The chant “Who’s your daddy?” echoed through Madison Square Garden on November 18, when Rick Pitino’s St. John’s Red Storm took down his son Richard Pitino’s New Mexico Lobos, 85-71. That night, bragging rights belonged to the elder Pitino. Fast forward to Selection Sunday, and both father and son find themselves leading their teams into the NCAA Tournament. However, with St. John’s and New Mexico placed in separate regions, a Pitino vs. Pitino rematch would only be possible if both teams advance to the Final Four. Until then, Rick Pitino’s impact on this tournament might extend beyond just his own team.
“Rifle Rick” Pitino, head coach of St. John’s, will have an unusual rooting interest when No. 6 seed New Mexico faces No. 3 seed Marquette in the first round of March Madness on March 21. The reason? His son, Richard Pitino, is coaching the New Mexico Lobos — and Rick isn’t hiding the fact that he plans to lend a helping hand.
According to a post on X by journalist Jason Dimaio, “When Rick Pitino was asked about his son Richard getting matched up with Marquette, he smirked and said they’ll be having a discussion on how to game plan for them.”
When Rick Pitino was asked about his son Richard getting matched up with Marquette, he smirked and said they’ll be having a discussion on how to game plan for them. #sjubb
— Jason Dimaio (@Jaydimaio) March 16, 2025
This isn’t the first time the Pitinos have shared the NCAA spotlight though. In 2017, Rick coached Louisville while Richard led Minnesota, marking the first time a father and son had coached in the same NCAA Tournament. Now, nearly a decade later, the Pitinos are back — but with Rick on the sidelines for St. John’s and Richard trying to guide New Mexico to an upset over one of the top teams in the bracket.
Now, Richard didn’t just get handed a clipboard and a whistle because of his last name. He started as an assistant under his dad at Louisville before striking out on his own. Then, after a brief stint at FIU, he took over Minnesota, where he led the Golden Gophers to an NIT title in 2014 and an NCAA Tournament win in 2019. Now at New Mexico, he’s brought the Lobos back to relevance, guiding them to the tournament for the first time since 2014.
Richard Pitino’s Lobos have had a solid season, finishing with a 26-7 record and an impressive 16-1 mark at home. However, the road to the next round looks steep. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives New Mexico just a 29.6% chance to win against Marquette, who boasts a 23-10 record and a 70.4% chance of advancing. Kam Jones and his Golden Eagles are the clear favorites — but Richard Pitino can always take a few pages out of his father’s book, or just borrow the whole playbook.
Can Rick Pitino’s playbook help Richard Pitino defy the odds?
The numbers paint a daunting picture. New Mexico averages 81.2 points per game (20th in the nation), but Marquette’s defense has held opponents to 68.5 points per game. Marquette’s offense is no slouch either, putting up 76.9 points per game while limiting turnovers to 9.3 per game (6th in the country). New Mexico’s strength lies in their first-half scoring, averaging 38.0 points — but Marquette thrives on closing games strong, averaging 39.5 points in the second half.
NCAA, College League, USA Mens Basketball 2024: New Mexico vs Arizona State NOV 28 November 28 2024 Palm Springs, CA U.S.A. New Mexico head coach Richard Pitino reacts to an officialÃââ s call during the NCAA Acrisure Classic Men s Basketball game between New Mexico Lobos and the Arizona State Sun Devils. Arizona State beat New Mexico 85-82 at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs Calif. Thurman James/ CSM Credit Image: Â Thurman James/Cal Media Palm Springs Ca USA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx ZUMA-20241128_zma_c04_203.jpg ThurmanxJamesx csmphotothree326686
Richard Pitino will need a near-perfect game plan to keep Marquette from taking control late — and that’s where his father’s experience comes into play. Rick Pitino’s St. John’s already exposed some cracks in New Mexico’s armor back in November when the Red Storm pulled away for a comfortable 14-point win. Now, Rick has a chance to pass on that blueprint to Richard.
Richard’s Lobos will need big performances from their top players. Donovan Dent, who scored 23 points and dished out 5 assists in their last game, will have to find his rhythm early. Nelly Joseph, who posted 19 points and 8 rebounds against Utah State, will have to hold his own in the paint against Marquette’s Kam Jones, who dropped 24 points in his last outing. The battle on the glass will be critical — New Mexico averages 35.3 rebounds per game while Marquette sits at 31.5 — and winning those extra possessions could be the difference.
The personal angle adds even more weight to the matchup. Rick Pitino has made it clear that blood runs deeper than team colors. St. John’s may not be in the game, but Rick will still have his fingerprints all over it. And if Richard’s Lobos pull off the upset, there’s a good chance some of that credit will go to a Hall of Fame coach who knows a thing or two about March magic.
New Mexico’s Cinderella story is a long shot — but if anyone knows how to make the impossible happen in March, it’s Rick Pitino. And this time, the victory wouldn’t just be a basketball win — it’d be a family one.
The post Not Just St. John’s, but Rick Pitino Will Help Other Team in March Madness Due to a Very Personal Reason appeared first on EssentiallySports.
