COLLEGE BASKETBALL / MEN’S FINAL FOUR NOTES : MICHIGAN : Pitino: Fisher Has ‘Patience of a Saint’

Michigan Coach Steve Fisher, whose work often seems to be overlooked, came in for high praise from Kentucky counterpart Rick Pitino.

“He has the patience of a saint,” Pitino said. “I know I couldn’t have coached five freshmen (last season). They understand the team concept (at Michigan). I think he’s a remarkable man and a remarkable coach.”

Fisher on himself: “There have been two asterisks--one because I was an interim coach (of the 1989 national champions), and two because we got (to the Final Four) with five freshmen (in 1992). But the common denominator is the pride in getting this far, no matter how you did got here.”

Senior guard Rob Pelinka played on Michigan’s 1989 NCAA championship team. He is not one of the “Fab Five,” but he is in his third Final Four, after sitting out a season.

“I remember being in the weight room (two years ago), and a trainer or manager said: ‘You won’t believe it. King, Webber, Jackson, Rose, Howard--they’re coming. They’re all coming,’ ” Pelinka said.

“I didn’t know what to say. I just looked down at my hand and said, ‘Well, guys. I have room on my hand for another ring.’ ”