Chief Rick Pitino has experienced erratic season.
His second leading scorer is a wild, crazy shooter whose shot selection straight from the playground in New York.
Its center is the African quiet yet to learn how to play the game.
His team finished seventh in the Big East regular season, including 31-point loss to Providence.
But he says that this may be the most enjoyable he had in his long coaching career, he never led a group like this.
Get your Final Four gear
Support your team on the road to national title in the NCAA Final Four men in a sports equipment store in the U.S. today.
And on Saturday when his team went out in Louisville NCAA Final Four men, Pitino smiled more than we've seen a smile in a long time and spread into the microphone: "Along with the birth of my six children, 'the happiest day of my life."
The next match for his team - against Louisville of Kentucky to the Final Four in New Orleans on Saturday - it's all about the state of Kentucky, Indiana, it is not. But it is certainly very useful, and accurate, for Pitino to the chain of Norman Dale Hoosiers and movies before moving on the floor Superdome Mercedes-Benz, to say the least his players: "I love you guys."
Their is a moving drama worthy writers and musical score.
Like Dale, Pitino has survived scandal and embarrassment, as a result of the most famous woman will be convicted and sentenced in 2010 for trying to extort money from Pitino, who is married to keep the secret of one night in 2003.
Most of the once proud Pitino talks about embracing humility, both in respect of this incident and because of his refusal, as the coach of Boston Celtics, more sincere than you think.
As a team in Hickory Hoosiers, Louisville Cardinals (30.9) were pounded from time to time at the beginning of the season. Their weaknesses were exposed. Their resolve was tested.
But they believed in their coach and themselves, and worked very hard, and when the stadium was the largest and most important games, played with all his heart.
"These guys are full of soldiers," said Pitino.
The situation reminds Pitino 25 years ago, when he took the old Big East Providence pad Final Four in 1987, while mourning the 6-month-old son Daniel, who died of heart failure.
This is a memory that bitter and respect that is disturbing, because while Pitino coached this team to the Final Four, he said, and text messages from team members about the plans of Providence 1987 reunion celebrating 25 years in May. And, in the western region on Saturday in Phoenix, his team won in Florida, moved by the Providence Star team 87 and, possibly, Pitino's favorite player of all time Billy Donovan.
As they say in the business of entertainment, a story with multiple points of entry.
However you approach it, the story of Louisville Cardinals 2011-12 ends up good relationships were formed. "I was proud of many of the team, and I said, this team reminds me of the 87 teams," said Pitino. "I never wanted to Final Four in my life more than 87. Just to ease the pain we go through and lost a son, and to distract his wife and family alone.
"And I never wanted to Final Four more than these guys. They give me everything they have in their body. They are the group most incredible coach. And now, they will get that experience. And the only thing I asked them to do will not be satisfied. "
Yes, there will be more than he will ask and demand.
Just ask Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng and Russ Smith. Their coach can be happy and more than usual, but encompasses humility does not mean rejection of his commitment and intensity.
Shiva is the custodian of 6-0 junior point Pitino shouted Saturday erroneous errors. He had a season up and down, but showed some brilliance in the tournament and credits his coach to stay on him and help him in difficult times.
"Of course, he gets a little control, in practice," says Shiva. "This puts us .... This is a great coach to play .... Everyone understands that he has been there and knows what it takes to succeed. "
Dieng is the center of Senegal, 6.11 sophomore, who is trying to be a sponge and absorb everything, a wise old sage has to offer.
"This guy, he always think like the way this child could be better," said Dieng. "My first year, I complained a lot. I'm tired, my legs hurt. It changed my whole thinking. He made me stronger, and he teaches me how this game can change your life."
And Smith does not know, fearless 6-0 sophomore, who played at the sixth minute, leads the Cardinals Shots on goal ... and led them to victory on Saturday with clutch plays down the site.
Smith shot selection can give some nightmares coach.
But Pitino has a weak spot in his heart for him. He was even some footage Smith words: Rus-diculous.
Sometimes Pitino had seen enough and it will pull Smith out of the game. Then, when it is necessary to the crime after a few minutes, he will put it in.
Smith, Pitino as a New Yorker, listened patiently to his coach, and then moves in and continues to shoot until the shot.
Some enter
But if they do or not to go to Louisville to New Orleans, he will always be one of the favorites Pitino, a reminder in 1987.
And it's not, he says, simply because this team, as well as 87, passed away. This is because these guys worked in the classroom, there is a study of the Bible are to each other back and always find something to laugh.
"A", Pitino said, "because of their humility and how they behave."
