51 minutes ago, okie1 said:

The irony of Pitino coming to UK, is that it would have never happened in today's landscape.  CM Newton waited a long time before Pitino actually agreed to take the job.  With social media and NIL/Transfer portal, BBN would have imploded if Barnhart had taken as long as CM did to hire a coach!

He waited but, that was because PJ Carlismo turned him down and Pitino had the Knicks in the post season.

6 hours ago, okie1 said:

The irony of Pitino coming to UK, is that it would have never happened in today's landscape.  CM Newton waited a long time before Pitino actually agreed to take the job.  With social media and NIL/Transfer portal, BBN would have imploded if Barnhart had taken as long as CM did to hire a coach!

It was pretty well known at the time that C.M. was willing to wait for "his guy." He even told the players that with probation coming it might be hard to hire them a quality coach and that he was willing to be an interim coach for at least one season if he had to be. UK fans were also worried back then they UK might not be able to hire a coach due to pending probation. Without the probation hanging over their heads, UK fans would have lost their minds back then if they had to wait as long as they did.