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Louisville coach Rick Pitino expects another hostile reception Saturday when he returns to Rupp Arena for the second time as the leader of Kentucky's fiercest rival.
Two years ago, the fans who revered Pitino when he coached the Wildcats from 1989-97 showered him with taunts and unveiled signs with vicious messages. By the end of the Wildcats' 82-62 victory, the crowd was chanting ``TUB-BEE! TUB-BEE!'' in a salute to Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, Pitino's former assistant.
Pitino said the only thing he remembers thinking about that day was his brother-in-law and best friend, Billy Minardi, who died four months earlier in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
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``I was devastated when I walked in there and it wasn't because of all the booing
of me. I expected that,'' Pitino said. ``It was just a terrible, terrible time
in my life.''
On Saturday, Pitino wants his 20th-ranked Cardinals (6-1) to embrace the chaotic atmosphere, not dread it.
``It's easy playing at home, where everybody cheers for you,'' Pitino said. ``Going into that environment and executing in the toughest conditions, that's fun.''
Even if the Cardinals can handle the pandemonium, Pitino still isn't sure they can beat the second-ranked Wildcats (7-0), who've won 27 consecutive regular-season games dating to an 81-63 loss to the Cardinals in Freedom Hall last Dec. 28.
``We understand we have a hell of a mountain to climb,'' he said.
Kentucky jumped to a 20-9 lead in last year's meeting, then collapsed in the second half amid Louisville's relentless defense. The Wildcats shot 34.5 percent after halftime and finished 3-of-18 from 3-point range.
``We just didn't play,'' Smith said. ``It was the worst half we had in a long time.''
Kentucky guard Gerald Fitch, who went 2-for-10 in last year's meeting, said the Wildcats haven't discussed that loss this week.
``I really don't even remember it. I think it's good that I don't,'' said Fitch, Kentucky's leading scorer, at 19 points per game.
The Wildcats regrouped immediately, winning their next 26 games. They finally lost to Marquette one game shy of last year's Final Four.
Pitino said this season's Wildcats are better.
``This is not necessarily their most talented team, but I think it's their best team since I've been at Louisville,'' Pitino said.
Only six players -- starters Erik Daniels, Chuck Hayes, Kelenna Azubuike, Cliff Hawkins and Gerald Fitch and top reserve Antwain Barbour -- have played the bulk of the minutes for Kentucky this year.
But Pitino said the Wildcats' apparent lack of depth is a strength, not a weakness.
``There is a major difference between their first six and their next six -- not that their next six aren't talented, I'm sure they are,'' Pitino said. ``But their top six are great.''
The Wildcats say they won't get worn down if the Cardinals try to speed up the game.
``They want you to go helter-skelter with them and go up-and-down with them. We can go up-and-down with them,'' said Chuck Hayes, who leads Kentucky with 9.6 rebounds per game.
Smith's biggest worry isn't the game's tempo, but Louisville sophomore Francisco Garcia, the Cardinals' leading scorer, at 18.6 points per game.
The 6-foot-7 Garcia has blossomed into Louisville's top playmaker, a role filled last year by current Orlando Magic guard Reece Gaines. Garcia also leads the Cardinals with 41 assists.
``He can create a lot of problems,'' Smith said. ``He's got the ability to go around you and shoot over you. We really don't have a matchup for him.''
Kentucky's media relations department is apparently confident anyway. It put out game notes Wednesday that mistakenly listed the Wildcats' record as 8-0.
The error found its way onto Pitino's desk.
``We shouldn't even show up,'' Pitino said, laughing. ``I know they've got a great team, but that's a little presumptuous.''
Pitino flew to Baltimore shortly after meeting with the media to attend the funeral of Steve Wright, who played for him at Boston University in the late 1970s. Wright died of leukemia Monday in Baltimore.