Tip-Off is another Rick Pitino show

Rick Pitino introduces freshmen Chane Benhanan and Zach Price during the Tip-Off Luncheon.

If one were looking for news at the annual Tip-Off Luncheon for University of Louisville basketball, one would be disappointed. If one were simply a U of L basketball fan looking forward to another season, there was plenty to celebrate.

No, Tom Jurich wasn’t discussing conference realignment. The athletic director never made it to the podium, not giving observers any opportunity to read between any lines or anything into his expressions. He’s been a featured speaker at most of these affairs.

Turned out to be a Rick Pitino talk show, the coach rehashing some familiar material, introducing players, previewing the upcoming season, hugging the microphone for about 30 minutes. No shots at any old colleagues or nearby institutions. Again noting that he’s more enthusiastic about the game now than he was 20 years ago, as well as:

• Suggesting a tightened focus for the “Occupy Wall Street” crowd to include the leaders of the ACC as a prime example of corporate envy and greed, with “schools overturning 30 years of tradition and rivalries for the paltry sum of 500 million dollars.”

• Revealing that Chane Behanan’s grandmother had a lot to do with getting him to U of L. “We were sitting in the office discussing our expectations,” he said. “We didn’t know if he was through with campus visits or not. Chane wasn’t sure, and his mom and dad didn’t know. His grandmother leans over and tells me she likes everything we’re saying and she tells me she will take care of things that night.”

• Praising Gorgui Dieng as one of the most delightful players he’s ever met. “Every day, he says good morning and shakes hands with members of the coaching staff. Then he does it again when practice is over and says goodbye. He really appreciates being here.” Noting that Dieng is now up to 240 pounds from 170 when he first arrived, Pitino said he asked him how much more he could gain. “Gorgui told me if we could cut practice time in half and cut out some of the running, he would weigh much more.”

• Again recounting how much he enjoys working at the University of Louisville more than anyplace he has ever worked. “I don’t mean that as a shot at anybody so don’t read anything else into it,” he said. “We have the No. 1 athletic director in Tom Jurich, the best arena in the world, and the coaches are great people  who are pull for each other.”