Waxing Kentucky Wildcat Basketball with the “Unforgettable”…Andre Riddick

Pitino and Calipari

Q: Looking at Cal’s Kentucky program as compared with Pitino’s, how do they stack up?

A: Well, they’re just different. Coach P mostly recruited players that would stay 3-4 years and a couple who could leave early; where Cal recruits the best players no matter how long they plan to stay. Both are very good at what they do and how they run their programs though. So one isn’t better than the other, just different.

Q: Are Pitino and Calipari really that different?

A: I don’t think they’re different. They both love basketball. I’ve only been around Cal a little bit but he loves the game. Both love the kids that come through the program and would do anything to help their players. Coach P was a father. Coach. He wore a lot of diff hats. I appreciate the times he’s helped me. He’s helped a lot of different guys. Jobs, etc. Calipari would do the same, esp with bringing in former players on staff.

Q: Did it kill you when Pitino went to UL?

A: No. I know business is business and Pitino wouldn’t have went back to UK because he wouldn’t Tubby’s job but probably would have came if it were open. When I went to the UL game last year, you know, Coach P is always Coach P to me. I can’t cut myself off from him because he is coaching UL now. He’s meant too much to me in my life. I didn’t have a father so he was a father to me. He taught us how to be men. How to play the game. A lot of stuff we can use in life. I’m always with Coach P no matter where he is.

Q: Pitino’s coaching tree is a mile long. Cal’s isn’t as long…yet. Does that bear on what quality of coach they are or do people just consider National Titles and Wins?

A: Coach P has more experience and accolades but Calipari, if he stays, will have a lot of success and definitely you can say that they’ll be some of the best coaches. In the discussion with the greats.

Q: Are they both Hall of Famers?

A: Oh yea, definitely.

Final Questions

Alright, now Andre I have a few more questions then I’ll let you go.

Q: What was your first thought after Christian Laettner stomped on Timberlake’s chest?

A: I was in disbelief. I thought he would get kicked out of the game but I don’t think he even got a technical. If it was us, we would ahve. People used to ask me all the time why I let him do that to me but it was my roommate, not me. But they would always think I was lying haha.

Q: Would Laettner have walked away wihtout help if that’d been you on the floor?

A: I would have tried to kill him!

Q: Do you have any regrets from your playing career?

A: The only regret would be that I’ve stayed on the team I’m on now too long. I should have left to test my level of play. This is my last year in the league and I don’t know what my max level of play is so I wish I would have seen what I could max out at in the top leagues over here which are in Spain or Turkey. That’s not the only regret but that’s the main one I guess.

Q: Does UK repeat this year as National Champions?

A: I think they have a strong possibility. We don’t have a lot of experience coming back but we’ll be there in the end. Depends on how the players develop and make adjustments. Young teams don’t usually win but if anyone can do it, we can.

Commentary:

Without a doubt, Andre Riddick is one of the coolest, most accessible and down to earth people I’ve ever talked with. He is the genuine article. H he understands the nature of the game and the business of the game and I thought a few of his responses were interesting:

He holds dual allegiance to UK and Rick Pitino because of how Pitino as a man was able to help him develop personally, collegiately, and professionally. Few people can do that, and it be legit. I know that Pitino catches a lot of flack from UK fans but he has positively influenced many, many people. He simultaneously believes in what Calipari is doing here and finds no bridge burned that would cause him to love one and hate the other. He’s a man among men in UK athletics and should be remembered among the best of the “Unforgettables.”

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