Toward the end of Big Blue Madness on Friday night — the first of the Mark Pope era — famous figures from UK basketball’s past poured onto the Rupp Arena court. Rick Pitino was one of them.

Rick Pitino came home Friday night. Nearly three decades after he led Kentucky to the 1996 national championship, Pitino walked onto the floor at Rupp Arena and was cheered loudly by fans during ...

LEXINGTON — More than two decades ago, Rick Pitino returned to Rupp Arena for the first time as a visiting coach. After an ultra-successful run guiding the Kentucky basketball program ...

Former Kentucky head coach Rick Pitino got a hero’s welcome Friday ... during the team’s “Big Blue Madness” event held at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. Big Blue Nation erupted once Pitino ...

Nothing is official yet, but it sure sounds like Rick Pitino will indeed be back in Rupp Arena for the first time in a decade during season two of the Mark Pope era of Kentucky basketball.

Nearly three decades after he led Kentucky to the 1996 national championship, Pitino walked onto the floor at Rupp Arena and was cheered loudly by fans during Kentucky's Big Blue Madness event.

A KENTUCKY TRADITION TO BRING OUT FORMER PLAYERS AND HEAD COACHES AND AT THE VERY END, THE FINAL PERSON TO COME OUT WAS RICK PITINO AND RUPP ARENA ERUPTED. I WANTED TO WALK OUT WITH EVERYBODY ELSE ...