Kentucky and Louisville fans are not surprised by Rick Pitino being Rick Pitino

Random notes:

▪ A couple of weeks ago when Rick Pitino said he wanted to die by frostbite whenever he loses, he meant it.

So no one should have been too surprised when after St. John’s 68-62 loss to Seton Hall on Sunday to fall to 14-12 on the season, Pitino went into one of his rants that both Kentucky and Louisville fans remember all too well.

“This is the most unenjoyable experience of my lifetime,” Pitino said afterward and was only warming up. “We are so unathletic we can’t guard anybody without fouling.”

Pitino then listed the various weaknesses of his players, by name. He complained about St. John’s facilities. And he said he would never put together a team at the last minute as he did after taking over the Red Storm.

Some people were aghast at Pitino’s comment. The people who don’t know Rick were aghast, anyway. We veterans of Pitino-speak saw it as par for the course. Rick hates losing. Always has, always will. It’s part of what makes Rick a great coach, and it’s also part of what makes Rick, well, Rick.

“I truly wasn’t ripping anybody,” Pitino told Newsday on Monday.

No, he was Rick being Rick.

▪ Just when you thought UConn was on the bullet train to back-to-back national basketball titles, the Huskies were humbled in Omaha. Creighton took down Danny Hurley’s No. 1-ranked club and then some 85-66 on Tuesday night. It was the 19th straight road loss for UConn versus AP Top 25 teams.

▪ Jonathan Warriner points out that every national champion since 1995 has lost a February/March game.

▪ Loved Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s comment at the NBA All-Star Game about meeting up with all the other ex-UK players there. “It was cool. We’ve all gone through the same thing. Played for a crazy coach. Made it out of the jungle,” said Shai.

▪ After playing Texas A&M at home on Saturday, Tennessee basketball welcomes Auburn to Knoxville on Feb. 28 before traveling to Tuscaloosa to play Alabama on March 2. Those two games could decide the regular-season SEC champion.

▪ Sorry to see Chris Holtmann relieved of his duties at Ohio State. The Nicholasville native was let go after seven seasons as head basketball coach of the Buckeyes. A nicer guy you will not meet. Hoping Holtmann finds another opportunity elsewhere.

▪ UCF wide receiver Javon Baker is generating some early 2024 NFL Draft buzz. Name sound familiar? Baker started his college career at Alabama before he decided to transfer to Kentucky in 2022. Alas, Baker never made it to campus and ended up in Orlando, where he caught 108 passes over the last two seasons. He averaged 21.9 yards per catch in 2023.

▪ Speaking of the draft, the NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah is high on ex-UK cornerback Andru Phillips. “I’ll gladly promote Kentucky CB Andru Phillips,” Jeremiah tweeted. “Plays with edge & energy. I believe he’ll be a day one starting nickel.”

▪ With Bush Hamdan joining Kentucky football and Alabama naming Nick Sheridan, there will be nine new offensive coordinators in the SEC next season.

▪ The passing of former Cincinnati Reds ace pitcher and Lynn legend Don Gullett reminded me of a story the late Jock Sutherland once told me.

Sutherland was an assistant basketball coach under C.M. Newton at Alabama. Preparing for a recruiting trip to Kentucky, Sutherland received a message that football coach and athletic director Bear Bryant wanted to see him in his office.

The legendary Bryant greeted Sutherland by calling him Jack, as always, and told him he needed a favor. Bryant asked that if on his trip to Kentucky could Sutherland swing by and see this young Don Gullett, who had scored 72 points in a high school football game. Bryant then handed Sutherland a film projector with a reel of Alabama football highlights. Show them to Gullett, Bryant instructed.

Not knowing what to do, Sutherland returned to the basketball office and went to see his boss. He explained Bryant’s request and asked what he should do.

“Take the projector,” said Newton.

“I never got to see that basketball recruit,” said Sutherland.

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