"We're used to it," athletic director Tom Jurich said. "He should be the No. 1 candidate for any job that comes open. He's as good as they come, and he's been a great friend."
Pitino, who reportedly makes $2.3 million a year, has previously said he won't leave as long as Jurich, a former NAU athletic director, is Louisville's AD.

Along with some words from the players.

Senior guard Andre McGee, a California native, credited the future Hall of Fame coach.
"That's easy to sell when you're trying to recruit somebody," he said. "You can ask my parents or everyone else's parents."
However, he said a visit to the city sold him on the school, calling Louisville the best college sports town in America. The city has signs at the airport calling itself such.