Rick Pitino is OPEN to NCAA Tournament expansion + how he's dealing with St. John's championship expectations

Summary

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Eye On College Basketball: Rick Pitino Talks NCAA Tournament Expansion & Managing St. John's Expectations

Podcast: Eye On College Basketball
Hosts: Matt Norlander (interviewer), Rick Pitino (guest, Head Coach, St. John’s)
Date: October 21, 2025
[Content begins at 01:21]

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Episode Overview

This episode features CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander in conversation with legendary coach Rick Pitino at Big East Media Day. Pitino, now leading St. John’s, discusses his team’s high expectations, how he’s navigating a mostly new roster, reflections on last season’s NCAA Tournament heartbreak, and offers candid thoughts about NCAA Tournament expansion and the current state of college basketball.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. St. John's Championship Expectations

• Roster Turnover & Early Challenges
  • Pitino emphasizes the unique difficulty of building a team when 10 of the players are new this year.
  • “The most difficult task is schools like Connecticut with three starters back...It’s difficult putting 10 new guys in with the other players that are returning.” (01:59)
• Similarities to Pro Basketball
  • Pitino likens modern college rosters to the NBA, with even less continuity: “In pro basketball...you get them for three or four year contracts; here you’re getting it for one year contracts. So it's different.” (02:37)
• Fulfillment in Coaching
  • Despite challenges, he still finds joy: “They’re terrific young men that I really enjoy coaching.” (02:37)

2. Carrying Over From Last Season

• Last Season’s Lessons
  • The team had a historic season but suffered an early NCAA Tournament loss to Arkansas.
  • Pitino describes the nature of March Madness: “That’s the NCAA tournament. It’s one game and the parity is here right now.” (03:48)
• Scheduling for Early Development
  • This year, he’s scheduled tough games (Alabama, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Iowa State, Baylor, possibly Houston) to identify weaknesses early:
    “I wanted to find out what we need to work on to become a great team come March.” (04:08)

3. Reflections on Tournament Losses

• Handling Defeats
  • On whether losses sting less:
    “No, it does eat at me...We were not a good three-point shooting team last year...But we were a great defensive team. So you win with your strengths and you lose with your weaknesses.” (05:11)

4. St. John's Roster & Player Highlights

• Improved Shooting
  • Pitino is optimistic about shooting:
    “Definitely Oziah Sellers, he's a great shooter. Ian Jackson's a very good shooter...Left Faris, his first name—he’s a very good shooter...We’re a better shooting team.” (05:48)
• Talented Newcomers
  • Justin Sanon: “Josan is probably…the most gifted basketball player in the team. He has the most tools, very athletic, scores the basketball...Now he’s got to learn to play defense...” (06:30)
  • Zubi Edgeofor:
    “Zubi’s the captain and the heart and soul. His work ethic is infectious...But Zubi's a marked man right now.” (07:23)

5. Handling High Expectations

• Fast Ascent & Pressure
  • On St. John’s jump to being a top-5, even No. 1, program:
    “You want it to happen as soon as you can get it there, but maintaining it and staying there is the difficult part, especially with the schedule we’re playing.” (08:15)

6. State of College Basketball in 2025

• Transfer Portal & NIL Impact
  • Players are staying in college longer due to NIL:
    “Talented players would stay longer because they can make more money staying in college than they could trying for the NBA...The talent pool’s going to be much greater, which is a good thing.” (09:30)
• Future Contracts for Stability
  • Pitino proposes multi-year contracts for college players, initiated by coaches rather than waiting for the NCAA:
    “We have to change those, coaches, and sign players to two and three-year contracts.” (10:05)

7. NCAA Tournament Expansion

• Pitino Supports Expansion
  • He’s open and positive about expanding the field from 68 to 76 teams: “Anytime you get more teams, more excitement, more TV coverage, more things to speak about, more athletes participating, it can only be a good thing.” (10:47)
  • Recalls the field size in earlier decades and asserts expansion “doesn’t hurt anything, it only helps.” (10:47)
• Matt’s Counterpoint
  • Matt voices a concern:
    “You give fans less reasons to be engaged in the first six to eight weeks of the season...” (11:28)
  • Pitino rebuts:
    “If it was a substantial number, I’d agree...It’s the greatest event in college basketball...In November...nobody really cares. It’s all about the NFL and college football right now.” (11:53)

