An already action-packed Large East Convention acquired much more attention-grabbing on Tuesday evening.
The information that coach Richard Pitino was leaving his put up at New Mexico to take over at Xavier despatched shockwaves by way of the school basketball world. The transfer not solely units up no less than two matchups per season together with his father Rick and St. John’s, nevertheless it additionally marks the tip of a four-year tenure in Albuquerque that noticed the youthful Pitino carry the Lobos again to prominence.
Pitino, 42, leaves New Mexico after an 88-49 stint that noticed the crew make the final two NCAA Tournaments after a decade-long drought. The Lobos additionally gained the 2024 Mountain West event and the convention’s regular-season title in 2025 underneath Pitino’s management.
The hope for Xavier is that Pitino is a transformational rent for this system, simply as he was for New Mexico. Contemplating the underwhelming tenure that Sean Miller had at Xavier, the truth that Miller left for the Texas job is probably going a blessing in disguise for the Musketeers’ outfit. Many followers may overlook Xavier went to eight Candy 16s since 2004. They could additionally overlook that the Musketeers are lower than a decade faraway from incomes a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Event in 2018.
Household Historical past
We noticed considerably of a glimpse into the way forward for the Pitino’s father/son “rivalry” in November, when Rick hosted his son and the Lobos for a nationally televised assembly at Madison Sq. Backyard. The daddy knew finest in that one, because the Johnnies took an 85-71 victory to provide Pitino a 3-1 all-time benefit over his son.
I put rivalry in citation marks as a result of Rick can be Richard’s largest fan in the identical breath. Simply see this look of delight because the Godfather watches his son take after him within the household enterprise.
Rick Pitino has made the journey to Cleveland to observe his son Richard Pitino.
Lower than 24 hours after St. John’s season got here to an finish, he’s now within the stands rooting and supporting his son. pic.twitter.com/sbKUDVrqHJ
— CBS Sports activities (@CBSSports) March 24, 2025
The youthful Pitino’s lone win over his father got here in a 2022 matchup between New Mexico and Iona, with the Lobos knocking off the Gaels 82-74 at The Pit.
The irony in that recreation? Iona’s main scorer that afternoon was Nelly Junior Joseph, who transferred to New Mexico within the ensuing offseason and spent his remaining two collegiate seasons being an important a part of the Lobos’ rise.
Rick hosted his son at Louisville of their preliminary two conferences, the primary occurring whereas Richard was at FIU in 2012 and the second occurring in his first season at Minnesota in 2014. Each resulted in double-digit losses for the son.
When It Rains, It Pours… Even In New Mexico
Pitino’s departure was the second of two main blows to the New Mexico program on Tuesday. Mountain West Participant of the Yr Donovan Dent introduced his intention to enter the switch portal. Whereas Dent didn’t rule out a return to New Mexico in his preliminary assertion, it’s virtually not possible to think about him staying now that Pitino has additionally exited.
The Lobos additionally misplaced beginning guard Tru Washington to the portal, an 11.1 level per recreation scorer who was additionally the crew’s only defender. Washington’s 2.1 steals per recreation ranked third within the Mountain West and thirty first nationally. To not point out, the massive man Jr. Joseph is out of eligibility. New Mexico now turns into the main instance of a crew that merely turned too good for its personal good on this cutthroat period of NIL.
Washington could also be a candidate to observe Pitino to Xavier, however I think about Dent can be taking part in for a blue blood subsequent season.
