I'm looking sincerely for some essays from former players and knowledgeable fans. What does he do to make that happen?
What makes a coach like Rick Pitino able to take a school, in just two years, high into the D1 rankings: opinions please?
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I think a big part of it is he's simply a gifted, all time caliber coach...........just like in any profession.......singers, athletes etc..........people separate themselves from a talent perspective ie: Ace Bailey over a Jordan Derchack........both division 1 players but a massive difference in talent. Pittino over Pikeill....it's the same thing........Our coach is average/above average.............Pittino.....an all time great.
Never heard of Rick Patino, but the St John's coach (not sure his name, might be Pitano or something?) has a fuckload of NIL money to buy good players and on top of that is a good coach.
It's not rockat sciance.
This isn't complicated
Huge NIL $ + Legendary Coach
Huge NIL $ + Legendary Coach
Watch any highlights of them. Unbelievable coach. They run plays on offense and defense that you haven’t see at Rutgers since the dawn of the 3 point basket
They play unbelievable defense. They are really good athletes and they work really hard.
That sweet sweet Vitamin Water money.
Isn't it kind of nuts that someone became a billionaire because they founded a water company of all things?
Isn't it kind of nuts that someone became a billionaire because they founded a water company of all things?
Perhaps, but the league is playing old style physical BE ball
Looking forward to Friday nights SJ/UConn game
This. One of the greatest to ever coach the game. And experience. He’s at what, 4 decades at this level?
This One.......Vitamin Water guy is paying for Arena upgrades and providing unlimited funds to win.
Still a great coach though....
Pitino was a great coach before coming to St.Johns.His teams execute basic fundamentals at a high level.He recruits players that fit his style of up tempo offense and full court pressure defense.Pitinio is also a great game day coach making adjustments that resulted in wins after being behind by double digits.His name recognition attracts top tier recruits similar to Stringer when she was coach at Rutgers.
Yeah they pretty abismal shooting the ball. They have tournament upset written all over them with a mid major that can chuck the ball upWhen was last tournament run with offense like this though
This is a great point. Pitino's teams always will defend to the death. It's when he has shooters that his teams go to the next level.
Almost every single guy here, didn't answer your question here. "Good coach."
I know zero about hoops, but I could have answered why Petino can, in 2yrs make a big time winner = "Good coach." ...So could a half dozen legends, "Good coach."
Who can write out a thoughtful explanation of what a good BBall coach is? As a football guy, I can tell you FBall coaches want to be Saban Types....but only a few can be Saban Types. I don't have the time to write an essay, but I will tell you Saban Types have a Look, the have a walk, the way they Speak, the way Bark on the field, they way they pick apart every single position on the field and in films....so players sit up, respect and do. And a Saban Types "do" is better than the not-good-coaches. A carizma that gets players to follow their X&Os. Saban Types start in D2...or low D1, climb, then the money pulls in the 5 Stars..and off they go.
BBall? How do you get 5 dudes to do, whatever they do out there?
Not the only big factor.
How is Arkansas doing with the millions paid for Johnell Davis and Jonas Aidoo?
How about Kansas St with Dug McDaniel and Hawkins?
Thanks, Moz: you got what I was looking for. The kind of thoughtful, knowledgeable insights that Scarlet Dave, toby83, and RUJmm gave me in their answers above is the kind of stuff I was looking for.
Not every transaction is going to work out. There is an element of risk involved. But having the support improves your chances.
Rick Pitino has been successful for decades.
Why?
1) Brilliant at Xs and Os
2) Unique ability to identify talented players and develop them
3) Willingness to adapt quickly to changes in the game, on the court and off it
4) Experience coaching at all levels of the sport - college, NBA, Europe, national team
What other basketball coach in the history of the sport possesses these traits?
One example of coaching Rick can do that no other coach can: Billy Donovan.
Back in the day, Billy played at Providence and averaged 2 points his freshman year and 3 points his sophomore year.
Then Rick was hired as Providence coach. Billy told Rick he wanted to transfer to get more playing time. Rick called the coaches at the schools Billy was interested in, such as Fairfield. The coaches told Rick they had no interest in Billy.
The grin on Rick's face widened.
The reason is the NCAA adopted the 3 point shot, and Rick new his Providence team had shooters, including Billy, who could shoot 3s as good as any team in the country. Rick named Billy starting point guard and he led team in scoring with 15 per game. The next year, Billy scored 21 per game and led Providence, a tiny Catholic school in a state with little basketball talent, to the Final Four.
Not many coaches, if any, can do this.
Why?
1) Brilliant at Xs and Os
2) Unique ability to identify talented players and develop them
3) Willingness to adapt quickly to changes in the game, on the court and off it
4) Experience coaching at all levels of the sport - college, NBA, Europe, national team
What other basketball coach in the history of the sport possesses these traits?
One example of coaching Rick can do that no other coach can: Billy Donovan.
Back in the day, Billy played at Providence and averaged 2 points his freshman year and 3 points his sophomore year.
Then Rick was hired as Providence coach. Billy told Rick he wanted to transfer to get more playing time. Rick called the coaches at the schools Billy was interested in, such as Fairfield. The coaches told Rick they had no interest in Billy.
The grin on Rick's face widened.
The reason is the NCAA adopted the 3 point shot, and Rick new his Providence team had shooters, including Billy, who could shoot 3s as good as any team in the country. Rick named Billy starting point guard and he led team in scoring with 15 per game. The next year, Billy scored 21 per game and led Providence, a tiny Catholic school in a state with little basketball talent, to the Final Four.
Not many coaches, if any, can do this.
Thanks, Koko.
Just the kind of review I was looking for.
(Funny that today's New York Times reviewed the same question about Pitino in its lead sports section article just a few days after I posted my request for opinions!)
Generally, though, it is still a mystery, isn't it: what makes a Wooden a Wooden, a Saban a Saban, a Parcells a Parcells, a Pitino a Pitino, a Belichick a Belichick, etc. It's got to be some rare combination of X and O expertise and unique instincts about talent recognition and teaching and motivation methods. (Oh, and your number 3 above!)
Thanks. I'm not a New York Times subscriber but their paywall is weak so I read the article. Will be interesting to see how long the Pitino-Repole momentum lasts.