Awaited Showdown Between Rick Pitino and Bill Self Has Finally Arrived
Sports Illustrated • • general
Key Points:
- Rick Pitino and Bill Self, both Hall of Fame coaches with over 1,100 college games each, are meeting for only the second time in their careers, now with a Sweet 16 NCAA tournament berth on the line.
- Pitino’s St. John’s (29–6) is a No. 5 seed on a hot streak, having won 7 straight games and not trailed for nearly 177 minutes, while Self’s Kansas (24–10), a No. 4 seed, has had a more turbulent recent performance but boasts star guard Darryn Peterson.
- Both coaches have had storied careers with multiple national championships, though Pitino’s 2013 Louisville title was vacated due to NCAA violations, and
