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Sources say Louisville coach Rick Pitino has also expressed strong interest in the position, but the general expectation in USAB circles is that Krzyzewski will be succeeded by an NBA coach. Current Team USA assistants Mike D'Antoni and Nate McMillan, meanwhile, are regarded as long-shot contenders in part because both are out of work at present, meaning it would likely be too much to ask either of them -- when they do inevitably resurface in the NBA in the near future -- to take on the national team in addition to the rigors of a new pro job. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Doc Rivers, Mike D'Antoni, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Nate McMillan, Mike Krzyzewski, Olympics, Rick Pitino 

Sources say that Louisville coach Rick Pitino has also expressed strong interest in the position, but the general expectation in USAB circles is that Krzyzewski will be succeeded by an NBA coach. Current Team USA assistants Mike D'Antoni and Nate McMillan, meanwhile, are regarded as long-shot contenders in part because both are out of work at present, meaning that it would likely be too much to ask either of them -- when they do inevitably resurface in the NBA in the near future -- to take on the national team in addition to the rigors of a new pro job. ESPN.com

Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, USA Basketball, Nate McMillan, Mike Krzyzewski, Rick Pitino 

Rick Pitino said on WKRD's Early Birds with Drew Deener Wednesday morning that he has spoken with Peyton Siva and told the junior point guard that he should return to Louisville next season. Rick Pitino said on WKRD's Early Birds with Drew Deener Wednesday morning that he has spoken with Peyton Siva and told the junior point guard that he should return to Louisville next season. "I told him that I would do what I do with all my guys and contact the NBA office," Pitino said. "They have a committee and the committee reports back." Scout.com

Draft, Rick Pitino, Peyton Siva 

Coach Tom Izzo said Louisville coach Rick Pitino's failed NBA venture and advice helped convince him not to pursue an opportunity to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers: "It's like buying a car, if you have success with one style you buy another one the next time. If you don't, you change. I don't think anybody was saying this is a great move for you. Thank God I had an AD and an administration that at least let me look at something that was an incredible offer." CBSSports.com

Coaching, Tom Izzo, Rick Pitino 

Mark Jackson: Just finished spending 3 hours with Coach Pitino. He is a Basketball Genius!!! I love the guy. Twitter

Golden State Warriors, Coaching, Mark Jackson, Rick Pitino 

Marc J. Spears: Warriors coach @Mark Jackson and assistant coach Darren Erman heading to Louisville to visit with coach Rick Pitino and vist with Jax's son Twitter

Golden State Warriors, Coaching, Mark Jackson, Rick Pitino 

He was the hottest college coach in the country, he had NBA experience, both as an assistant coach and as a head coach with the Knicks, he had played at UMass and coached at Boston University, and at the time he seemed like the perfect guy to be the new Celtics coach. But here they were, just another young team going nowhere, in a league full of them. He was under tremendous pressure. He was Rick Pitino, one of the biggest names in basketball, and he was supposed to win. But by the time I got traded, I was happy for all the wrong reasons. I wasn’t happy because I was back home and had grown up idolizing the Celtics. I was happy because I was back home and I knew where to get drugs. I also had the money to buy them. It was a deadly combination. SLAM

Boston Celtics, Rick Pitino, Chris Herren 

Louisville's Rick Pitino will not coach Puerto Rico's national team, citing scheduling conflicts in announcing his change of plans Wednesday. The Cardinals' coach had agreed in December to coach Puerto Rico in a pre-Olympic qualifying tournament late this summer and had hoped to have his Louisville team play the Puerto Rican national team as part of a foreign trip. But the NCAA shot down that proposal because Puerto Rico is Commonwealth of the United States and is not considered a foreign country under NCAA rules. An acceptable site for the foreign trip where both teams could visit simultaneously could not be arranged. The addition of a second tournament also conflicted with his duties at Louisville. "I was so looking forward to coaching the Puerto Rico national team, but too many conflicts arose," Pitino said. "It is a great disappointment that we cannot take on the challenge to help them qualify for the Olympics." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Coaching, Puerto Rico, Rick Pitino 

I’ve read you’re part of the Puerto Rican National team. With Louisville’s Rick Pitino now at the helm, how do you feel about playing with them? Renaldo Balkman: Yeah. This will be my second year playing with them. He’s a good coach. Last year was basically all new for me. This year will be all new for me again. New coach, new everything. SLAM

