The Masters Basketball Association brought their 33rd annual National Championship to South Florida.
The tournament in Coral Springs features 55 and older teams from all over North America. But the biggest attraction for the first day of the tournament Tuesday was Louisville Head Coach Rick Pitino's Red Birds team.
"You know, I haven't played competitive basketball in 25 years," said Pitino.
Early on the two and half decades lay-off showed for the 65-year-old Basketball Hall of Famer. His team trailed a Canadian-based squad by as many as 16 in the first half.
"I wanted to be a playmaker and get the team shots, but we got down. So we had to throw the ball at the rim," said Pitino.
Coaching up the Red Birds as if they were his Cardinals team in Louisville, Pitino led the charge knocking down three three-pointers in the second half. Pitino's first basket brought cheers from the crowd and a smile to the coaches' face.
"At Kentucky we'd get up and play at 5:30, Billy Donovan and the whole staff, we'd play from 5:30 until 7 a.m. From that point, 16 years in Louisville, four years in Boston haven't touched the ball competitively," said Pitino. "It's great to play again, although my two groins feel, it's not so good."
Pitino and the rest of the Masters Basketball Association competitors will continue to play through out the week in Coral Springs.
