PROVIDENCE, R.I. — John Calipari and Rick Pitino aren’t close.
They are not enemies, but not friends. They publicly say they don't loathe each other, but one could assume they don't love each other, either.
No dinners. No wine. They don’t break bread or meet for breakfast prior to basketball games.
“We’re both Italian. We both love the game,” Pitino said. “I think that’s pretty much where the similarities end.”
Part of that comes with their previous positions at Louisville and Kentucky. Not only did the programs play each season, but the Wildcats eliminated the Cardinals at the 2012 Final Four and in the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament.