Rick Pitino has been a controversial figure in college basketball for decades. As his Hall-of-Fame-level coaching career has often been clouded by the numerous scandals he has been linked with. Between winning national championships, Pitino was either accused of allegedly participating in bribery and illegal benefits to multiple recruits. Overcoming this and returning to the top of college basketball hasn’t been an issue for him. Now, more details have surfaced about his $10 million NCAA privilege, which has reignited the conversation about financial inequality in college sports.

The contrast is almost surreal. While programs like Villanova and St. John’s are able to spend millions on basketball programs. SEC programs don’t have the same luxury because of they have to concentrate their spending on their football-first priorities. “It’s a problem,” the athletic director of one SEC school conceded, “Villanova and St. John’s can pour $10 million into basketball if they want. The SEC isn’t going to be able to do that because we cannot sacrifice the cash cow of football.”

This irony is particularly sharp given that power conferences were the ones who crafted stringent booster regulations in the past. And now they find themselves unable to compete with the free spenders they tried to hold accountable.

Now, NCAA has rolled out new regulations that are likely to shake things up even more. A recent settlement has put a cap on athlete compensation at $20.5 million annually, with penalties for exceeding this amount. This could hit SEC schools hard, especially since they’re already stretched thin by their football commitments.

Interestingly, schools like St. John’s, which focus mainly on basketball, may not feel the sting as much. It’s a situation where the SEC’s own rules might actually put them at a disadvantage when it comes to competing with schools like St. John’s.

Rick Pitino has weighed in on this issue, making it clear that St. John’s success isn’t just about spending big on NIL deals. Sure, they have one of the largest Nil budgets in the Big East. But Pitino points out that key players like Zuby Ejiofor and RJ Luis Jr. are actually “very low-paid”. So, despite the rumors, NIL money isn’t the main driver behind their success. Still, Pitino acknowledges that retaining talent like Ejiofor and Luis will require some financial effort, joking that the players will soon be knocking on the GM’s door asking for better deals after the season.

Rick Pitino’s pivotal offseason

Looking ahead, Pitino is gearing up for a critical offseason. The Red Storm are set to lose key graduate transfers like Aaron Scott, Kadary Richmond, and Deivon Smith, leaving three spots to fill. Pitino’s wish list? A sharpshooting wing and a rim-protecting center—players who command top-tier NIL money. And if he wants to keep players like RJ Luis and Zuby Ejiofor, their deals will need to be sweetened. Pitino has left that job to GM Matt Abdelmassih, knowing full well that the financial side of college basketball is just as important as the Xs and Os.

There’s another layer to this: The threat of poaching. With competing programs such as Arkansas handing out six-figure NIL packages even to reserves. St. John’s will have a decision to make: pony up or let Pitino outmaneuver competition. Given Pitino’s history, it’s not crazy to believe he could do so again. His 2024-25 team already overachieved relative to their budget, suggesting that great coaching can sometimes overcome a financial gap.

However, if Pitino wants to take the Red Storm from being strong contenders to actual champions, he’ll need more than just coaching brilliance—he’ll need a financial boost to match his ambitions.

The debate over financial inequality in college basketball is far from over. As the NCAA introduces new rules and schools like St. John’s find themselves in a unique position, the question remains: Can coaches like Rick Pitino continue to succeed in an era of financial disparity, or will they be left behind? Only time will tell, but for now, Pitino’s $10 million NCAA privilege is sure to keep the conversation going.