Rick Pitino, the Hall of Fame coach of St. John’s University, achieved his 904th career win, moving into third place on the Division I all-time victories list, by defeating Xavier 87-82 in overtime on Monday night. The milestone was particularly poignant as it came against his son, Richard Pitino, who coaches the Musketeers, adding a family dimension to the achievement.
The game at Madison Square Garden was a nail-biter, requiring extra time after St. John’s tied it late in regulation. Zuby Ejiofor led the Red Storm with 25 points, including six in overtime, while Bryce Hopkins added 19 points and nine rebounds. Dylan Darling contributed 16 points off the bench, and Oziyah Sellers sealed the win with a dunk in the final seconds of overtime, capping a hard-fought contest.
This victory marked Pitino’s second win over his son in 17 days, having previously secured his 900th win against Xavier in a comeback from a 16-point deficit. The elder Pitino expressed mixed emotions, praising his son’s coaching and stating that his pride in Richard’s abilities surpasses the numerical achievement. “I think my son’s brilliant. I’m proud of him,” Rick Pitino said post-game, highlighting the personal significance over the milestone.
With this win, Pitino surpassed Roy Williams, placing him behind only Mike Krzyzewski and Jim Boeheim in career wins. The 73-year-old coach improved his record to 5-1 against his son, with fathers holding a 21-3 advantage in such Division I matchups. This underscores Pitino’s lasting influence on college basketball over several decades, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s greats.
St. John’s, ranked No. 17, extended its winning streak to 10 games and improved to 19-5 overall and 12-1 in the Big East, tying them with No. 6 UConn for the conference lead. The team has won 15 of its last 17 games, positioning itself strongly for the NCAA Tournament with aspirations for a high seed and deep postseason run.
From Xavier’s perspective, despite the loss, Richard Pitino highlighted his team’s resilience in forcing overtime despite a significant free throw disparity. St. John’s shot 28-of-41 from the line, while Xavier was 9-of-17. Tre Carroll, the Big East’s leading scorer, had 21 points and eclipsed 1,000 career points during the game, showcasing individual brilliance in a losing effort.
The result has implications for the Big East tournament seeding, with both coaches expressing a desire to avoid another matchup in the postseason. Rick Pitino humorously noted the challenge of facing his son, emphasizing the emotional and competitive dynamics involved. The win solidifies St. John’s as a formidable force in the conference, while Xavier looks to regroup.
Looking forward, St. John’s aims to maintain its momentum to secure a top conference finish, while Xavier seeks to rebound from a stretch where they have lost five of six games. The Pitino family narrative adds a rare and captivating layer to college basketball, showcasing a unique father-son coaching rivalry that continues to engage fans and analysts alike, with future encounters likely to draw significant attention.
