Mark Story: In the unending war between Calipari and Pitino, Ricky P. has won the latest battle

After what proved to be an ill-fated run in Boston, Pitino subsequently angered many Kentucky backers by returning to the commonwealth in 2001 as head man at Louisville. Once the Big Blue Nation’s undisputed king, Pitino became public enemy number one.

When Kentucky proceeded to humble its former coach by going 12-6 vs. Pitino-coached U of L teams, Cats backers gloried in it.

For Pitino, the low point came when he appeared to “flip off” heckling Cats backers at Rupp Arena while exiting the court following a 75-73 loss to UK on Dec. 26, 2015.

That turned out to be the final time Pitino coached Louisville at Rupp, as the accumulation of a series of off-the-court scandals that engulfed the U of L program eventually led to a head coaching change.

Meanwhile, Calipari as UK coach thoroughly dominated Pitino. Cal went 8-2 vs. Ricky P.-coached U of L teams and twice beat Pitino’s Cardinals in the NCAA Tournament.

Alas, after leading Kentucky to four Final Fours — and the 2012 NCAA title — in his first six seasons (2009 through 2015) as UK head man, Calipari oversaw a protracted decline in results by Kentucky that eventually eroded fan support for the coach.

By this spring, UK had failed to advance out of the first weekend of the NCAA tourney since 2019. After losing in the round of 64 to No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s three seasons ago, UK was bounced this year by No. 14 seed Oakland. With UK fan unrest percolating, Calipari found an exit ramp in the form of a chance to coach at Arkansas.

With Calipari banished to a life of “calling the Hogs” (Woo! Pig!), Pitino has been undergoing a Big Blue Nation rehabilitation.

When Kentucky whiffed on its apparent top choices to replace Calipari, it was floated in the media that UK might need to turn back to Pitino, 71, as its head man. That brought strong moral and ethical objections from some UK fans, but, overall, seemed a relatively popular idea among many Cats backers.

Instead of a Pitino restoration, UK instead ultimately landed on an ex-player from Ricky P.’s “blue period.”

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