Pitino group texts: A basketball family enjoying the ride of two great seasons

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Feb. 23—There have been a lot of basketball-related boxes checked through the years for the Pitino family.

But last week on ESPN’s SportsCenter was a first.

For about four minutes on the network’s flagship show in a well-watched Sunday evening time slot, father (Rick) and son (Richard) were side by side being interviewed about the great success both were having simultaneously this season — Rick Pitino’s St. John’s sitting atop the Big East standings and Richard Pitino’s UNM Lobos atop the Mountain West.

And while the two exchanged niceties to one another on air, the real good stuff was bouncing around New York, Florida and Louisville on one of a few family text threads with the other Pitino kids — Rick’s children and Richard’s siblings plus one cousin and one close friend from Louisville.

“I just liked that they asked about officials because Richard just got a technical (the) game before (on Feb. 12 vs. Wyoming),” said Chris Pitino, Richard’s brother when asked about the SportsCenter interview.

Ahh, yes. The always dependable support of a sibling.

Truth is, there aren’t many more supportive groups than the Pitino siblings, who have lived a life only they would really understand. It’s a love they all enjoy being part of.

“Nobody knows any of the other siblings’ jobs,” Chris Pitino said. “We only talk basketball.”

This season while two Pitinos are enjoying success coaching, the siblings — sister Jacqueline and brothers Chris, Mike and Ryan along with one cousin, Matt Minardi and family friend Vinny Tatum — have been having a blast in their very exclusive group text/watch party world, connecting them from New York to Louisville to Florida.

“There are multiple family chats,” Richard Pitino said. “They have one for when we play that I’m not on. We have one when they (St. John’s) play that he’s (Rick Pitino’s) not on. So it’s very confusing and frightening at times — ‘Oh god, did I send that to the wrong chat?’

“It’s fun. I mean, their games are on a little bit earlier than…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/pitino-group-texts-basketball-family-040500019.html

Author : Albuquerque Journal, N.M.

Publish date : 2025-02-24 04:05:00

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