Richard Pitino Gears Up To Play Against Dad In Season Opener
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Ever challenge your dad to a game of horse in the driveway?
Well, that's kind of what it'll be like for Richard Pitino Friday night, only on a slightly bigger scale.
Pitino's Gophers team tips off the season against his dad's Louisville team Friday night.
Richard Pitino doesn't want this to be about him and his dad.
"I don't look at it like I'm playing against my dad. Golf I play against my dad," Pitino said.
To him, this is about two guys who share a last name, a vocation and quite a few mannerisms. But who's programs don't share the same status.
"We don't have that elite brand yet," he said.
So, the reason for playing isn't about him and his dad. It's about him building his program into one of the best in the country, much like his dad.
"This opportunity was too good to pass up. You're playing a marquee game, on national T.V., first game of college basketball," he said.
At many games, his dad's been right behind the bench, cheering him on. Friday, he'll be on the other one. A sure way to test family loyalty. Or not.
"No, I don't think they care. I think like, give me a free T-shirt, I'll root for you. Or, you know, give me a free sweatshirt, I'll root for him. I don't think they care. My mom will root for me," Pitino said.
The two Pitinos have coached against each other once before – two years ago, when Richard was the head coach at Florida International.
His dad's team won the game by 24 points.
But Richard says this matchup isn't anything like that one.
"Totally different. Totally different," he said. "That was a guaranteed game that you had to play to support your program. And we played…I think 17 to 18 road games that year. It's totally different. More, it was a good experience to play in a big arena, sold-out, or 20,000, where you didn't get that at home at FIU. Well, I mean now, we're going there expecting to win," he said.