8. Defining Success for St. John’s

• Pitino's Daily Approach
  • “I think success is defined for any coach by his daily routine of what he’s trying to accomplish that day...I don’t think you can look ahead because it’s fool’s gold. I think you just gotta take care of today.” (12:42)
  • He cautions his players against public championship talk:
    “Bryce, what we say behind closed doors needs to stay behind closed doors. Don’t be telling the media all goals, please.” (13:17)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Scheduling Top Programs:
  “That’s why I scheduled Alabama second game of the season, Ole Miss in the Garden, Kentucky in Atlanta, going to Las Vegas and playing Iowa State, Baylor and possibly Houston.” (04:08, Pitino)
• On the Transfer Portal and Stability:
  “You can’t rely on the NCAA. The NCAA takes years to change things...We have to change those, coaches, and sign players to two and three year contracts.” (10:05, Pitino)
• On the Nature of March Madness:
  “That’s the NCAA tournament. It’s one game and the parity is here right now.” (03:48, Pitino)
• Defining Success:
  “I think success is defined for any coach by his daily routine of what he’s trying to accomplish that day...I think you just gotta take care of today.” (12:42, Pitino)

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Key Timestamps by Topic

• (01:21) – Start of interview; Pitino on preseason expectations
• (02:37) – Fulfillment in relationships with new teams in the modern era
• (03:48) – Takeaways from last season’s tournament, prepping with a tough schedule
• (05:11) – Team’s shooting struggles and defensive strengths last year
• (05:48) – Who are the shooters this season? Roster breakdown
• (06:30) – Roles and potential of newcomers, esp. Justin Sanon and Zubi
• (08:15) – Managing expectations; St. John’s rise
• (09:30) – The state of college basketball, NIL, and talent retention
• (10:47) – Pitino’s thoughts on NCAA Tournament expansion
• (12:42) – How Pitino defines success for this year’s team
• (13:17) – On keeping championship talk internal

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Takeaways

Rick Pitino is cautiously optimistic about St. John’s, emphasizing improvement in shooting and the infectious work ethic of leaders like Zubi Edgeofor. He’s honest about the challenge of building chemistry with so many new players, likens the process to short-term professional contracts, and remains focused on daily improvement as the only reliable barometer of success in a volatile era.

On the big picture, Pitino welcomes NCAA Tournament expansion, sees NIL as a net positive for both talent retention and the sport’s quality, and believes more change should come from the coaching ranks rather than waiting for slow-moving NCAA reforms.

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For listeners eager for both tactical and philosophical insights on the evolving landscape of college hoops, Pitino delivers his trademark mix of candor and old-school toughness.

Transcript

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[Narrator/Commercial Voice]

This is a real good story about Bronx and his dad Ryan, real United Airlines customers.

[Rick Pitino]

We were returning home and one of the flight attendants asked Bronx if he wanted to see the flight deck and meet Captain Andrew.

[Narrator/Commercial Voice]

I got to sit in the driver's seat.

[Matt]

I grew up in an aviation family and seeing Bronx kind of reminded me of myself when I was that age.

[Narrator/Commercial Voice]

That's Andrew, a real United pilot.

[Matt]

These small interactions can shape a kid's future.

[Narrator/Commercial Voice]

It felt like I was the captain.

[Rick Pitino]

Allowing my son to see the flight deck will stick with us forever.

[Matt]

That's how good leads the way. One the only Ripetino joins us here on the Ion College Basketball podcast from Big East Media Day. All right, preseason pick narrowly to win the league over UConn Zubi, preseason league player of the Year. Where do I find you on this on this morning as we prepare for the season, Rick, what what are your thoughts on your team? What you see so far? What are you most excited about?

[Rick Pitino]

Well, I think we have 10 new players that are trying to learn each other and that's probably for all of us. In coaching, the most difficult task is schools like Connecticut with three starters back or Florida with three starters back have a big advantage because they play together, they know the coaching staff, they know the fundamentals. It's difficult putting 10 new guys in with the other players that are returning. And once we get it, I think we'll be a pretty good team.

[Matt]

Where do you get the joy, get the feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction in the job though, even with having to establish relationships, connections with so many players?

[Rick Pitino]

Well, I think, I think getting to know them better, it's not like establishing A serious relationship for three years, four years. You see these guys for eight months and then it gone. But that's sort of like professional basketball somewhat. But even worse to that. But at least in, in pro basketball, you get them for three or four year contracts, you're getting it for one year contracts. So it's, it's diff, it's different. But I'm not complaining because they're terrific young men that I really enjoy coaching. Yeah.

[Matt]

What was your, you had a, you had a really, really, really good season last season. I mean it was the best in, in the broad view, it was the best for the program in a quarter century. I was there when, when you guys were upset, obviously against Arkansas. But what do you take from last year, even with most of those players not being back? We'll get to Zubi in just a second. And how do you transfer it over or maybe the way you're wired, Rick, maybe it's, maybe it's not that at all.

