The Heavyweights - Pitino vs Hurley

[RuffRuff]

Spending two days at Madison Square Garden, it was impossible to miss the sea of red and the unmistakable resurgence of St. John’s basketball under Rick Pitino. In an era where great rivalries are fading, Pitino vs. Dan Hurley has emerged as one of the most explosive and compelling coaching duels in college basketball.

The contrast is what makes this one so irresistible. Pitino, the Hall of Fame mastermind, embodies old-school grit, exhaustive prep, with teams built on relentless physicality. He chooses the veteran profile, tough, and ready to go to war. Meanwhile, Hurley, the modern firebrand, has transformed UConn into a juggernaut of development and cutting-edge offense, steering the Huskies to back-to-back national titles and redefining dominance.

After being part of both of UConn’s scorched-earth championship runs, Pitino punched back with a flawless portal pull, crafting a team with his signature edge, swagger, and discipline. And it’s working. While UConn is navigating a “down year” by their new elite standard, St. John’s has matched their 18 Big East wins and now looks like a legitimate title threat.

This sets the stage for a spectacular next few years, before either a Pitino retirement or Hurley’s leap to the NBA alters the landscape. We are witnessing two Big East maniacs at their peak—full of fire, bravado, and an unrelenting desire to dominate. Pitino’s counterpunch in the portal was swift and devastating—now the question is, how does Hurley respond? And more importantly, how much of his next move will be dictated by the bruising physicality St. John’s just reintroduced to the fight?

 

[nycscooby]

SJU!

 

[nycscooby]

F them

 

[sledog]

Pitino does seem to have that commanding posture.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I hate that I am at a Big East final and UConn isn’t playing. But, free tix are free tix.

 

[Glastonhusky]

Spending two days at Madison Square Garden, it was impossible to miss the sea of red and the unmistakable resurgence of St. John’s basketball under Rick Pitino. In an era where great rivalries are fading, Pitino vs. Dan Hurley has emerged as one of the most explosive and compelling coaching duels in college basketball.

The contrast is what makes this one so irresistible. Pitino, the Hall of Fame mastermind, embodies old-school grit, exhaustive prep, with teams built on relentless physicality. He chooses the veteran profile, tough, and ready to go to war. Meanwhile, Hurley, the modern firebrand, has transformed UConn into a juggernaut of development and cutting-edge offense, steering the Huskies to back-to-back national titles and redefining dominance.

After being part of both of UConn’s scorched-earth championship runs, Pitino punched back with a flawless portal pull, crafting a team with his signature edge, swagger, and discipline. And it’s working. While UConn is navigating a “down year” by their new elite standard, St. John’s has matched their 18 Big East wins and now looks like a legitimate title threat.

This sets the stage for a spectacular next few years, before either a Pitino retirement or Hurley’s leap to the NBA alters the landscape. We are witnessing two Big East maniacs at their peak—full of fire, bravado, and an unrelenting desire to dominate. Pitino’s counterpunch in the portal was swift and devastating—now the question is, how does Hurley respond? And more importantly, how much of his next move will be dictated by the bruising physicality St. John’s just reintroduced to the fight?

I was wondering about our recruiting going forward as well. Yes, we need to get stronger and more athletic, but I don't think we should recruit just to beat St John's, we should aim higher. I wouldn't say last years team was super athletic, we just had the right mix of experience and talent. It's a tough balancing act.

 

[RuffRuff]

I was wondering about our recruiting going forward as well. Yes, we need to get stronger and more athletic, but I don't think we should recruit just to beat St John's, we should aim higher. I wouldn't say last years team was super athletic, we just had the right mix of experience and talent. It's a tough balancing act.

It is a balance but we’ll know exactly what Pitino is going to look to pull together - his teams will be fast and physical, and usually long. I don’t know how personal Hurley takes it. He was king of the hill there and now Pitino is stealing a lot of thunder. He just boatraced the BE field, and may have 3 core players back next year.

 

[Son of Robert]

Spending two days at Madison Square Garden, it was impossible to miss the sea of red and the unmistakable resurgence of St. John’s basketball under Rick Pitino. In an era where great rivalries are fading, Pitino vs. Dan Hurley has emerged as one of the most explosive and compelling coaching duels in college basketball.

The contrast is what makes this one so irresistible. Pitino, the Hall of Fame mastermind, embodies old-school grit, exhaustive prep, with teams built on relentless physicality. He chooses the veteran profile, tough, and ready to go to war. Meanwhile, Hurley, the modern firebrand, has transformed UConn into a juggernaut of development and cutting-edge offense, steering the Huskies to back-to-back national titles and redefining dominance.

After being part of both of UConn’s scorched-earth championship runs, Pitino punched back with a flawless portal pull, crafting a team with his signature edge, swagger, and discipline. And it’s working. While UConn is navigating a “down year” by their new elite standard, St. John’s has matched their 18 Big East wins and now looks like a legitimate title threat.

This sets the stage for a spectacular next few years, before either a Pitino retirement or Hurley’s leap to the NBA alters the landscape. We are witnessing two Big East maniacs at their peak—full of fire, bravado, and an unrelenting desire to dominate. Pitino’s counterpunch in the portal was swift and devastating—now the question is, how does Hurley respond? And more importantly, how much of his next move will be dictated by the bruising physicality St. John’s just reintroduced to the fight?

Good post @RuffRuff . As UConn continues to foster both historical and present day rivalries, Pitino and St. John's is an invigorating shake-up of the BIG EAST hierarchy, and a solid shot of adrenaline for the BIG EAST conference. Looking forward to Villanova's resurgence back into the national picture as well as some others. From a basketball perspective I love the BIG East conference, and I think UConn belongs here. There are a lot of variables in play, I get it, the revenue sharing, football, NIL, how to maximize our media contracts, money, money, money, but this is our footprint, this is where we live and breathe, and I would not want to go play elsewhere.

 

[RuffRuff]

Good post @RuffRuff . As UConn continues to foster both historical and present day rivalries, Pitino and St. John's is an invigorating shake-up of the BIG EAST hierarchy, and a solid shot of adrenaline for the BIG EAST conference. Looking forward to Villanova's resurgence back into the national picture as well as some others. From a basketball perspective I love the BIG East conference, and I think UConn belongs here. There are a lot of variables in play, I get it, the revenue sharing, football, NIL, how to maximize our media contracts, money, money, money, but this is our footprint, this is where we live and breathe, and I would not want to go play elsewhere.

Me too - would love to see Nova back. All the more fun.