"Rick Pitino has brought a team to the Sweet 16 for the 14th time in his Hall of Fame career, and has the highest all-time winning percentage among Division I coaches who have at least six trips to the regional semifinals of March Madness, with a record of 12-1."
"Laettner's turnaround jumper, which came at the end of a perfect full-court pass from Grant Hill, is widely regarded as one of the all-time March Madness moments. The memory of that play still stings for Pitino, even when he's least expecting it."
"Pitino expressed his frustration about being encouraged to watch a show that referenced Laettner, saying, 'That's cruel. Why would my staff and friends tell me to watch (that)?'"
"Curiously, the Duke-Pitino storyline was made possible because of a game-winning buzzer beater from one of Pitino's own players, Dylan Darling, against the Jayhawks."
Rick Pitino, the St. John's basketball coach, has achieved his 14th Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament, boasting a remarkable 92.3% winning percentage among Division I coaches with at least six regional semifinal trips. As St. John's prepares to face Duke, memories of Christian Laettner's iconic game-winning shot against Kentucky in 1992 resurface for Pitino. Despite his reluctance to watch shows, he was drawn into a series that referenced Laettner, prompting his humorous frustration. Pitino aims to lead his team to victory against Duke, seeking redemption for past losses.
Read at USA TODAY
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