Puerto Rico, Renaldo Balkman, Rick Pitino 

In a 61-55 loss at Florida in November, Faried had 20 points and 18 rebounds. Florida Coach Billy Donovan compared Faried to Dennis Rodman and said that N.B.A. general managers should choose Faried with their first-round pick. On Wednesday, Louisville Coach Rick Pitino agreed, saying that Faried is unique, partly because of his “relentless pursuit.” “The reason I think he’ll be a high draft choice is, the N.B.A. is in dire need of a guy like this who goes after every basketball,” Pitino said. New York Times

Draft, Dennis Rodman, Rick Pitino, Kenneth Faried 

Meantime, the blog Inside Puerto Rico Basketball (IPRB) reports that Dominican officials have reached out to Calipari about coaching their outfit. Calipari’s connection is that one of his current players, Eloy Vargas, is Dominican. “If the Dominican Basketball Federation can bring in a well respected coach they have a real chance of qualifying for the 2012 Olympics,” a source told the Website. “They have four very good NBA players in [Al] Horford, [Charlie] Villanueva, [Francisco] Garcia and [Trevor] Ariza plus a bunch of very talented role players. They put those four NBA guys together with Cal and its a wrap.” ZagsBlog.com

Coaching, Puerto Rico, Rick Pitino, John Calipari 

A source close to the Dominican Basketball Federation told ZAGSBLOG: “The Federation is seriously considering this. The fact of the matter is it makes all the sense in the world. Coach Cal and you bring in Coach Orlando Antigua [who is Dominican]. ZagsBlog.com

Coaching, Puerto Rico, Rick Pitino, John Calipari 

J.J. Barea had a lengthy get-together with Louisville coach Rick Pitino and he already has a good idea of what the Puerto Rican national team is going to look like next summer. Basically, Pitino is hoping that the full-out, chaos-causing pressure defense that he has used with great success at the collegiate level translates into the international game. “He said we’re going to pressure full court,’’ Barea said. “He’s ready. He’s excited. He told me already what we’re going to do and he asked me about the guys. I think that will be a good experience for me and it’ll be great for the kids growing up in Puerto Rico.’’ Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Coaching, Puerto Rico, Jose Juan Barea, Rick Pitino, John Calipari 

Carlos Arroyo and J.J. Barea, opponents Monday but backcourt mates for Puerto Rico, had dinner Sunday night with University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino, who has accepted an offer to coach the national team. “It’s great news,” Arroyo said. “It’s a coach who has a lot of respect in the game, in the States and around the world. Great work ethic, great passion about the game, so we have a lot of things in common. I think he’ll be a great leader.” Palm Beach Post

Coaching, Puerto Rico, Carlos Arroyo, Rick Pitino, John Calipari 

Now it is official, Rick Pitino is the new head coach of Puerto Rican National Team. Louisville's coach accepted the proposal of the Federation and will lead the National Team replacing Manolo Cintron. Today Pitino will be introduced as new head coach. Sportando

Coaching, Puerto Rico, Rick Pitino 

Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino will meet Sunday in Miami with Puerto Rican national team members J.J. Barea and Carlos Arroyo. It is expected he will then fly to Puerto Rico on Monday to accept an offer to become the team's next head coach. Barea, the Dallas Mavericks' backup point guard, will be in Miami on Sunday to play Arroyo's Heat on Monday. He said Pitino wants to meet with Puerto Rico's only NBA players before finalizing the deal. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, Coaching, Puerto Rico, Carlos Arroyo, Rick Pitino 

"He's very excited and it's almost a done deal," Barea said Wednesday before the Mavs faced the Portland Trail Blazers. "And I'm excited for it. We need a guy like that. It's going to help us as a team." ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, Coaching, Puerto Rico, Carlos Arroyo, Rick Pitino 

Rick Pitino's only current full-time job is coaching the Louisville Cardinals, a team spokesman said Tuesday, refuting an earlier story that he had signed on to coach the Puerto Rican men's national team. "(Rick Pitino) hasn't taken it," Kenny Klein, Louisville's sports information director told FanHouse. "He has not indicated his level or interest or timetable." Fanhouse.com

Coaching, Puerto Rico, Rick Pitino 

Puerto Rico Basketball Federation is looking for a new head coach. Carlos Beltran, President of FBPR, said that there are some negotiations with Rick Pitino, actually coach in NCAA with Louisville. Sportando

Coaching, FIBA, Puerto Rico, Rick Pitino 

The Puerto Rican Basketball Federation is interested in Louisville head coach Rick Pitino. Primera Hora

Coaching, Puerto Rico, Rick Pitino