A storm is brewing in Jamaica

[elimunelson]

Pitino is going to be a handful for us

An inside look at Rick Pitino’s two-month St. John’s overhaul

The final buzzer of Iona’s season was the starting gun for Rick Pitino.

nypost.com

 

[Orangezoo]

For how long is the question. He might spark things up but once he is gone I just don't see the Johnnies sustaining.

 

[MDCuse]

For how long is the question. He might spark things up but once he is gone I just don't see the Johnnies sustaining.

I see what you did here

 

[oldpinepoint]

There is probably a storm brewing in his pants too

 

[Eric15]

I love it. Obviously I want us to blow their doors off if we play them. But college basketball as a sport is better when Rick Pitino and St John’s/MSG are involved.

The sport needs more charismatic villains.

 

[pfister1]

It's still St. John's and the Big East isn't the Big East anymore. It hasn't been a long term destination for anyone since Louie left and if an all time great like Mullin couldn't recruit well enough there to at least have a .500 record, I'm not going to put too much money on Rick.

And he's 70......didn't they run Louie off at about that age. Good luck Rick!

 

[Orangezoo]

I see what you did here

Hoped someone would get the alternative meaning to this

 

[IthacaBarrel]

It's still St. John's and the Big East isn't the Big East anymore. It hasn't been a long term destination for anyone since Louie left and if an all time great like Mullin couldn't recruit well enough there to at least have a .500 record, I'm not going to put too much money on Rick. Good luck Rick!

Good luck with that

 

[OrangeDW]

I welcome it. There’s plenty of players out there. If we’re doing our job, we’ll always get good players regardless of who else is good.

I’d love some high quality games between highly ranked Syracuse and St. John’s teams. B-ball is more fun when NYC teams are good and MSG is hopping.

 

[JarHeadJim]

There is probably a storm brewing in his pants too

A ten second hurricane!

 

[texascpa]

It's still St. John's and the Big East isn't the Big East anymore. It hasn't been a long term destination for anyone since Louie left and if an all time great like Mullin couldn't recruit well enough there to at least have a .500 record, I'm not going to put too much money on Rick.

And he's 70...didn't they run Louie off at about that age. Good luck Rick!

"...the Big East isn't the Big East anymore." Do you mean from a coaching perspective or from a competitive perspective, because as I see it, in the last 10 years they have as many NCAA Championships (4) as the ACC.

 

[pfister1]

"...the Big East isn't the Big East anymore." Do you mean from a coaching perspective or from a competitive perspective, because as I see it, in the last 10 years they have as many NCAA Championships (4) as the ACC.

I mean all of the above. And on top of all of that, here is the footprint (see below). Nebraska is arguably further West than East... lol. Does that look like the East...without even getting into Big or Small?

But at least they have baseball....now, if only Syracuse would see that light.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Our recruiting since Red took over says otherwise.

 

[MSOrange]

For how long is the question. He might spark things up but once he is gone I just don't see the Johnnies sustaining.

I would agree. They'll have to continue to hire the right coach to sustain it, which is not unlike any school. But there are some schools with built in advantages that I'm not sure I see St John's having.

 

[721Comstock]

A ten second hurricane!

Don't sell Rick the Quick short - he's good for a full :15 seconds!!

This will be more like a tempest in a teapot.

 

[texascpa]

Don't sell Rick the Quick short - he's good for a full :15 seconds!!

This will be more like a tempest in a teapot.

Hey now, there are marathon runners and there are sprinters. Sprinting can be just as exhausting.

 

[NYCCuse826]

It's still St. John's and the Big East isn't the Big East anymore. It hasn't been a long term destination for anyone since Louie left and if an all time great like Mullin couldn't recruit well enough there to at least have a .500 record, I'm not going to put too much money on Rick.

And he's 70...didn't they run Louie off at about that age. Good luck Rick!

