NEW YORK — Rick Pitino prefers not to focus on his contract in the middle of the season.
But the St. John’s head coach knows that billionaire Mike Repole suggested this week that the university “rip up” the remaining three years of his contract and give him a better one this offseason.
Advertisement
“I have no plans to move or do anything, so if it happens, it happens,” Pitino, 73, said. “If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t matter.”
Pitino is in the third season of the six-year contract he signed when St. John’s hired him in 2022. He said St. John’s spoke with his agent Wednesday, but he was not involved in any contract negotiations.
St. John’s is 70-23 under Pitino, including 19-5 this season. Last year, St. John’s won its first Big East regular season championship since 1985 and its first conference tournament title since 2000, while Pitino was named Naismith Coach of the Year.
“He’s in the bottom half of the Big East (coaching salaries). What was a decent contract maybe three years ago is an embarrassing contract today,” Repole said on the “Eye of the Storm” podcast.
Advertisement
“The right thing to do is break the contract. Let’s get him a new three-year deal. Let’s keep him here as long as he wants – because we want him here as long as he wants – and let him continue to work his magic.”
Heading into Saturday’s game at Providence, 17th-ranked St. John’s is 12-1 in the Big East and has won 10 straight.
Monday’s overtime win over Xavier was the 904th victory of Pitino’s career, moving him past Roy Williams for third place among NCAA coaches.
Repole is confident Pitino will continue coaching until he reaches 1,000 wins – a milestone Pitino said he hopes to achieve.
Advertisement
Earlier this month, Pitino acknowledged that a decision regarding his future at St. John’s would be made this offseason.
“I told everyone when I took this position, and it was officially stated, that I was going to spend three good years at St. John’s, see if we could turn it around, build it, and then after three years make a decision. (Will) the future have upward mobility?” Pitino told Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
“I’m going to make my decision after this year to see: ‘Can I continue at this level with the intensity and passion that I have?’ If I can, that would be great. I would love to coach another three to five years if I could.
The Revenge of Providence
Saturday’s game is expected to be Bryce Hopkins’ first at Amica Mutual Pavilion since being traded from Providence to St. John’s last offseason.
Advertisement
A large contingent of Providence fans booed Hopkins when the teams met at Madison Square Garden on January 3.
“We’re playing for something much bigger than any personal narrative,” said Hopkins, who spent three seasons with the Friars.
“We’re playing for a Big East championship, and Providence is the next game on our schedule. We have to be fully committed and prepare at the highest level for that.”
Providence (11-14; 4-10 vs. Big East) surprised St. John’s in the previous meeting, overcoming a double-digit deficit in the second half. St. John’s hasn’t lost since — and Hopkins views the loss as a turning point after the team’s slow start to the season.
Advertisement
“We don’t like to lose,” the striker said. “We came into the next few days and the next practices with a different mindset. Everyone was completely more locked in and just trying to build on that. I think we’ve done a great job since that game.”
NBA debut
Kadary Richmond, who played on St. John’s last year, made his NBA debut Wednesday for the Washington Wizards.
An undrafted rookie, Richmond played for Washington’s G League affiliate before signing a 10-day contract with the Wizards this week.
Richmond, 24, scored five points on 2-of-2 shooting with two rebounds, an assist and a steal in six minutes in a 138-113 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I don’t think my legacy is about 900 wins or two championships,” Pitino said. “My legacy is players thriving, and for me as a coach to see St. John’s players thriving like that is a great feeling. »
