Rick Pitino is making fun of his Hall of Fame father once more.
This time due to Pitino’s recent decision to bar his squad from the line for the postgame handshake.
After Zuby Ejio’s game-winning putback jumper helped St. John defeat Providence 72-70 at the AMP on Friday night, Rick Pitino rushed to social media to defend his choice to forego handshakes with his squad after the game. A day prior, he had first announced his plan to break the custom.
Pitino wrote, “I felt my tweet about my respect for coaches and players was pretty clear.” Coaches had to intervene when we nearly got into a brawl in the handshake line during the Bryant game. Before the game, we all shake hands, but I love and respect PC so much that even though this isn’t the right moment, the fighting madness must end!
Then, New Mexico head coach Richard Pitino added:
Are your hands shaking, then?…
Are your hands shaking, then?…This link: https://t.co/60BzH0IyFu
NJ Advance Media has heard that the Big East has already removed the requirement to shake before games and left postgame up to the coaches’ discretion.
In the NBA, teams occasionally simply wave at one another after a game instead of shaking hands.
After St. John’s defeated New Mexico, 85-71, at Madison Square Garden on November 17, the two Pitinos did, in fact, shake hands. Although there was no problem with the handshake line during that game, Richard was teased by fans after his father ordered them to stop.
Tensions reportedly erupted in the handshake line following St. John’s 99-77 victory in the Bryant game, which took place on December 11 at Carnesecca Arena. Pitino stated that a fight broke out after a Bryant player elbowed St. John’s guard Devon Smith in the line, and the coaches intervened.
Following the Providence-Rhode Island game on December 7, there was also a brawl because the Providence players didn’t seem to like the way Rhody’s David Fuchs dunked as the Rams won 69-63.
post-game altercation between PC and URI. Friars don’t take it lightly, and David Fuchs dunks the ball as time runs out.The Ryan Center was rocking all day during the fierce rivalry game.The Rams emerge victorious.Follow @anBjMDtSO8 on Twitter
It has been known that Richard Pitino enjoys making fun of his father’s tweets and comments.
He claimed last month that his father’s prediction that he will eventually take Rick’s place at St. John’s was crazy.
Richard, who coaches 1-2 against his father, said in a Zoom call with reporters on Friday, “Oh, my dad is saying another crazy thing. I hope no one is listening to him.” He was probably playing around, in my opinion. I have no idea where that originated. We have never, ever had a conversation about that.
It remains to be seen if St. John’s will continue to enforce the handshake line restriction.
Despite awful free throw shooting, Red Storm prevails.
According to Tim Brando of Fox, St. John’s advanced to 10-2 and appears to be an NCAA Tournament club, even though they shot a terrible 11-of-26 from the foul line.
Pitino informed reporters, “You are supposed to lose the game if you go 11-for-26 from the line.” If we had made them, we could have won it easily, but we didn’t. We desired the difficult victory.
Once more, St. John’s had a weak first half (lost 42-29), but they bounced back in the second half (lost to Providence 43-28).
After Smith missed, Ejiofor made the game-winning putback jumper to win the match.
According to Pitino, Zuby [Ejiofor] has always been a monster.
Zuby Ejiofor’s putback jumper for @StJohnsBBall72-70 wins it at the last second.Deivon Smith had 17pic, while he had 10 and 19.Tweet: https://Fis9SkpcNT
Ejiofor stated: “Obviously, it was nice to win on the road and be on the right side of a buzzer beater.” displaying your fortitude by persevering through hardship, returning in the second half, and handling business. Everyone is free to enjoy Christmas at home.
Filipinos honor Billy Donovan.
Pitino is overjoyed that Billy Donovan was selected this week as a coach and a candidate for the Naismith Hall of Fame.
Donovan, who is currently the coach of the Chicago Bulls, was the point guard for Pitino’s Providence team in the 1987 Final Four.
Pitino remarked, “I think of Billy as a son.” He is deserving of that rafter. [Providence] has only had two Final Fours in its existence. Our basketball team was carried by Billy. Billy the Kid deserves it because without him, such goals would not be possible. He participated in the Final Four as a player, and just eight coaches in the history of the sport have won consecutive titles. I’m overjoyed that the Naismith [Memorial Basketball] Hall of Fame is calling.
A famous video of a younger Pitino and Donovan performing a drill while they were both at PC has recently surfaced. It’s unclear whether is more entertaining, Pitino’s accent or the short shorts.
A timeless piece from the vault with Billy D. and @RealPitinoThis link: https://t.co/aW49L2yqWs
Several coaches have been nominated for the Hall of Fame, including Donovan. Jim Larranaga (Miami), John Beilein (retired), and Rick Barnes (Tennessee) are also running.
The ballot also includes legendary New York City scout Tom Konchalski as a contributor. Last year, Konchalski received a Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. He died of prostate cancer in 2021.
Adam Zagoria works as a freelance journalist for NJ Advance Media, covering Seton Hall and college basketball in New Jersey. You may visit his website at ZAGSBLOG.com and follow him on Twitter at @AdamZagoria.
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