[Rick Pitino]

Maybe.

[Matt]

Do you look at it as a, as a clean slate? You've got your certain principles, the things that you always do that can lead to successful winning seasons. I'm just curious, after such a good season, ending the way you didn't want it to end, what translates, what carries over and what doesn't?

[Rick Pitino]

Well, I think you, you learn. I thought Arkansas was better at night and that's the NCAA tournament. It's one game and the parody is here right now. There are no. I, I thought Duke was the best team last year and they got beat on underneath out of bounds play and that, that's the NCAA tournament. I've been involved in it so long. So this year's a new team. You learn. I, I wanted to find out early on. I found that late in the season where our weaknesses lied, but I wanted to find out early on. So that's why I scheduled Alabama second game of the season, Ole Miss in the Garden, Kentucky and Atlanta going to Las Vegas and playing Iowa State, Baylor and possibly Houston. So I wanted to find out what we need to work on to become a great team come March.

[Matt]

I know you said this is the NCAA tournament, but that was, I remember riding off of that game. It was statistically the worst joint three point shooting effort by two teams in the history of the tournament. Never had been that many threes taken and that many threes missed.

[Rick Pitino]

Um.

[Matt]

Something is some of, some of that just like a one off. Like it's just, it's a. They credit for them. But you, you, you defended them well and sometimes it's just the rim shrinks to this and it's just, it is what it is. I, you're. You've gone. You've had so many amazing wins and, and I know there have been some, a couple of infamous heartbreaking losses. Are you able to just shrug off some of those defeats a little bit easier now or does it still just eat at your stomach the same way as it did 30, 40 years ago?

[Rick Pitino]

No, it does need at me. We, we. We were not a good three point shooting team last year. We defended it well. We were not a good free throw shooting team last year. We were not a good shooting team last year. That was our weakness. But we were a Great defensive team, 101A in the country all year. So you win with your strengths and you lose with your weaknesses. So we think we're a little bit better shooting team this year. We hope to be as good defensively.

[Matt]

What are you seeing with the shooting and the practice? You know what guys are standing out for fans listening, watching that are gearing up. Can't wait to see St. John's play. Who are going to be the guys that you think are going to be reliable snipers from beyond the arc for you?

[Rick Pitino]

Well, definitely Oziah Sellers, he's a great shooter. Ian Jackson's a very good shooter. Lefty, I can't say his Greek last name. Left Faris, his first name. He, he's a very good shooter. Uh, we have some guys that Bryce Hopkins is, is. He can make shots. He's a scorer. Zubi can make shots. So we're a better shooting team. We just got to make sure our defense is just as good.

[Matt]

Justin Sanon, really good athlete. What specific role is he going to play for you? I know there's a lot of intrigue coming out of practices amongst many other players, but specifically as to what pertains to his role, where is he going to be accentuated?

[Rick Pitino]

Josan is probably the, from a basketball standpoint, the most gifted basketball player in the team. He has the most tools, very athletic scores the basketball. He now he's got to learn to play defense. He's got to learn rebound, the basketball. He's a good passer, doesn't enjoy passing as much as scoring, but you need that type of basketball player. He's a bucket getter and he's very, very talented. Maybe the most talented guy on our team.

[Matt]

And yet Zubi, edge of four is, I think rightfully so preseason player of the year in the conference. What is it like to maybe I'm going to overstate this or using the wrong phrase, but it feels like the team starts from him and spreads out. You know, you build a lot of the, of what you want to do. He's obviously an elite defensive big, but he can really, you know, he can score as well. What is it for you tactically? What's it like to kind of start with him and then. And then build out?

[Rick Pitino]

Zubies, the captain in the heart and soul. His work ethic is infectious with the other guys in the basketball team. They see how hard he works, so without question. But Zubi's a mocked man right now, so I keep trying to tell him, Zubi, you're now not rushing a quarterback with one guy blocking. You gonna be two guys trying to keep you off the glass. He knows that, but we have enough talent around him to alleviate that problem.

[Matt]

Are you, how do you like you get the job? You're really good last season and now you're projected, you know, preseason top five team. Obviously. My colleague Gary Paris has had you number one for months as a staff with these players. Like, how do you live in that space? Are you comfortable with it? Like being the mark, man, even beyond Zubi, like it's a place that you want to be. It's an envious spot. But, but now, I mean, you're as prominent program as maybe any in the country. Are you surprised by how fast it's happened and how does that land with you?

[Rick Pitino]

Well, I think, I think you want it to happen as soon as you can get it there and, but maintaining it and staying there is, is the difficult part, especially with the schedule we're playing. You know, we've got to be ready very early on and I think we will be. But I am concerned about it because when you play a team like Alabama with that style of play, that's why we were playing Michigan in an exhibition game this Saturday to try and get ready for an Alabama for a Kentucky and Ole Miss out in the Vegas tournament with Iowa State.

