Rick Pitino has been there a few times before during his illustrious career, facing skepticism, doubt and criticism. Even having to admit that he didn’t have enough talent. None of these things have impeded him from getting the best out of his team.
There he was doing his thing again Sunday, a week after his team had managed to hit only 22% of its shots in the first half, overseeing another resurrection, his University of Louisville basketball team making nearly 71% in the first 20 minutes. UofL emerging from the early back and forth to assert control the rest of the way. An 82-70 win over Pittsburgh in one of the toughest road venues in college basketball.
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What he needed was extra time with his team, time away from the distractions, time for some personal instruction, time to pull some things together, convince his team of what it was capable of, hit the road, light the fuse, and let his players do the rest.
The stubble was probably not necessary, there didn’t seem to be much in evidence on the rest of the bench. But if he senses that would help him get through to some players, Pitino will do it, wasting no motivational tools in his vast portfolio. Anything, everything, needing to get it done.
Pitino’s team needed an almost perfect game against a typical overly physical Pittsburgh team, needed to clear their heads of an embarrassing loss to Duke at home, needed to prove to themselves that the best could still be ahead for them in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season. And they got it finishing the game hitting 65% of their shots, including half of their 3-point attempts, 19 assists, and five steals and getting out-rebounded 34-28 by Pittsburgh.
Ball movement unparalleled this season, finding open teammates, Chris Jones with nine assists, Terry Rozier with five assists, demonstrating what can happen when it occurs, what it has to keep on keeping on.
Rozier getting open, getting the ball, taking his shots, hitting them — 10 of 16 attempts, including two of four 3-point shots — for a game-high 26 ponts. Proving he’s the first choice, the player to go to when UofL has to have them. Jones, the second option, losing his cool at times but refusing to ever back down, adding 17 of them.
Montrezl Harrell, more under control, like he’s been there before, backing away from an inevitable confrontation, savoring the ball movement, adding four dunks among his 18 points. Mangok Mathiang, imagine this, three-of-three from the field while turning in 11 points.
If they doubted themselves, the performance against Pittsburgh should remove much of the uncertainty. They have within them the ability to do some good things …. and they have Rick Pitino who’s going to make sure they do.