John Calipari called Louisville the favorite to win the national title, while Rick Pitino said he was happy Calipari and Kentucky won it all last season.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - John Calipari and Rick Pitino both had kind words for one another and each other's teams on the eve of the Kentucky - Louisville rivalry game.
"If you ask me, I would say what I’m seeing right now, you’re talking about a team that should be or is odds on favorite to win the whole thing. That’s how good I think they are,” Calipari said.
Pitino said since he coached at Kentucky and his name hangs from the rafters, he pulls for UK and was happy the Wildcats won the national title. Pitino said that Calipari had paid his dues and deserved to win the title.
"They are a well-oiled machine; we are a work in progress," Calipari said. "I still like my team, I like that they’re working hard, they’re getting better, I’m feeling more comfortable, yet really a work in progress.”
Pitino said Kentucky had improved dramatically over the past two weeks, is a formidable foe now but will be really difficult to deal with come February.
"They do a great job of trying to muck up the game. The good news for us is that this is a game of less plays and more players making plays; that plays to our favor," Calipari said.
