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University of Louisville
SOUTH ALABAMA
Cardinals Impressive In Pitino's Debut
November 18, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Nov 18, 2001
Audio
By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Rick Pitino might be coaching his fourth college team, but one thing remains the same: He always wins the first game.
The new Louisville coach improved to 4-0 in college debuts, as the Cardinals beat South Alabama 92-38 Sunday night before a sellout crowd at Freedom Hall. Pitino also won his debuts at Boston University, Providence and Kentucky.
Reece Gaines scored 18 points for Louisville as Pitino won for the 14th time in 16 college season openers.
Wearing a pinstriped black suit and a shimmering gold tie, Pitino appeared out of the arena's north tunnel to a standing ovation about two minutes before tipoff.
Pitino was hired in March to replace Hall of Fame coach Denny Crum. Pitino resigned two months earlier as coach and president of the Boston Celtics after 3 unsuccessful seasons.
He popped a breath mint before dropping a red towel and sinking to one knee in front of Louisville's bench as the game began.
Pitino applauded from a baseball catcher's stance as Erik Brown converted an early steal into a fast-break layup. Seconds later, he screamed at Ellis Myles for not getting back on defense.
All part of an impressive start that resulted in Louisville leading 47-15 at halftime.
The Cardinals stayed comfortably ahead early in the second half, but Pitino remained intense, screaming at Myles for dribbling into a trap and freshman Carlos Hurt for keeping his feet too close together on defense.
He yanked Luke Whitehead out of the game for losing the ball on a 360-degree dunk attempt following a steal midway through the second half. Whitehead didn't return to the game.
Pitino spent most of the final 10 minutes seated on Louisville's bench, as the Cardinals pushed the lead past 50 points. South Alabama set a Freedom Hall record with fewest points by an opponent.
Pitino was coaching his first college game since Arizona beat Kentucky in the 1997 NCAA championship game. The Cardinals played an exhibition game on Oct. 31, Pitino's first game of any kind since Jan. 6, when he coached his final game with the Celtics.
His first Celtics' team also won his debut, beating Michael Jordan and the Bulls 92-85 in 1997.
Thoroughbred horse trainer Nick Zito and PGA Tour player Billy Andrade, two of Pitino's closest friends, were among the sellout crowd. Crum also attended.
The Cardinals employed Pitino's trademark full-court pressure from the start, and led 8-0 in the opening two minutes with the help of six South Alabama turnovers. The lead reached 19-0 before Adam Salow ended South Alabama's drought with a 3-pointer with 11:56 left in the first half.
Neither the presence of his friends nor the early runaway did much to change Pitino's demeanor, however. He yelled at referee John Clougherty in the half's final minute for calling a turnover on his team.
