PROVIDENCE, R.I. — As he reflected on his career on Wednesday before the start of the NCAA Tournament, Rick Pitino said he only had one fellow coach he considered a rival.
“And today I respect him as much as anybody in the game, and that was Jim Calhoun,“ he said. ”We hated each other at BU and Northeastern, hated each other. He goes on to coach at Connecticut, I go on to coach at Providence and we hated each other there, as well. Today I don’t think I respect any coach as much as Jim Calhoun.”
If Calhoun is his only rival, what does that make John Calipari?its
Pitino and Calipari will coach against each other in the NCAA Tournament again at 2:40 p.m. on Saturday in the second round in Providence.
After Arkansas beat Kansas to earn its spot in the second round, Calipari probably could have guessed the Razorbacks would face Pitino and St. John’s. But since the Red Storm still have to face Omaha, he didn’t talk about a then still-to-be-determined opponent.
Pitino knew full well he was facing Calipari and couldn’t have been less interested in revisiting their history, relationship etc.
“I have always had great respect for John,” he said and then pivoted hard away from the topic. “We have not seen this size and athleticism all year. Creighton has a 7-foot-2 center but athleticism-wise, we have not seen this this year. We know what we’re up against, obviously. They had a lot of injuries, that’s why they opened up 0-5. I don’t know where they finished in the SEC… eighth or ninth. I’m glad we’re not in the SEC. That talent level in that conference is amazing to me.”
Does Pitino enjoy the chess match of preparing to face someone he’s tangled with so many times?
“I don’t go against coaches, we go against teams. He doesn’t have to worry about me,” he said. “My jump shot is long gone. We’re preparing for his players. He’s preparing for our players. John and I don’t play one on one anymore.”
If it’s not a rivalry, it is something. They’ve matched up on several different sidelines:
- Kentucky vs. UMass
- Celtics vs. Nets
- Louisville vs. Memphis
- Louisville vs. Kentucky
On Saturday the two Hall of Famers will add St. John’s vs. Arkansas that list.
Calipari has won 13 of their 23 college matchups, but Pitino will be the heavy favorite this time. His No. 2-seeded Red Storm rolled over Omaha, on Thursday while Calipari’s No. 10-seeded Razorbacks knocked off Kansas.
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