An already action-packed Big East Conference got even more interesting on Tuesday night.
The news that coach Richard Pitino was leaving his post at New Mexico to take over at Xavier sent shockwaves through the college basketball world. The move not only sets up at least two matchups per season with his father Rick and St. John’s, but it also marks the end of a four-year tenure in Albuquerque that saw the younger Pitino bring the Lobos back to prominence.
Pitino, 42, leaves New Mexico after an 88-49 stint that saw the team make the last two NCAA Tournaments after a decade-long drought. The Lobos also won the 2024 Mountain West tournament and the conference’s regular-season title in 2025 under Pitino’s leadership.
The hope for Xavier is that Pitino is a transformational hire for the program, just as he was for New Mexico. Considering the underwhelming tenure that Sean Miller had at Xavier, the fact that Miller left for the Texas job is likely a blessing in disguise for the Musketeers’ outfit. Many fans might forget Xavier went to eight Sweet 16s since 2004. They might also forget that the Musketeers are less than a decade removed from earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2018.
Family History
We saw somewhat of a glimpse into the future of the Pitino’s father/son “rivalry” in November, when Rick hosted his son and the Lobos for a nationally televised meeting at Madison Square Garden. The father knew best in that one, as the Johnnies took an 85-71 victory to give Pitino a 3-1 all-time advantage over his son.
I put rivalry in quotation marks because Rick is also Richard’s biggest fan in the same breath. Just see this look of pride as the Godfather watches his son take after him in the family business.
Rick Pitino has made the trip to Cleveland to watch his son Richard Pitino.
Less than 24 hours after St. John’s season came to an end, he is now in the stands rooting and supporting his son. pic.twitter.com/sbKUDVrqHJ
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 24, 2025
The younger Pitino’s lone win over his father came in a 2022 matchup between New Mexico and Iona, with the Lobos knocking off the Gaels 82-74 at The Pit.
The irony in that game? Iona’s leading scorer that afternoon was Nelly Junior Joseph, who transferred to New Mexico in the ensuing offseason and spent his final two collegiate seasons being a crucial part of the Lobos’ rise.
Rick hosted his son at Louisville in their initial two meetings, the first occurring while Richard was at FIU in 2012 and the second occurring in his first season at Minnesota in 2014. Both resulted in double-digit losses for the son.
When It Rains, It Pours… Even In New Mexico
Pitino’s departure was the second of two major blows to the New Mexico program on Tuesday. Mountain West Player of the Year Donovan Dent announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. While Dent didn’t rule out a return to New Mexico in his initial statement, it’s almost impossible to imagine him staying now that Pitino has also exited.
The Lobos also lost starting guard Tru Washington to the portal, an 11.1 point per game scorer who was also the team’s most effective defender. Washington’s 2.1 steals per game ranked third in the Mountain West and 31st nationally. Not to mention, the big man Jr. Joseph is out of eligibility. New Mexico now becomes the leading example of a team that simply became too good for its own good in this cutthroat era of NIL.
Washington may be a candidate to follow Pitino to Xavier, but I imagine Dent will be playing for a blue blood next season.
