John Calipari is making his way back to the Sweet 16 after leading his Arkansas Razorbacks, seeded 10th, to victory over Rick Pitino’s St. John’s team, which was seeded second, with a score of 75-66. This win comes after Calipari’s team previously defeated Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks. This triumph marks Calipari’s sweet 16th appearance in the Sweet 16 round, having achieved this feat with four different schools. This result was a significant blow to Pitino, who was aiming for a deep run in the tournament this year.
Reflecting on their match, Calipari expressed respect for Pitino’s efforts, saying, “Rick did a great job with his team all year. If they made a few shots, they would probably beat us. We were fortunate to get out.” Despite their long history and rivalry that dates back nearly half a century, both coaches maintain they harbor no animosity, although they aren’t exactly close friends.
Calipari and Pitino’s rivalry is noteworthy, having crossed paths numerous times in NCAA history. The pregame was marked by a formal handshake, and when the game concluded, fans could be heard cheering for Arkansas amidst the wave of support for Pitino’s team. Pitino, reflecting on the loss, commented, “They outplayed us. They deserve to move on, and we don’t.” He observed that despite a strong regular season, March Madness could be unforgiving, as showcased by this result.
Currently, Calipari holds a 17-13 record over Pitino, including NBA matchups they’ve had in the past. As of this tournament, Calipari stands at a 3-2 lead against Pitino in the NCAA tournaments. Notably, Calipari entered this year’s March Madness tied for the most wins among active coaches. His journey has seen him guide teams like UMass, Memphis, Kentucky, and now Arkansas to the Sweet 16, whereas Pitino has achieved similar success with teams like Providence, Kentucky, and Louisville, but has faced challenges with others.
Despite the ups and downs, Pitino does hold two more national titles over Calipari. Reflecting on this chapter of his coaching career, Calipari noted, “You know, he’s on Chapter 2 of his new book and we’re on Chapter 1. As a matter of fact, we’re probably on the first few pages of the chapter. It’s both of us writing another story and being able to come back here.” Calipari previously led Kentucky to a national title in 2012, prompting his move to Arkansas after a period where Kentucky experienced less tournament success.
Arkansas’s road this season has been turbulent, marked by early injuries and an initial losing streak, yet they managed to secure a place in the tournament. Arkansas player Billy Richmond III, a freshman who contributed 16 points in their latest win, highlighted the team’s unity by stating, “We all came together, put our egos to the side and became one heartbeat.”
The Providence setting was tough for Calipari in terms of crowd support, as Pitino, a fan favorite there, led the city to a Final Four back in 1987. Although Arkansas maintained a lead for much of the game, Pitino’s supporters were vocal, as demonstrated by the cheers following key plays from St. John’s players. However, St. John’s struggled, notably with their long-range shooting, hitting only 2 out of 22 attempts from beyond the arc, unable to convert when it mattered in the final minutes.
Pitino, analyzing the outcome, remarked, “We thought we were championship-driven in our minds, but I have been disappointed before with this. I don’t mind going out with a loss. I just hate to see us play that way offensively.” For Pitino, the defeat was a bitter disappointment due to the team’s poor execution in crucial moments of the game.
