The Pitinos will now coach against each other in the Big East

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The Big East is about to be all about the Pitinos for men’s college basketball.

CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reported on Tuesday night that Richard Pitino would be leaving New Mexico for Xavier, setting him up to regularly face off against his father, St. John’s coach Rick Pitino.

Both Pitinos have been eliminated from 2025 March Madness, and now they’ll coach against each other in the fall for the 2026 Big East title (along with all the other teams in contention, of course).

The elder Pitino led St. John’s to a banner season and a conference championship this season, while the younger Pitino won the Mountain West with New Mexico. The two teams actually played each other in New York during the regular season this past November, with St. John’s winning 85-71.

Both earned automatic bids to the 2025 men’s NCAA tournament as a result, and both were eliminated in this past weekend’s Round of 32. Now, they’ll work as opposing coaches in the Big East.

The symmetry here is absolutely fascinating and the college hoops storylines will be plentiful. St. John’s playing Xavier this upcoming season really will be must-watch basketball.

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Source link : https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2025/03/25/the-pitinos-will-now-coach-against-each-other-in-the-big-east/82664264007/

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Publish date : 2025-03-26 02:24:00

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