Louisville's Rick Pitino Lays New Jersey Nets Rumors To Rest

It may now be time to put the Rick Pitino-New Jersey Nets rumors to bed. According to a recent interview with ESPN, Pitino is not interested in becoming the next head coach of the 4-48 Nets.

It's mind-boggling how fast rumors can circulate and come to a head, but there's not one fact to support Pitino leaving Louisville for anywhere.

In fact, the only job he's looked at taking in the last nine years was at Providence, a school he has a history with (coaching them to the Final Four in 1987).

Why would Pitino leave a program that he essentially built into a contender over the last decade? He coached the Cardinals to a Final Four appearance in 2005, and has kept them competitive since they made the transition into the Big East from Conference USA.

Louisville and its administration supported Pitino throughout his rape accusations, standing by their man in his time of need. It's not everyday one gains full support from their employer after being accused of a malicious sexual assault in a local restaurant— why walk away from that?

The only inclination given that Pitino may make the jump to the NBA (again) is that he's done it before. He left Kentucky in 1997 after winning a National Championship the year prior to get on board with the Boston Celtics.

After an unsuccessful four year span in Beantown, Pitino opted for the newly vacated Louisville job. Nearly a decade of strong Cardinal basketball was just another notch on his coaching belt—he can turn dung into gold as far as Cards' fans are concerned.

Why would Pitino run the risk of embarrassing himself in New Jersey? He's learned where his coaching talent is best utilized, and that's in the college game. The man's resume speaks for itself.

Pitino has won at least 20 games every season during his tenure in Louisville, taking a team with no real basketball identity to the NCAA Tournament six times.

No cause, no reason, Pitino isn't going anywhere.

It's bed-time for the whispers of Pitino's departure, good night.