Pitino national team adventure over before it started 

After the Olympic Games were officially postponed until 2021, it now appears that Rick Pitino will never sit on the bench as the head coach of the Greek national team.

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In early November, the Hellenic Basketball Federation (EOK) confirmed that it had made Pitino the head coach of the national team for the 2020 Olympics, both for the qualifiers and the tournament itself. However, earlier this week, it was confirmed that the Games have been postponed until 2021 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic which is causing devastation across the world.

The decision by the International Olympic Committee means that Pitino will probably never sit on the bench as the Greek boss.

Pitino, 67, has already revealed that he is returning to US college basketball with Iona of the NCAA. Initially, the American was supposed to continue coaching Panathinaikos in the 2020/2021 campaign, however he recently left the Athenians after a somewhat underwhelming second spell in charge. Panathinaikos are currently sitting in sixth place of the EuroLeague regular-season standings.

The fact that he will be coaching Iona next season consequently results in his chances of managing Greece during the Olympic qualification campaign and the main competition being extremely slim. Furthermore, if the latest reports in the media are to be believed, the Olympics could even be played during the spring of 2021 while the NCAA is still being played.

Pitino had agreed to coach Greece for free.

“I’m always here for Greece, I will do anything if needed,” stated Pitino in a recent conversation with Sport 24.

At the moment, Thanasis Skourtopoulos is continuing to coach the Episimi Agapimeni during the EuroBasket qualifiers, however, it is expected that a new manager will be appointed by the EOK for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. 

No announcement from the EOK has yet been made.

Image Source: sportfm.gr

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