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Pitino vs. Self: Coaching Legends Clash in NCAA
22 Mar
Summary
- Rick Pitino and Bill Self, both Hall of Fame coaches, will face off in the NCAA tournament.
- Pitino, at 73, is the oldest Division I men's basketball coach and has embraced the transfer portal.
- Both coaches have adapted to significant changes in college basketball over their long careers.
St. John's coach Rick Pitino and Kansas coach Bill Self are set to face off in a significant NCAA tournament game. Pitino, at 73, is the oldest Division I men's basketball coach and has notably adapted to the evolving landscape of college basketball, including embracing the transfer portal.
Both Pitino and Self are Hall of Fame coaches with impressive career win totals and two national championships each. Their matchup underscores their ability to "stand the test of time" amidst constant changes in the sport.
Self praised Pitino's adaptability, noting his success with evolving rules like the shot clock and three-point line, and more recently, unrestricted player transfers and NIL deals. Pitino revitalized St. John's by bringing in 10 transfer players.
This is the second meeting between the two coaches; Self's Kansas team defeated Pitino's Iona squad 96-83 in November 2021. The winner of Sunday's game will advance to the Sweet 16, a stage Pitino's program has not reached since 1999.
