Ron Chimelis of the Springfield Republican wrote a piece on Rick Pitino, UMass Class of 1974, and his induction this weekend into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
In the early 1970s, Rick Pitino was a flashy guard for the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team.
Four decades later, he will be enshrined as a basketball immortal, just down the highway from his alma mater.
The coach of Louisville's reigning NCAA champions will join 11 other members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2013 at Sunday's induction ceremony.
Enshrinement at Springfield Symphony Hall will take place at 2 p.m. The weekend's events begin Friday night with an induction celebration and ring ceremony at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.
An auction, autograph session, press conference and a dinner for past and 2013 Hall of Famers will make up a full day of Saturday events at the Hall of Fame. Sunday's schedule will begin with a VIP reception and champagne brunch at the MassMutual Center, followed by Enshrinement at Symphony Hall and a post-ceremony gala at the Hall of Fame.
Pitino, 60, will be one of four coaches enshrined. He joins Guy Lewis, Jerry Tarkanian and Sylvia Hatchell.