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Pitino to coach Puerto Rico

Louisville head coach, Rick Pitino has been announced as the new coach of the Puerto Rico national side, it was revealed today.

Pitino met with players and officials on Sunday to discuss terms and will now lead Puerto Rico into next summer’s FIBA Americas tournament, which will be held in Argentina.

Puerto Rico can qualify for the 2012 Olympics by finishing in the top two of next summer’s Tournament of the Americas, or by finishing in the top three of four teams in the 2012 FIBA World
Olympic Qualifying Tournament (site and dates TBA).

If Olympic hosts Great Britain are given an automatic spot in 2012, then the top three teams from the World Qualifying tourney will qualify for the Games. If Great Britain is not awarded an automatic berth, then the top four finishers in the tournament will gain Olympic berths.

Pitino’s Puerto Rico squad includes NBA players, J.J. Barea (Dallas Mavericks), Carlos Arroyo (Miami Heat) and Renaldo Balkman (Denver Nuggets).

John Hobbs for TalkBasket.net

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