Those boos from the Kentucky faithful when Rick Pitino returned to college basketball to coach archrival Louisville?
A thing of the past.
Pitino returned to Rupp Arena in familiar Wildcats colors Friday as part of Big Blue Madness ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. He addressed the crowd in what was clearly an emotional moment for him and was met with raucous applause.
The former Kentucky coach led the Wildcats from the 1989-90 season through the 1996-97 one. His 1995-96 team won the national title and just so happened to feature current Kentucky head coach Mark Pope.