Rating:

3.0 (1 vote)

To the obvious. Every time Cal and Pitino square off, it's going to be a story about them and of course the game. There was a point in time where they were close. That was a long time ago.

"I've known him for a lot of years," says Cal. "When I was at Five Star and a young coach coming up. He's been good to me. I've been really good to him too. But, you get in this environment it gets a little hard to send Christmas cards."

Most of the stories about Cal and Pitino talk about how Pitino helped Cal out as a young coach. Cal talks about how he's been good to Pitino.

The theory many have believes for years is, they are so similar it's easy to see how they might not like each other.

"Both taken three teams to the Final Four. We both got fired in the NBA. And we are Italians with big noses. I guess we are. I don't know what to tell you."

Recently they both found themselves in Louisville recruiting Derek Willis.

"We are cordial to each other. I mean he coaches there, I coach here. I mean I went up and told him he's doing a fabulous job with his team. You know, the way they are playing. Blah, Blah Blah. He said your team is really good and dah dah dah. Okay, I said I hope we beat you and he said I hope we beat you. I went and got a Diet Coke. And, that was about it. I mean, I don't know what to tell you."

Doron Lamb, who is shooting an all world 49% from downtown wasn't going to touch any questions about Cal and Pitino.

"Yeah I know that though," says Lamb. "But I'm going to get into it. I'm not going to get into it really. I'm going to worry about the game and try and win."

It's Friday. Day before the Cats and Cards play at Rupp. Cal talks. Pitino talks. No, wait a second. Pitino's not talking. We normally look for a Pitino story the day before the big game. Is he uptight?

Cal does admit one thing. They don't exchange Christmas cards.