Pitino Reunites with Calipari in NCAA Tournament Clash
In the spring of 1988, as Rick Pitino took on the role of head coach for the New York Knicks, he also agreed to help the University of Massachusetts select a new men’s basketball coach—a commitment stemming from his strong connection to his alma mater. Pitino proposed John Calipari, then an assistant at the University of Pittsburgh. UMass hired Calipari for an annual salary of $63,000, during which Pitino reportedly funded a country club membership for him. This marked the beginning of a competitive rivalry between the two coaches.
This Saturday, the longstanding rivalry rekindles as Pitino’s No. 2 seed St. John’s faces Calipari’s No. 10 seed Arkansas in the second round of the NCAA tournament at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I. Both teams advanced with wins in their opening games: Arkansas triumphed over No. 7 seed Kansas, while St. John’s convincingly defeated No. 15 seed Omaha.
Pitino boasts 885 career wins, ranking fifth all-time among Division 1 coaches, while Calipari has 876, tying him with the legendary Adolph Rupp for eighth. Pitino was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, followed by Calipari in 2015.
Saturday’s matchup will mark the 24th encounter between the two coaches in their college careers, including their fifth meeting in NCAA tournaments. At 66 years old, Calipari leads their series 13-10, while Pitino, now 72, reflects on their competitive history, which includes a split record in their four previous NBA games against each other during the late 1990s.
During a recent press conference, Pitino appeared to minimize the rivalry with Calipari, stating that his strongest competitive resentment was with Jim Calhoun in the past. He affirmed, “The only time with John (where they were major rivals) was when he was at Kentucky and I was at Louisville,” signaling mutual respect rather than animosity.
The two first met on the court in December 1991 when Pitino’s Kentucky team defeated UMass 90-69. While Pitino had a 4-1 advantage during their coaching years in Kentucky and UMass, Calipari’s lone victory was a significant upset in 1995. Their paths diverged as they continued their careers, with notable matchups in subsequent years after Calipari took the reins at Kentucky.
As both coaches prepare for the upcoming game, Pitino emphasizes team dynamics over personal rivalry. He acknowledged the talent of Arkansas, stating, “We’ve not seen that,” in reference to the size and athleticism of their players, while also expressing confidence in St. John’s, which has been on a winning streak, suggesting a thrilling showdown awaits.
