For the fourth time in a year, former Penn basketball player Ryan Pettinella intends to change his academic address, following former Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins to Kansas State.
Pettinella left Penn for Cincinnati after his sophomore year to supposedly play better competition and get more playing time. But Huggins was fired right after the tall, awkward forward decided to transfer, and Pettinella opted to leave the Bearcats program as well.
He has spent the past year at Monroe Community College near his Pittsford, N.Y., home. He had recently committed to play for Virginia next year.
However, now that Huggins is back in Division I basketball, Pettinella has every intention of following his former future mentor.
"I'm real excited to play for coach Huggins," Pettinella said. "I look forward to learning from a man who has so much experience winning. I can't wait to play in the Big 12."
Huggins says he's impressed with Pettinella's loyalty. He adds that he intends to give Pettinella the starting job the forward has been looking for throughout his collegiate career.
Pettinella was behind Steve Danley and Mark Zoller on the frontcourt depth chart at Penn.
"Ryan is a real solid player with incredible speed and tremendous post skills," Huggins said. "With a real coach, I can see him reaching the level of some of my great former forwards. I'm thinking a Kenyon Martin, only with fewer tattoos."
Huggins admitted, though, that Pettinella will need to work on his free-throw shooting. He has suggested that Pettinella take an underhand approach.
Penn coach Dunphy says has only the best wishes for his former forward.
"Ryan is a very good basketball player, a great person, and I have a lot of respect for him," Dunphy said. "He has a lot of potential, and I wish him the best of luck at Kansas State."
Dunphy admitted that Pettinella needs help with his free throws as well. In fact, when asked about his percentage from the stripe, Dunphy simply began to laugh.
When Pettinella was told of the praises of his former coach, he was touched by Dunphy's unusually kind words.
"That may be the nicest thing Dunphy has ever said about me," Pettinella said. "I am thinking about growing a mustache. If I have any trouble, I'll definitely call up Dunph."
Meanwhile, some basketball players are still bitter about Pettinella leaving for a bigger school.
"Ryan really wasn't that good, and needs to stop cryin' about playing time," sophomore bigman Joe Gill said. "I've got the illest game on the team, and I'm behind everyone but Aron Cohen."
Huggins has not only assured Pettinella of a starting job, but has told the talented forward that he may have a future in the NBA as well.
"I'm not really worried about Ryan graduating because he will probably get drafted before then," Huggins said. "Even if he is not drafted, he doesn't really need an education anyway."
Huggins and Pettinella plan on instituting a new Kansas State tradition. Every time they play a game at another arena, the team will shout "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore" in the huddle.
That is, unless they are playing the Jayhawks. Then they won't say anything.
