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Pitino and Self Clash Again in NCAA Tournament

3/22/2026

34 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Pitino vs. Self Showdown

Rick Pitino, Hall of Fame coach of St. John's, will meet Bill Self, Hall of Fame coach of Kansas, in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
This will be their second meeting after Kansas defeated Pitino's Iona in 2021.
Pitino has 914 career wins.
Self has 855.
Self acknowledged that St. John's deserved a higher seed than No. 5.

Summary

Pitino's Sweet 16 Pursuit

St. John's University will face Kansas in the second round.
Rick Pitino, the head coach of St. John's University, praised the NCAA Tournament's excitement.
St. John's defeated Northern Iowa 79-53, with Zuby Ejiofor delivering a strong performance.
The game is set for Sunday at 5:15 p.m. ET, as St. John's pursues its first Sweet 16 since 1999.

History

Historical Context

The 1999 NCAA Tournament marked a pivotal moment in college basketball, with UConn defeating Duke 77-74 on March 29, 1999, to claim their first national championship. This upset ended Duke's 32-game winning streak and initiated UConn's dynasty, which would later include five more titles. St. John's, reaching the Sweet 16 that year, now seeks to revive its legacy under Rick Pitino against Kansas, coached by Bill Self.

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Pitino vs. Self Showdown

Rick Pitino, Hall of Fame coach of St. John's, will meet Bill Self, Hall of Fame coach of Kansas, in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
This will be their second meeting after Kansas defeated Pitino's Iona in 2021.
Pitino has 914 career wins.
Self has 855.
Self acknowledged that St. John's deserved a higher seed than No. 5.

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