This is topic Rodrick Rhodes finally admits Rick Pitino pushed him out in forum UK / NCAA Basketball at TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards.


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Posted by eleem (Member # 884) on 03-18-2015, 04:00 PM:
 
Rodrick Rhodes played for Kentucky for three years before transferring to Southern California. For years, rumors swirled that Rick Pitino forced Rhodes out because Ron Mercer was coming in, and for years, Rhodes denied that.

Not anymore. In an article in “The Daily Yonder” (great name), Rhodes finally admits he never wanted to leave Kentucky and Pitino pushed him out for Mercer:

A few games later, Kentucky flamed out against North Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen. Not long after, Rhodes announced he was transferring to Southern California. Rhodes was done with Kentucky, and Kentucky, armed with another stud freshman in Ron Mercer, was done with Rhodes. Rumors abounded that Pitino, wanting to keep Mercer happy, forced Rhodes out. Rhodes denied that, saying the transfer was his idea. “I won out,” Rhodes said to ESPN at the time.

Today, he tells a different story. “Everyone knows I didn’t want to leave Kentucky. Every single Kentucky fan knows what happened with me and Coach P. and Ron Mercer. Kentucky fans are smart enough to think they can out-coach [current UK head coach John] Calipari. If you’re smart enough to be a Kentucky fan, you’re smart enough to know I never wanted to leave Kentucky.”

Link
 
Posted by eleem (Member # 884) on 03-18-2015, 04:05 PM:
 
J-Dub421 March 18, 2015 at 12:30 pm | Permalink | Log in to reply.

Not really surprising, Pitino pushes kids out for a “better player” (or if they become a problem) all the time at U of L. Swopshire, Nunez, Agau, Ware, and he tried it with Van Treese. There are probably other examples, but those are the few I came up with off the top of my head.
 
Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 03-18-2015, 04:05 PM:
 
I had always heard that was the case. Evidently someone on the inside let that info out!
 
Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 03-18-2015, 04:20 PM:
 
It really shows Pitino's true colors and he hasn't changed a bit.
 
Posted by country cat (Member # 1774) on 03-18-2015, 05:13 PM:
 
and how many players did coach cal --push out when he came to ky------
 
Posted by bigbluerev (Member # 1633) on 03-18-2015, 05:52 PM:
 
There's a big difference between what Cal did when he first came here and pushing a kid out that you recruited
 
Posted by boomdaddy (Member # 2644) on 03-19-2015, 06:37 AM:
 
Yes, there is a huge difference between a new coach assessing the talent left over from a previous staff and the kids that a coach and his staff bring in themselves and promise scholarships to.
 


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