Louisville coach Rick Pitino welcomes No. 4 seed, rips NCAA for matchup against Manhattan

Manhattan's George Beamon speaks at a news conference for the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Wednesday, March 19, 2014 in Orlando, Fla. Manhattan will play Louisville in a second-round game Thursday. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack) (The Associated Press)

Louisville's Russ Smith, right, takes the ball to the basket during practice for the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, March 19, 2014. Louisville plays against Manhattan in a second-round game on Thursday. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (The Associated Press)

ORLANDO, Fla. – Louisville coach Rick Pitino has no problem with his team's seeding in the NCAA tournament. It's the pairing that is drawing his ire.

Pitino criticized the selection committee Wednesday for pitting his fourth-seeded and defending national champion Cardinals against 13th-seeded Manhattan, which is coached by Pitino's former assistant, Steve Masiello. Louisville and Manhattan open tournament play Thursday night in the Midwest Region in Orlando.

Pitino says, "I don't think that's right for either one of us."

Masiello served as Pitino's ball boy with the NBA's New York Knicks in the 1980s, played for him at Kentucky (1996-1997) and then spent another six years coaching alongside him at Louisville (2005-11). They know each other inside and out, with Masiello molding Manhattan to mirror the Cardinals.