Rick Pitino Achieves Milestone Win
In a thrilling encounter at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, legendary coach Rick Pitino achieved a significant milestone as he secured his 904th career win, bringing him closer to the pinnacle of college basketball coaching victories. The victory, which came at the expense of his son Richard, the first-year head coach of Xavier, was hard-fought and showcased the competitive spirit of both coaches.
Game Highlights
St. John’s University, now ranked as the 17th team in the nation, triumphed over Xavier with a score of 87-82, marking their 10th consecutive win. Zuby Ejiofor emerged as a crucial player, contributing 25 points to the team and scoring six of those crucial points in overtime. This game not only marked a personal achievement for Rick Pitino, but it also added another challenging chapter in his relations with Richard, who he praised highly despite the outcome.
Father-Son Rivalry
Previously, in an earlier matchup just weeks before, Rick had notched his 900th win against his son Richard, which added another layer of emotion to their encounters. Rick expressed his admiration for Richard’s coaching abilities, stating,
“I think my son’s brilliant. I’m proud of him… to say my son’s a great coach is much more pleasing to me than any number of victories.”
This win improved Rick Pitino’s record to 5-1 against his son, a statistic that reflects both his success in coaching and the challenges of facing family on the court.
Competitive Nature of Collegiate Basketball
In the competitive realm of collegiate basketball, Rick also acknowledged the tough nature of the game, stating that Xavier had challenged St. John’s significantly, and credited Richard and his team for their execution on the court. The Musketeers demonstrated resilience, managing to push the game into overtime, despite facing challenges, including foul trouble that saw three of their players disqualified during overtime play.
Current Standings and Future Aspirations
Rick Pitino’s team, now standing at 19-5 overall and 12-1 in the Big East Conference, is tied atop the standings with No. 6 UConn, following a passionate rebuttal against their rivals last Friday. In terms of stats, St. John’s exhibited effectiveness at the charity stripe, hitting 68% of their free throws, which proved pivotal in the close encounter. Meanwhile, Xavier’s Tre Carroll shone for his team, scoring 21 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the defensive strategies employed by St. John’s.
Looking Ahead
Richard Pitino reflected on the match, commending his players for their efforts and indicating that they still have aspirations to reach the high standards set by established teams like UConn and St. John’s, while also acknowledging the disparity in free throws awarded during the game.
“You can’t have 28 free throws to nine and think you’re going to win the game,”
he remarked, emphasizing the uphill battle his team faces in the ongoing development of the program.
The rivalry between the father and son looks set to continue, with Rick expressing hope that they may avoid crossing paths again in the upcoming Big East Tournament for the sake of their familial bond.
