Rick Pitino vs. Son: St. John’s vs. Xavier – 900 Wins on the Line

Family Affair: Rick Pitino Nears 900th Win, Faces Son Richard in Pivotal Matchup

A historic milestone looms for St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino, but standing in the way of his 900th collegiate victory is none other than his son, Richard Pitino, the head coach of the Xavier Musketeers.

After a 65-60 win over Seton Hall on Tuesday night, Rick Pitino is on the cusp of a remarkable achievement, a feat made all the more poignant by the potential opponent. The elder Pitino quipped after the game that his son “will do everything humanely possible to stop it.”

The possibility of this father-son showdown reaching a 900th win was initially brought to Pitino’s attention by special advisor Kenny Klein approximately four games ago. “what’s the chances of that happening, that you coach 900 games [over] 50 years and your 900th win is against your son?” Pitino pondered, acknowledging the unique and special nature of the situation for his family.

Did you know? – Rick pitino has coached at seven different universities throughout his career, showcasing his extensive experience and adaptability in college basketball.

Despite downplaying the importance of the win total itself, Pitino recognizes the emotional weight of the moment.He anticipates a challenging game against Xavier, praising Richard’s coaching ability and the musketeers’ style of play. In a playful, yet firm declaration, Pitino stated he would “leave my team in Cincinnati” if St. John’s were to lose.

This will be the fifth time the two coaches have faced off, with Rick Pitino currently holding a 3-1 advantage in their head-to-head matchups. Previous contests saw Rick’s Louisville teams defeat Richard’s Florida International and Minnesota squads in 2012 and 2014, respectively.Richard secured a victory in 2022 with New Mexico over Rick’s Iona team, and Rick’s St. John’s team defeated New Mexico in 2024.

Pro tip – Xavier’s home-court advantage could be a notable factor. The Cintas Center typically hosts a lively crowd, potentially disrupting St. John’s offensive rhythm.

Xavier will host St. John’s on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET. Currently, St. John’s boasts a 14-5 overall record and a 7-1 mark in Big East play, positioning them second in the conference.The Red Storm have faced a challenging non-conference schedule, with losses to ranked opponents Alabama, Iowa State, Auburn, and Kentucky.

xavier, meanwhile, is 11-7 overall and 3-4 in Big East competition in their first season under Richard pitino, placing them sixth in the conference.Prior to Xavier, Richard Pitino enjoyed success at New Mexico, leading the Lobos to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and earning Mountain West Coach of the Year honors for the 2024-25 season. He also previously coached at Minnesota, where he guided the Golden Gophers to two NCAA Tournament berths and was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2016-17.

For Rick Pitino, St. John’s represents his seventh head-coaching position – Hawai’i, Boston University, Providence, Kentucky, Louisville, Iona, and now St. John’s.

Reader question – Do you think the personal connection between Rick and Richard will add extra pressure to the game, or will it allow them to approach it with a unique level of respect?

Why: Rick Pitino is nearing his 900th collegiate win, and this game presents the opportunity to achieve that milestone.
Who: Rick Pitino (St. John’s head coach) and Richard Pitino (Xavier head coach) are the central figures, with their father-son dynamic adding a unique layer