Rick Pitino is back. Honestly, did he ever really leave? While the college basketball world was busy obsessing over NIL valuations and the chaos of the transfer portal, the "Slick Rick" show quietly—okay, not so quietly—took over Queens. The news that St. John's officially announced Rick Pitino as a finalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year award isn't just a local headline. It's a massive "I told you so" to anyone who thought the 72-year-old Hall of Famer was washed up after his stint in Greece or his time at Iona.
It's 2026. St. John's is currently sitting on a 13-5 record. They're 6-1 in the Big East. Just a couple of weeks ago, people were ready to jump ship. Following a deflating loss to Providence on January 3, Pitino did what he always does: he challenged them. He said their backs were against the wall. He questioned their "lateral quickness" (a classic Pitino-ism) and their mental toughness. And you know what? It worked. Again.
Since then, the Red Storm have rattled off four straight wins. They didn't just win; they handled Villanova 86-79 on the road and routed Marquette. When St. John's announces Rick Pitino as a finalist for these major honors, it’s a reflection of a coach who has mastered the art of the "re-load" in an era where most coaches are just trying to keep their heads above water.
The Resurgence of the Red Storm
People forget how bad things were at St. John's for a long time. We’re talking about a program that hadn't won an NCAA Tournament game since the year 2000. Then Pitino walks in. In his second season (2024-25), he led the team to a 31-5 record. That’s not a typo. Thirty-one wins. They won the Big East regular-season title and the tournament championship.
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That’s why he was a finalist for the Naismith last year, and why he’s in the conversation again now. He’s the only coach to lead six different programs to the Big Dance. Think about that for a second. It doesn't matter if it's Providence, Kentucky, Louisville, or a school in the shadows of the Throgs Neck Bridge; the guy wins.
But it hasn't been all sunshine and roses. The 2025-2026 season started with a lot of noise. St. John’s had a $10 million roster. They had the #1 transfer class in the country. And yet, they stumbled. They were 7-4 by Christmas and fell out of the Top 25. The critics were loud. They said you can't buy a locker room. They said Pitino's "professional basketball" approach—treating the roster like a Euroleague team—was failing.
What People Get Wrong About the Roster
Most fans think you just throw money at players like Ian Jackson or Bryce Hopkins and the wins follow. It’s not that simple. Pitino himself has been vocal about the "frailties" of this team. He’s basically turned into a GM who manages a trade deadline.
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Look at the lineup right now:
- Zuby Ejiofor: The heart of the team. He's averaging 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds. He’s the one guy who survived the transition and became a star.
- Bryce Hopkins: The Providence transfer who’s playing with a massive chip on his shoulder.
- Ian Jackson: The Bronx native who came back home from UNC. He’s the "one-on-one" creator Pitino craves.
The struggle earlier this season wasn't about talent. It was about point guard play. Pitino openly lamented missing out on certain transfer targets. He even said he might never go into a recruit's home again because it’s all just a "negotiation table" now. That’s the reality of the game in 2026. It’s gritty. It’s business.
The General Manager Drama
You can't talk about St. John's right now without mentioning the elephant in the room: Matt Abdelmassih. On January 13, 2026, the school parted ways with their General Manager. This was the guy who built the "war chest." He was the architect of the transfer portal dominance.
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His departure, reportedly due to "financial deals" coming under scrutiny, could have derailed the season. Instead, Pitino used it as a "us against the world" moment. It’s classic redirection. While the boosters and the athletic department were dealing with the fallout of the GM's exit, Pitino was in the gym making sure Dillon Mitchell and Oziyah Sellers were hitting their rotations.
Why This Finalist Nod Matters
When a coach like Rick Pitino is a finalist for the Naismith, it's a validation of a specific philosophy. He’s proving that you can build a championship-caliber team through the portal every single year. He’s not waiting for high school kids to grow up. He’s taking 22-year-old men and teaching them a pro system.
He’s currently 7th all-time in wins. He passed Adolph Rupp. He passed Dean Smith. If he keeps this 2026 run going, he’s going to climb even higher. The Red Storm are currently projected as a top-four seed if they can keep this momentum through February.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following this team or just getting back on the bandwagon, here’s how to watch the rest of the season:
- Watch the First 5 Minutes: Pitino's teams are notorious for high-pressure "havoc" defense early. If they aren't forcing turnovers in the first four minutes, they're tired.
- Monitor the PG Rotation: Watch how Dylan Darling and Ian Jackson split the ball-handling duties. That’s the weak point. If they're turning it over more than 12 times a game, they're in trouble.
- Check the Big East Standings: St. John's has a brutal stretch coming up. They play Georgetown on January 21. If they sweep the next three, they’re locks for a high seed.
- Listen to the Post-Game: If Pitino is praising the team, be worried. If he’s complaining about their "softness," they’re probably about to win ten in a row.
The era of the "old school" coach is supposedly dead, but Rick Pitino is currently the loudest, most successful ghost in the building. St. John's is back because they embraced the chaos, and honestly, there's no one better at coaching through a storm than Rick.