Mullin was an unknown. Didn't help that he wasn't winning. Players know who Pitino and what his track record is. If he hits the ground running at St John's and gets them in the tournament regularly, he won't have issues getting people to go there. Also has the backing of the Vitamin Water guy and there will be other well to do alumni who'll open up their wallets should Rick be successful.

 

[Cheriehoop]

I mean all of the above. And on top of all of that, here is the footprint (see below). Nebraska is arguably further West than East... lol. Does that look like the East...without even getting into Big or Small?

But at least they have baseball...now, if only Syracuse would see that light.

The ACC map

 

[elimunelson]

Mullin was an unknown. Didn't help that he wasn't winning. Players know who Pitino and what his track record is. If he hits the ground running at St John's and gets them in the tournament regularly, he won't have issues getting people to go there. Also has the backing of the Vitamin Water guy and there will be other well to do alumni who'll open up their wallets should Rick be successful.

Rick is going to win down there early and often.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is bananaland. Net/Net bad for Syracuse but for some intriguing regional battles, very positive. it's good going into the garden with a full house .

 

[miamicuse]

Lots of strip clubs in NYC for recruits.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Rick is going to win down there early and often.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is bananaland. Net/Net bad for Syracuse but for some intriguing regional battles, very positive. it's good going into the garden with a full house .

Net bad based on what? We are in better shape now than we were in March with him being hired. We’ve signed higher level talent than they have in 23 and 24 already.

 

[Col. Bleep]

Nice article.
Shows why Rick Pitino is so successful.
Say what you want about him...but no one gets more out of the talent he has.

He's a proven winner in college ball.
Every major college program he's had he's taken to the Final Four or won a national championship.
Providence, Kentucky, Louisville.
I fully expect SJU will be back there before he's through.

Let's rebuild and get 'em on the schedule.
Get the Garden rocking with orange vs. red again... just like it's the old Big East.

(And, by the way, as agreat a coach as he is...I never wanted him at SU because of his off court shenanigans. But would love to play him again).

 

[Hopkins16]

Pitino's age is irrelevant - some of you railing against him was probably for him being our next coach when we were recently discussing a successor to Boeheim. He is a great recruiter and coach who is highly respected by players, high school and AAU coaches. He will do anything to make something of St. John's - but there is a chance he could leave the program a mess. He is the equivalent of "Next Town Brown."

 

[bevosu]

Nice article.
Shows why Rick Pitino is so successful.
Say what you want about him...but no one gets more out of the talent he has.

He's a proven winner in college ball.
Every major college program he's had he's taken to the Final Four or won a national championship.
Providence, Kentucky, Louisville.
I fully expect SJU will be back there before he's through.

Let's rebuild and get 'em on the schedule.
Get the Garden rocking with orange vs. red again... just like it's the old Big East.

(And, by the way, as agreat a coach as he is...I never wanted him at SU because of his off court shenanigans. But would love to play him again).

I remember the year I left SU. I was hired by a company out of NYC and my district manager was a Boston University grad. Pitino had just left his position as an assistant coach at SU. I went out on a limb and told my district manager that Pitino was going to make BU a winner. He was very skeptical.

Wikipedia...

Pitino's first head coaching job came in 1978 at Boston University. In the two seasons before his arrival, the team had won a mere 17 games. During his 5-year tenure, Boston U's team slogan was, “The hardest working coach, for the hardest working team in the country”. Pitino used the full-court press for almost the entirety of each game, eventually leading the Terriers to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 24 years.

Pitino has always been a good basketball coach.

 

[Sherman20]

Rick is going to win down there early and often.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is bananaland. Net/Net bad for Syracuse but for some intriguing regional battles, very positive. it's good going into the garden with a full house .

It’s eye opening to see the difference between Pitino and Boeheim in their later years as coaches. Pitino is much more adaptable and flexible than JB, has always adjusted with the times and the way the game is being played, and is a relentless maddog in recruiting. It’s depressing to compare that to JB’s late career lackadaisical roster building, stagnant ideas, disinterest in recruiting, and allowing the program to atrophy.