[Matt]

Yeah, no, you guys have got a loaded up, a loaded up schedule, big picture on college basketball. You're frequently opinionated, which I always appreciate. You've got plenty of experience in the college game and I value your input. Broadly speaking, state of the game. While obviously there are certain things that can drive coaches nuts and the portal is as crazy as ever. How would you assess where men's college basketball is in 2025 vs your 45 years in the sport Previous? 50 years in sport previous to this? Healthy concern, just kind of, you know, state of the union. So to Speak from you right now, having, you know, have it be a part of your every day, every week life and how you've seen it change, particularly over the past five years.

[Rick Pitino]

Well, I think what's good about it is talented players are staying longer. They may shift and go to another school, but you'll see that talented players would stay longer because they can make more money staying in college than they could try. And for the NBA, you get European players breaking their contracts to come to college now. So the talent pool is going to be much greater, which is a good thing. The only negative, and that's up for us, not the ncaa, to solve, is to try and get players on two year contracts or a three year contract with major liabilities if they don't stay. So that's the good things that we can do. You can't rely on the ncaa. The NCAA takes years to change. Yes, things. So we have to change those coaches and sign players to two and three year contracts.

[Matt]

I'm sure you've been asked this, but if you have, I just don't have an answer off the top of my head. So I'll ask you. There's obviously a lot of opinions and a lot of wait and see on the state of the NCAA tournament. It's 68 teams. The men's basketball committee should be deciding in the coming months whether or not it's going to stay at 68 or expand to 76. Where do you land on what should happen with what makes a difference?

[Rick Pitino]

I mean, really, what?

[Matt]

Well, it's, it's eight more teams and it, I mean, it would reduce some of the urgency and relevancy of the regular season, in my opinion.

[Rick Pitino]

Yeah, I think it doesn't hurt. It can only help anytime you get more teams, more excitement, more TV coverage, more things to speak about, more athletes participating. It can only be a good thing for people who say, oh no, we have to keep it. Come on. I, I was around when it was, I think 24, 32, whatever it was back then. So the more in this situation you talk about eight games, it's great for a certain, I mean, I remember my first year we were locked out. I thought we deserved to be there. We played Yukon to the closest game, 95, 90 in the garden. So it doesn't hurt anything. It only helps more excitement, more TV coverage.

[Matt]

Yeah, nothing.

[Rick Pitino]

What bad can come from it?

[Matt]

Well, I, you know, we don't have to completely litigate this out because I'll be here for an hour, but I think if you add more teams to the Tournament, you give fans less reasons to be engaged in the first six to eight weeks of the season because people will view as games in November. In college basketball being like, ah, whatever, 76, a ton of teams get anyway, what do these games even matter? And I think the more competitive you make it to get into the field While still being 68, I think it strikes a very, very good balance. That would just be one.

[Rick Pitino]

Yeah, I think. I think if it was a substantial number, I would agree with that. But you're talking about eight games. I don't. I look at the opportunities for young athletes. Look, it's the greatest event in college basketball. That's what we all live for. March Madness right now, you know, in November, even though we're playing a great schedule, nobody really cares. It's all about the NFL and college football right now. And then once we get into January and February becomes basketball.

[Matt]

Okay, last one, big picture. I know in a very specific way you would define success for St. John's by winning another league championship, making a Final Four, winning a national championship. But beyond those, there's obvious benchmarks. How do you define success for this specific group over the next five months? What are you looking to as a team, collectively, as a program to get out of this whole experience?

[Rick Pitino]

I think success is defined for any coach by his daily routine of what he's trying to accomplish that day. I think that you really can't. I've been around the tournament so long, lost in the first round, been to seven Final Fours. I know the hurt of losing in the first round or the second round or the third round, and the elation of going to a Final Four. So I don't think you can look ahead because it's fool's gold. I think you just got to take care of today, make your team as good as it can possibly be for today, and then you'll be a good team come March. You know, my team is speaking national championship. Heard Bryce Hopkins say that, and I told him the next day, I said, bryce, what we say behind closed doors needs to stay behind closed doors. Don't be telling the media all goals, please.

[Matt]

Well, I mean, listen, if you want to. If you want to get on the show right now and declare that you think you're going to the Final Four, I won't necessarily say to that, but point well taken. I appreciate it. Rick, thanks for joining and look forward to covering your team all season.

[Rick Pitino]

All right, Matt, thank you.

[Matt]

Thank you.

[Rick Pitino]

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