Rick Pitino and the St. John’s Red Storm are heading to the Sweet 16 of this year’s NCAA Tournament. The program has made it this far for the first time since 1999. However, this year, the coach is looking to exact the revenge he’s been holding onto for the past 34 years.
On Sunday, the Red Storm secured a buzzer-beater 67-65 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks in the second-round of the tournament. They will face the Duke Blue Devils in the Sweet 16. In the postgame presser, Pitino recalled his infamous loss to Duke back in 1992.
The St. John’s coach hopes that this time, he defeats the Blue Devils.
“I’ve been on winning at the buzzer, and losing at the buzzer,” Pitino said. “You win some, you lose some. I’m hoping we can get Duke at the buzzer next to make up for that Christian Laettner shot.”
During the 1991-92 season, Rick Pitino served as the coach of the Kentucky Wildcats. He helped them emerge as the regular-season and conference tournament champions, while qualifying for March Madness.
Pitino and his team made it to the Elite Eight, where they faced Duke. In the last second of the game, retired NBA star Christian Laettner made a jumping shot that sealed the win for his team.
Duke went on to face Michigan in the national championship game and took home the trophy after a 71-51 victory. However, it looks like Pitino is still holding onto that devastating loss while preparing to face them with St John’s this year.
Rick Pitino Discusses Dylan Darling’s Buzzer-Beater After 67-65 Victory Over Kansas
Against the Jayhawks on Sunday, guard Dylan Darling was not having the best time on the court. He finished with two points, one rebound, and four assists, while making one of his five field goal attempts.
However, Darling’s buzzer-beater two points were the reason St. John’s will compete in the Sweet 16. In the postgame press conference, Rick Pitino discussed the moment.
“Here’s the amazing thing and the funniest thing,” Pitino said. “We’re gonna run a play, and Bells comes up to me and says (run this play). So I walk away and said, ‘Wait a second, he hasn’t scored a bucket and he wants to run a play for himself.’ And then I’m thinking as I’m walking, ‘but he’s Bells.’ And not only did he do it, but he went with his right hand. So, real proud of him.”
The St. John’s vs. Duke showdown will take place on Friday at Capital One Arena in Washington.
Also Read: Rick Pitino Throws Shade at His Own Team As St. John’s Escape Narrow Win vs Bill Self’s Kansas
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