Rick Pitino Press Conference Quick Notes

Chris PersonMay 31, 2016

Basketball0 views

** UofL/IU will play on New Years Eve, will be finalized this week.

** 2 exhibition games between Bellarmine and KY Wesleyan.

** Mangok Mathiang and Quentin Snider will be captains next year.

** Dwayne Sutton is much bigger than Pitino expected.

** Pitino thinks the team will be every bit as good without Chinanu Onuaku. Says they still have 3 quality centers.

** Team has length/depth/athleticism similar to ’96 UK team. Said they can play similar style.

** Big things expected for Deng Adel. Was playing very well at the end of the year, just wasn’t finishing well. Thinks he can be as good as any player he has ever coached at UofL.

** Thinks the roster UofL has now will be the roster heading into the year. Planning to take 2 scholarship penalty right now to put it behind them.

** Pitino said he is not concerned for more penalties “but that doesn’t mean anything”.

** VJ King is a terrific competitor, very talented. Will be fun to watch him match up against Deng Adel.

** Anas is 100% healthy, Mangok still needs some rest.

** Pitino said Adidas has “never one time got me a basketball player in my 15 years here”. Says we don’t look for their help. Would like to get the shoe companies out of the business.

** Ryan McMahon is the best shooter on the team, has the greatest range. Mentioned Hicks, Levitch, McMahon as possibilities backing up Snider/Mitchell. Also mentioned King/Adel sliding down to play the 2 guard.