Rick Pitino says this year's Wildcats are 'best Kentucky team I've watched in years'

Rick Pitino coached the 1996 Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team to a national championship.

Now, he’s coaching at Iona, but it’s safe to say he still pays a lot of attention to his former school.

On Monday night, Pitino took to Twitter to weigh in on this year’s Wildcats, saying they are the best Kentucky team he’s watched in a while:

This is the best Kentucky team I’ve watched in years. They defend, unselfish, shoot and fundamentally sound at both ends. One of my five that could cut down the nets!! Gonzaga also – the other 3 I want to see more – one is located on the East Coast and it’s not Iona ?‍♂️?

— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) February 15, 2022

He names Kentucky and Gonzaga as 2 teams that could win the NCAA Tournament title, praising the Wildcats’ defense and unselfishness.

Can the Wildcats make a deep NCAA Tournament run? They certainly look like a team that will be a tough out in March Madness. We’ll see how they handle the SEC Tournament first.