Introduction to the 2025 NCAA Tournament
The 2025 NCAA Tournament is shaping up to be an exciting event, with several top teams and coaches vying for the championship title. St. John’s and Rick Pitino have secured a No. 2 seed, their highest in 25 years, but they face a challenging road ahead.
The West Regional: A Coaching Powerhouse
St. John’s and Pitino are part of a three-headed coaching monster at the bottom of the West Region. They are surrounded by fellow Hall-of-Famers Bill Self and John Calipari, who coach Kansas and Arkansas, respectively.
Mar 13, 2025; New York, NY, USA; St. John’s Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino coaches against the Butler Bulldogs during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Legendary Coaches and Their Achievements
Pitino has led six different programs to the NCAA Tournament, winning two national titles and appearing in seven Final Fours. His 884 wins rank fifth in NCAA Division I history. Self has been the main man at Kansas since 2003, winning two national championships and making four Final Fours, with 831 wins ranking 13th all-time in Division I. Calipari has steered his Razorbacks into March Madness in his first season, with 875 wins ranking ninth all-time.
Mar 13, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks coach Bill Self watches game play during the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
Feb 22, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari reacts to a call during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Bud Walton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
The Road Ahead for St. John’s
While a meeting with the two-time defending national champions, UConn, is unlikely, St. John’s must first focus on their first-round matchup against No. 15 Omaha. Should they advance, they will face the winner of No. 7 Kansas and No. 10 Arkansas. Pitino will not look past Thursday night’s game, having experienced first-round losses before.
Staying Focused
"I’ve lost in the first round before, so we’ll just focus on that," Pitino said. "When you have a lot of experience, you learn what not to do as much as what to do. There are a lot of things that you must understand… that you have to stay focused. This is a time of year when everybody is firing out brackets, everybody’s talking about it, and you have to understand the focus of every little thing that goes into an NCAA game."
Conclusion
The 2025 NCAA Tournament promises to be an exciting event, with top teams and coaches competing for the championship title. St. John’s and Rick Pitino face a challenging road ahead, but with their experience and focus, they are ready to take on the competition.
FAQs
For more on Rick Pitino and St. John’s, visit AMNY.com
Q: Who is coaching St. John’s in the 2025 NCAA Tournament?
A: Rick Pitino is the head coach of St. John’s.
Q: What seed did St. John’s receive in the 2025 NCAA Tournament?
A: St. John’s received a No. 2 seed.
Q: Who are the other top coaches in the West Regional?
A: Bill Self and John Calipari are the other top coaches in the West Regional, coaching Kansas and Arkansas, respectively.
