Richard Pitino has spent years carving out his own identity in the coaching world, but his latest career move has set the stage for one of the most intriguing storylines in college basketball. The 42-year-old son of St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino has already built an impressive résumé—leading New Mexico to a 27-8 record, securing a Mountain West regular-season title, and guiding the Lobos to an NCAA Tournament win over Marquette before falling to Michigan State. With that kind of track record, it was no surprise when Villanova came calling for his services.

But here’s where things took an unexpected turn. Pitino was on the verge of signing with Villanova. The deal was essentially in place, and it seemed like a perfect fit. Yet, one crucial detail kept him from putting pen to paper that even fans are now buzzing about!

Well, its a last-minute offer from Xavier that changed everything. Desperate to stabilize its program after head coach Sean Miller’s sudden departure to Texas, Xavier wasn’t going to let Pitino slip away without a fight. They countered with a significantly better monetary deal, and just like that, the landscape of the Big East shifted.

Pitino took the offer.

Now, he steps into a high-pressure situation, inheriting a program that had been thrown into chaos just days earlier. The Musketeers ended their season after beating the Longhorns in the First Four before losing to Illinois in the first round. That was Miller missing the Round of 32 for a second consecutive season.

But this isn’t just about Xavier getting their guy. This is about the Big East getting one of the most fascinating rivalries college basketball has seen in years.

With Richard Pitino taking over at Xavier and his father, Rick Pitino, leading St. John’s, we now have a father-son showdown built into the conference schedule. The younger Pitino has been in the circle for over a decade now, having coached Florida International in 2013, followed by Minnesota in 2014 and the Lobos in 2022. He has had a lot to learn from his father, the only coach to lead 6 different school to an NCAA Tournament, over the years.

“Stylistically defensively we really think the same things. I think his commitment to excellence is something that I marvel at and something that I certainly try to mimic as best I can,” he had said last week. Now we can see them put to test every time Xavier and St. John’s square off. It won’t be just another game now—it’s a battle for bragging rights within the Pitino household. Fans wasted no time reacting to the drama.

Richard Pitino shocks the Big East with the beginning of a new rivalry!

While Richard was expected to draw criticism for the decision he made, nothing as such happened. In a surprising twist, fans couldn’t appreciate his decision more than they did in the comment section. “I also think he fits better at Xavier than Villanova,” one fan noted on Reddit. “Expectations are a bit higher at Nova, and I think Xavier can’t attract as big of a name as they can.”

And that assessment isn’t wrong. No doubt, Villanova boasts two national championships in the last decade, but Xavier operates under a different set of expectations. The Musketeers want to win, but the pressure isn’t quite as suffocating as it would be in Philadelphia. Xaviers haven’t made an Elite Eight appearance since 2017 and made it to the Round of 32 only once in 7 years. So the program isn’t gonna say pedal to the metal just yet, but Pitino could get them going.

However, as mentioned, the move isn’t just about Xavier getting their next coach. It’s also about the Big East getting its most fascinating storyline in years.

His arrival at Xavier would also mean he’ll go head to head with his father, Rick Pitino, twice a year in conference play. No doubt, a father-son coaching battle at this level is almost unheard of.

“We played Iona when Rick was there and St. John’s this year,” added another user. “But it might be the first time a father and son are in conference together.” The novelty of this matchup has fans buzzing. “Will this be the first time a father and son will face each other as head coaches?” one person asked.

The answer? Pretty much. While father-son coaching matchups have happened before, the Big East has never seen anything like this. “I’m just glad it’s not Chris Mack. Go and beat Daddy, Little Rick!” another User summed up the buzz around this unexpected twist.

And, honestly, it would be more exciting than you may think! Hall of fame coach, Rick Pitino is a two time national champion and one of the sports’ sharpest minds. Above all, he’s Richard’s father. If anyone knows how to exploit Richard’s tendencies, it’s him. For sure, their first matchup won’t just be about X’s and O’s—it’ll be a psychological chess match. But before reaching to that stage a major challenge awaits Pitino Jr. It is about roster management at Xavier.

His former point guard at New Mexico, Donovan Dent, has entered the transfer portal, and speculation is already swirling that Pitino might bring him to Xavier. If he can land key transfers and quickly establish his system, the Musketeers could be a dark horse in the Big East. And as for Villanova? Their coaching search just got a lot more complicated.

“Well, this is certainly interesting,” another fan noted. “Have to wonder what’s next for Villanova now that Willard’s reportedly staying and now this.”

Indeed, with Pitino out of the picture and Seton Hall’s Kevin Willard seemingly staying put, the Wildcats must find another candidate to lead them into a new era.