John Calipari Tastes Sweetest Victory in Leading Arkansas Past Bitter Rival Rick Pitino

Thefinalhornhadn’tevensoundedwhenRickPitinostartedmakinghiswayoffthecourt.Hecongratulatedhisarchnemesis,JohnCalipari,andtheArkansasRazorbacksstaff,thenquicklyhittheexitintoanalcoveafterwhatwasassuredlyoneofthemostbitterdefeatsofhisbrilliantcareer.TherestoftheSt.John’sRedStormtrailedwellbehindtheircoachaftergoingthroughthehandshakeline. ThesceneoutsidetheSt.John’slockerroomwasfunerealandconfusing.Pitino’stopassistantcoach,SteveMasiello,conversedquietlywithprogramstafferKennyKlein.ThenMasiellopressedtwofingersagainstthebridgeofhisnose,asiffeelingtheonsetofamigraine,andleanedagainstawall. CBSreporterEvanWashburnstoodnearbyagainstanetworkbackdrop,microphoneinhand,asifwaitingforaninterviewwithPitino,buttherewasnosignofhim.KleintooktwoSt.John’splayers,KadaryRichmondandZubyEjiofor,andescortedthemtoaholdingareaforthepostgamenewsconference.  Insidethelockerroom,thepallwaspalpable.Reportersclusteredaroun