings, leaving Louisville for a similar position with Missouri of all programs, taking with him his relationships with some highly-touted recruits. Never had the feeling he was doing much coaching, just sitting on sidelines with that quiet but knowing “I have connections” look.
- In the best of all worlds, David Padgett, the U of L grad with the All-American appeal, would get the job being vacated by Fuller. Padgett, the son of a coach, has the intelligence, the desire and the pedigree for the position, just a matter of when he gets started in the profession. At one point, that would have been enough but the way the recruiting world operates these days, who knows?
- Speaking of recruiting, Pitino’s roster is getting a little crowded. If Kevin Ware, who originally committed, to Tennessee, decides on U of L, this will force some changes, speculation we ‘ll save for later.
- Meanwhile, Pitino will be off this summer to coach the Puerto Rico national team, preparing for the 2012 Olympics. Still another diversion.
No such thing as a comfort zone for U of L basketball.
Charlie- you are the one with the crystal ball on Rick Pitino-right?
How you pull the threads together…
I like it!
I felt better a couple of days ago.