Providence, RI–A storied rivalry is set to reignite in the Ocean State as Rick Pitino and John Calipari prepare to face off once again—this time in the NCAA Tournament.
Pitino, returning to the city where he first made his mark with a Final Four run, led St. John’s to a dominant 83-53 win over Omaha on Thursday night. The victory sets up a highly anticipated second-round clash against Calipari’s Arkansas squad.
“I don’t go against coaches; we go against teams,” Pitino said. “He doesn’t have to worry about me—my jump shot is long gone. We’re both focused on our players.”
St. John’s Surges Past Omaha
RJ Luis Jr. powered the second-seeded Red Storm with 22 points and eight rebounds, helping them overcome a slow start. After missing their first five shots and falling behind 7-0, St. John’s found its rhythm, taking a five-point lead into halftime before pulling away early in the second half.
A key turning point came when St. John’s led 50-36, and Luis drilled back-to-back three-pointers. Kadary Richmond followed with two baskets, capping a 10-0 run that put the game out of reach.
“We started off tight,” Luis admitted. “It was a little bit of nerves, but we found our identity in the second half—defense and pressure. Now, we just have to learn from our mistakes and get ready for Saturday.”
JJ White led 15th-seeded Omaha (22-13) with 15 points, while Isaac Ondekane grabbed 11 rebounds. Despite their effort on the boards—pulling down 24 offensive rebounds—the Mavericks struggled offensively, shooting just 26% from the field and 5-for-36 from beyond the arc.
“I’m not happy about the rebounding,” Pitino said. “But we forced a lot of bad shots and adjusted our defense in the second half, which made a big difference.”
A Rivalry Renewed
Beyond the game itself, the real intrigue lies in the coaching matchup. Pitino and Calipari, two Hall of Famers with fiery personalities and a history of NCAA clashes, built a fierce rivalry in the 2010s while coaching at Louisville and Kentucky, respectively.
“John was at Kentucky; I was at Louisville. It’s normal,” Pitino said. “I’ve always respected him.”
Now, the two meet again in a setting that favors Pitino—Providence, where he led the Friars to a stunning Final Four run in 1987. Despite his success at multiple schools—including a national championship with Kentucky in 1996—Pitino still calls that Providence experience “magical.”
“It’s one of my favorite coaching stints of all time,” he said.
What’s at Stake
With a win over No. 10 seed Arkansas, Pitino would secure his 14th trip to the Sweet 16. If Calipari prevails, he’ll advance to the regional semifinals for the 16th time in his career.
The two coaches have met four times in the NCAA Tournament before—Pitino twice defeating Calipari’s UMass teams in the 1990s, while Calipari got the upper hand during their Kentucky-Louisville showdowns.
On Saturday, the next chapter of their rivalry unfolds—this time with a ticket to the Sweet 16 on the line.
