As this postseason kicked off, there were two matchups we were all hyped for. Rick Pitino vs. John Calipari and, obviously, Pitino vs. Tom Izzo. We got the first one early, with Pitino’s squad clashing with Calipari. But Michigan State and St. John’s? We just knew that battle was coming later. Both teams were legit contenders, after all—St. John’s with a 31-5 record, Michigan State at 28-6. Then, boom. Coach Cal’s squad ended Pitino’s storybook season. Just like that. And we all accepted it—no Pitino vs. Izzo this year.

Well… not so fast, people.

“Da-n family’s ruining my life here.” That’s what Tom Izzo had to say after Michigan State barely survived Bryant. Izzo’s Spartans had cruised past No. 15 Bryant 87-62 in the first round, but what it also did was set up a second-round matchup against Richard’s No. 10-seeded Lobos, who were fresh off a 75-66 upset over No. 7 Marquette. So, it seems like for Izzo, the Pitino name was still pretty much a legitimate danger in this tournament.

We know that Rick’s encounter with Izzo has always been a talking point. Rick and Izzo have met three times in the NCAA Tournament, with Izzo holding a 2-1 edge. The most discussed ones being the 2009 Midwest Regional Final win that propelled the Spartans to the national championship game, a 64-52 victory over Pitino’s Louisville Cardinals, and a 2015 Elite Eight loss, where Louisville edged Michigan State 76-70 in overtime, being the tops. And now it was another Pitino vs. Izzo. Just with a little twist—it’s the son, not the father. But, obviously, St. John’s head coach had to be there.

He wasted no time showing up in Cleveland to cheer for his son. Just less than 24 hours after his own team’s season ended. He could be seen fully locked in, throwing up gestures and celebrating every move, embodying the intensity that defines his 884-310 career. “I revel every single day in all of it,” he’d said days earlier about his own journey. Now, that passion was directed at Richard’s Lobos.

In case you didn’t already know, 42-year-old Pitino has been following right in his dad’s footsteps, coaching college hoops for nearly two decades now. Before taking over at New Mexico in 2021, he spent eight seasons as Minnesota’s head coach, leading them to two NCAA Tournament appearances and even snagging an NIT Championship in 2013. Richard’s career began under his father’s wing—he was an assistant at Louisville from 2007 to 2009, including that 2009 loss to Izzo—and he later took his first head coaching gig at Florida International in 2012, going 18-14 in one season before moving to Minnesota. At New Mexico, he’s hit a 27-8 mark this year, proving he has more than just a famous last name.

Sure, the father-son duo has taken their respective teams to March Madness before, but this year was the first time they both made it to the second round, officially making history as the first father-son duo to pull off first-round wins in the same NCAAT. So cool, isn’t it? Not to forget that St. John’s entered with its biggest tournament win since 1991 and New Mexico with its first since 2012.

Meanwhile, Richard and Izzo have had their own fair share of battles. Twelve, to be exact, back when younger Pitino coached Minnesota in the Big Ten. There, Richard went 3-9 against Izzo’s Spartans, though their bond grew. “I did stick up for him. If you don’t stick up for coaches, who’s going to?” Izzo said, recalling how he supported Richard during his rocky Minnesota years. And Richard has returned from the praise. “We didn’t have a great amount of consistency, and he always fought for me and for guys who were on the hot seat all the time, and he didn’t need to do that,” Pitino said. “He knows how hard it is at any job. … He doesn’t need to spend time with me and do those things, but he does that. It just shows the type of person he is.”

There’s mutual respect there, sure, but tonight all bets weren’t off. For New Mexico, a Sweet 16 berth hadn’t happened since 1974. However, Izzo has reached 15 Sweet 16s in his previous 26 tournament appearances. So, obviously, he knows a thing or two more than the New Mexico coach. And it showed as Lobos, despite leading in the second half, ultimately fell 63-71. And that means, now, both Pitinos are out. But it’s worth noting that they have had great runs this season, especially Red Storm.

And Pitino is proud of his guys as he penned a beautiful message.

Rick Pitino’s got nothing but love for his St. John’s seniors

Well, that’s it for St. John’s title dreams. But if you think Rick Pitino is sitting around sulking after Red Storm’s embarrassing exit, think again. Instead of disappointment, the legendary coach took to social media to shower his seniors with gratitude, giving them their well-earned flowers for bringing the Red Storm back to life in a way nobody saw coming.

See, this season wasn’t just about wins, trophies, or even making a deep run in March. It was about something bigger. Restoring the heart and soul of St. John’s basketball. And these seniors did deliver. 

They played through pain, adversity, and all kinds of chaos to give fans something they hadn’t had in years: pride in their team. For the first time since 1985, St. John’s secured the outright Big East regular-season title. Then, because one wasn’t enough, they went ahead and won the Big East Tournament for the first time since 2000. 

And this wasn’t some boring, by-the-numbers championship run. Nope. St. John made sure to keep fans entertained with wild buzzer-beaters, insane comebacks, and clutch performances that turned doubters into believers. 

Pitino transformed this program in record time, and it was his seniors who set the tone for this revival. “Thank you, seniors. Losing always hurts, but you played with torn ligaments, sprained shoulders, and pulled groins, giving us a magical run. We will always cherish our time together,” the head coach tweeted. 

That’s pure appreciation. And trust me, those injuries weren’t just little bumps and bruises. These guys were battling through serious pain. Kadary Richmond fought through shooting struggles with a nagging shoulder injury. Luis Jr. played through visible discomfort. And Zuby Ejiofor put up a heroic 23 points and 12 rebounds against Arkansas despite being physically limited. Though the tournament run ended earlier than fans had hoped, Pitino’s tribute says it all.

These ballers rebuilt a program, reignited a fanbase, and left a legacy that’ll be talked about for years. Sure, the final loss stings, but what they accomplished will last forever.