Coaching in college basketball has never been more challenging. Several senior citizen tacticians have taken their clipboards and headed to the retirement community. Rick Pitino, however, isn’t ready for a rocking chair yet.
The 72-year-old is coaching like he’s in the prime of his life. No. 9 St. John’s (21-4, 12-2) is ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time in 25 years. A program picked to finish fifth in the Big East sits atop the conference. The Red Storm have a nationally televised showdown with No. 24 Creighton (18-6, 11-7) on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden. They’re looking to rebound after having a 10-game streak snapped with Wednesday’s 73-71 setback at Villanova.
Immediate success is what St. John’s expected when it boldly hired Pitino almost two years ago. Forget the scandals. Forget the mess that sent him into exile after being fired by Louisville in October 2017. Nobody cares about that anymore. As the college game continues to look more professional by the day, no college coach brings a more professional approach to a university than Pitino. In the age of the transfer portal and NLI, which has caused some veteran coaches to flee, it’s no surprise to see Pitino doing what he has always done— win.
Barring a collapse, he will become the first coach to take six different schools to the NCAA Tournament. That’s another notch on a Hall of Fame résumé that includes national championships at Kentucky and Louisville (later vacated by the NCAA).
Unlike several peers who have left the sport, Pitino has adjusted. Fellow septuagenarians Roy Williams, Mike Krzyzewski, and Jim Larrañaga are gone. Leonard Hamilton is stepping down at the end of the season. Although they all had their reasons, a prevailing theme has been the shift in the game. Pitino isn’t the only geezer getting it done. Tom Izzo, Kelvin Sampson, and Rick Barnes are also enjoying success.
One key difference: Izzo, Sampson, and Barnes have been at their respective programs for several years. Pitino is in just his second season. He already has a squad that is a serious threat to get to the Final Four. St. John’s defeats have come by a combined seven points to Baylor, Georgia, Creighton, and Villanova. Since falling 57-56 at Creighton on New Year’s Eve, the Red Storm hadn’t been beaten until stumbling in Philadelphia. St. John’s ranks second in the nation in defensive efficiency, according to the Ken Pomeroy Ratings, behind only Tennessee. Junior guard RJ Luis Jr. and junior forward Zuby Ejiofor have improved immensely.
Credit Pitino, who continues to be the sport’s biggest difference maker. With all due respect, Dan Hurley, Pitino is the best coach in f*cking sport. The once-radioactive Pitino has done so much for his reputation that rumors have connected him to the Indiana opening. He’s a master at rebuilding traditional programs with demanding fan bases. He did it at Kentucky and Louisville. He would undoubtedly give Indiana a badly needed injection of optimism. The Hoosiers haven’t been to the Final Four since 2002.
For now, Pitino has a good thing going at St. John’s in his hometown. He also has a nomadic reputation. College basketball is a better sport when Pitino matters. Whether you root for him or against him, you’ll watch him in March.
