Pitino wanders over now and again. Watching one exhaustive drill, he recounts the time he convinced Celtics general manager Danny Ainge to draft Terry Rozier based on how he performed in this exercise. “This one separates guys,” he says. This is part of the ride. Everything Pitino does comes with an accompanying story pulled from the recesses of his basketball mind.
Back on the court, Pitino calls out the next drill. No notes. “It’s all in here,” he says, pointing to his head. Then a familiar pose — Pitino, hands clenched behind his back, head cocked to the side, wide blank eyes seeing everything. One session, then three more. Then a two-hour afternoon practice, when Pitino wears a cordless microphone and serves as the only soundtrack.
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