Pitino to Xavier

[Warrior of Law]

Richard, that is.

https://goxavier.com/news/2025/3/25/mens-basketball-xavier-university-names-richard-pitino-as-mens-basketball-head-coach

[Hards Alumni]

https://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=66570.575

https://x.com/JonRothstein/status/1904713194276265985?t=gntEUhv4gIKceZdGPHau_A&s=19

[Uncle Rico]

Richard, that is.

https://goxavier.com/news/2025/3/25/mens-basketball-xavier-university-names-richard-pitino-as-mens-basketball-head-coach

I don't think this is true

[Jay Bee]

X 2 cellar

[TallTitan34]

It's fine, but I'd be a little disappointed if I were an X fan.

[Scoop Snoop]

It's fine, but I'd be a little disappointed if I were an X fan.

Why?

[Uncle Rico]

Why?

I'm actually curious to watch this play out.  First hire outside the family in quite some time

[Johnny B]

Is this really that big of an upgrade for him ? Xavier has more resources?

[TallTitan34]

Why?

The fact Mack turned them down to stay at Charleston would be my biggest disappointment.  But how many times can you cycle through the same coaches.

As for Pitino, he's been good in the MWC but his time in a power conference at Minnesota was pretty disappointing.  Granted that might be more on Minnesota than it is on him.  Also, he'll now have the advantage of using the portal which he didn't have at Minnesota.

It's fine.

I'm actually curious to watch this play out.  First hire outside the family in quite some time

Agreed!

[MUbiz]

It's being reported that Mack has 3 million of NIL money to work with. If that's true, I would not leave Charleston for Cincinnati.

[Uncle Rico]

The fact Mack turned them down to stay at Charleston would be my biggest disappointment.  But how many times can you cycle through the same coaches.

As for Pitino, he's been good in the MWC but his time in a power conference at Minnesota was pretty disappointing.  Granted that might be more on Minnesota than it is on him.  Also, he'll now have the advantage of using the portal which he didn't have at Minnesota.

It's fine.

Agreed!

Did Mack turn them down? 

[Billy Hoyle]

The fact Mack turned them down to stay at Charleston would be my biggest disappointment.  But how many times can you cycle through the same coaches.

As for Pitino, he's been good in the MWC but his time in a power conference at Minnesota was pretty disappointing.  Granted that might be more on Minnesota than it is on him.  Also, he'll now have the advantage of using the portal which he didn't have at Minnesota.

It's fine.

Agreed!

It's definitely a reflection on Minnesota. Their only period of sustained success was when they were involved in a major academic fraud scandal. Since the scandal broke in 1999 Pitino has two of Minnesota's six NCAA appearances and their only tourney wins (along with an NIT title). Poor facilities, poor NIL game.

He also took UNM to their first tourney appearance since 2014 (back to back), taking over a 6-16 (2-15) team.

[TallTitan34]

Did Mack turn them down? 

There were reports Xavier was targeting him so I was assuming the statement he released about staying at Charleston was him turning them down. 

[Jay Bee]

Pitino at Minn.. the year prior, the team made the tourney. Tubby had to go because of multiple issues. So, in comes Pitino. His first year most of the starting lineup was returnees, and largely multiple year guys.. think Andre and Austin Hollins, no relation. Junior bigs Mo Walker and Elliott Eliason manned the middle, etc. Pretty good situation for an incoming coach, and won the NIT (hang a banner!).

By year 3 it's his guys. They go 8-23; 2 wins in the Big Ten. One of the worst shooting teams known to man. Just brutal. He wound up going to the tourney twice (would not have in 2020 - sub .500 team). Half of his seasons at Minnesota were sub-500, after being above in his first two years it was 2 over .500, 4 under. Had exactly one year at .500 or better in the Big Ten.

At New Mexico, no dancing in years 1 and 2. A year ago they (probably) needed to win the conference tourney to make the dance. Credit for doing so, but this was a team that started off 18-3 (6-2) before crapping the bed to a 10-8 conference finish (ugh, guess we can't talk).

This year went well with an exeperienced, tall group that was good enough for #75 best in KP Adj OE :/. 

Pitino's best eFG% team was ranked #60 in the nation and that was a decade ago.

With that I say: Good luck, X. You're gonna need it.

[Uncle Rico]

There were reports Xavier was targeting him so I was assuming the statement he released about staying at Charleston was him turning them down. 

I usually read that as, the school went in a different direction.

[Hards Alumni]

There were reports Xavier was targeting him so I was assuming the statement he released about staying at Charleston was him turning them down. 

Unless Villanova calls.  Which they may if they don't get Willard from Maryland.

[GOO]

I usually read that as, the school went in a different direction.

Correct, Mack wanted the job and was the early favorite.  X went in a different direction.  Mack was informed as they do in these cases.

[TallTitan34]

I usually read that as, the school went in a different direction.

Correct, Mack wanted the job and was the early favorite.  X went in a different direction.  Mack was informed as they do in these cases.

Ah gotcha.

While I'm not sure I'd be a fan of bringing a coach back, I'd much rather have Mack over Pitino.

[GOO]

I think it was Fanta who mentioned that the one and only Buzz Williams tried to inject himself into the X search process. I think he used the word inject to describe it. Strange if true.

I think the concern with Mack is if he still has the fire and desire. Probably a safer bet than Petino, but with NIL and immediate transfers, I'd think Petino can  pull in better players right away over Mack who has been recruiting at a much lower level. That could be a factor. Keep the school competitive immediately with Petino.

Maybe Mack stays longer if successful, but after Miller burnt them again, I'm sure they wouldn't trust anyone even someone like Mack who spent a lot of years at X and even played there. He left once just like Miller had.

Often hiring is a reaction to what just happened. For example Wojo replacing Buzz. Stability and high character replace the opposite and a character.

[79Warrior]

In what world would Buzz Williams want to Coach at X?

[Its DJOver]

In what world would Buzz Williams want to Coach at X?

The one where pretending to want it results in a pay bump from his current employer.

[Billy Hoyle]

In what world would Buzz Williams want to Coach at X?

a world in which he's trying to squeeze more money and years out of Texas A&M by using another school's opening after a spectacular display of coaching ineptitude against Michigan last week.

[Its DJOver]

I would bet Buzz waits one more year before he moves on again. He just finished his 6th at A&M so it's about that time.  I just don't think any of the remaining openings would interest him. He's losing 8 Seniors so he knows he won't have a postseason to worry about next year and can keep track of the openings. Probably hoping Sampson retires because he's running out of power conferences to rotate through.

[Hards Alumni]

I would bet Buzz waits one more year before he moves on again. He just finished his 6th at A&M so it's about that time.  I just don't think any of the remaining openings would interest him. He's losing 8 Seniors so he knows he won't have a postseason to worry about next year and can keep track of the openings. Probably hoping Sampson retires because he's running out of power conferences to rotate through.

Oh there would be lots of one way interest from Buzz to get in the door at Villanova.

[BrewCity83]

Oh there would be lots of one way interest from Buzz to get in the door at Villanova.

But the Big East is dying...   

Or whatever it was Buzz said in every TV studio that would have him in 2014.