Rick Pitino discusses NCAA Tournament favorites, predicts national champion
Rick Pitino knows what it takes to win games in the NCAA Tournament. The St. John’s head coach has advanced to the Final Four seven times and won a pair of national titles during his legendary coaching career.
Pitino recently joined Pardon My Take and was asked for his thoughts on the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
He shared a handful of teams that he believes are ready to make some noise.
“Obviously Houston and Connecticut are two that stick out in your mind,” Rick Pitino said. “I think Kentucky’s interesting, because they score so many points. Their offense is so great. Can they do that for six games without getting into a lockdown game with Virginia, a team like that? So can they do it? But they’re very talented on offense, as talented as anybody in the nation.”
Pitino continued listing off his contenders.
“Obviously Marquette is a great basketball team, because they have a very unusual style of play, and they can hurt you come tournament time if you’re not ready for that style of play,” Pitino said.
“I think Tennessee has the ability to win a national championship. Out west, I don’t see anybody out west that can do it, with the exception of Kansas. And I don’t think this is one of Bill’s great teams. So I question that. Arizona’s definitely a team, has the right style of play. They’re very fast up and down the court. Terrific basketball coach.”
To this point, Rick Pitino had listed seven teams that he believes can make a run. However, he hadn’t listed the team that he expects to win it all.
“The last one’s the favorite. I said it in a Tweet about a month ago, I think Purdue’s going to win it,” Pitino said.
“Tony Bennett lost to the 16 seed, the first time a 1 seed’s lost. He’s one of the great guys in our business. Jay Wright, Tony Bennett, are two of the greatest people, as people. I texted him, I said, ‘Tony, you’re going to go to multiple Final 4s, you’re going to win a national championship. I know you’re down about losing to a 16 seed.’ The following year he won a championship. … Purdue last year lost to FDU, and I feel that it’s their year. I think they’re going to win the national championship this year.”
Purdue is led by National Player of the Year Zach Edey, who has taken his game to another level this year. However, the Boilermakers also have more experience and shooting around Edey.
Purdue started two freshmen guards last season in Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer. They are now starting as sophomores and playing much better and more consistent.
Pitino was asked how he would defend the Boilermakers.
“Prior to this it was just Zach Edey and some good players, but now they’ve got all the answers. They’re better defensively. [Matt Painter’s] a great coach. They’re better offensively. They have more weapons around him,” Pitino said.
“So I think they can win it, Houston could win it, certainly. Tennessee has a really good basketball team. Arizona’s terrific. But this is a year that there’s eight teams, nine teams that can win it.”