Rick Pitino Could Be Headed Back To The NCAA Tournament And Fans Are Loving It

Remember Rick Pitino? If you forgot, the former Louisville head coach is currently coaching Iona in the MAAC.

Pitino’s Iona Gaels were fine this year, mounting a 10-5 record on the short season. They drew the nine seed in the MAAC Conference Tournament, and had to go up against Siena tonight.

Rick Pitino pulled off the upset 55-52, and has Iona dreaming of a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Social media is blowing up after Rick Pitino’s big win.

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Iona is officially on the verge of being a national story. The Gaels just upset top-seeded Siena in Atlantic City. Rick Pitino is two wins away from the NCAA Tournament.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 11, 2021

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Rick Pitino: "This is one of my favorite wins in 40-plus years of coaching."

It's the MAAC quarterfinals. In an empty Atlantic City arena that appears to have a permanent stage on one side.

Sure why not.

— Hugh Kellenberger (@KellenbergerCBB) March 11, 2021

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PITINO with the upset! pic.twitter.com/ZCSaED2Ifs

— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) March 11, 2021

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Potentially no Louisville or Kentucky in the NCAAT, but maybe Pitino? Oh my.

— Dana O'Neil (@DanaONeilWriter) March 11, 2021

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Raise your hand if you’re surprised that a Rick Pitino coached team over achieved and is on the cusp of an NCAA tournament. pic.twitter.com/Cfwa0xPwvh

— Keith Poynter (@Villesportslaw) March 11, 2021

If Rick Pitino is able to win two more games and, take home the MAAC Conference Tournament trophy, he will become just the 3rd ever head coach to take five different programs to the big March Madness tournament.

In not-as-fun news, Pitino’s son, Richard Pitino was able to get his Minnesota team to beat Northwestern in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament tonight, as well.

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Wonderful night for the Pitino family! pic.twitter.com/PwkPtIBtRK

— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) March 11, 2021

While Rick Pitino is looking for a resurgence to his coaching career, which was marred with controversy towards the end of his run of Louisville, Richard Pitino may be coaching for his job. During his tenure as Minnesota head coach, The Gophers have been wildly mediocre, and consistently fail to compete with the Big Ten Conference’s top teams.

But let’s not dwell on that now. Big time wins for both Richard Pitino and Rick Pitino. It would be real cool if we got a father-son matchup in the NCAA Tournament one of these years.

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