Everyone Had Same Reaction To Rick Pitino's Appearance Sunday Night

03/23/2025 10:52 PM

Everyone had the same reaction to Rick Pitino's NCAA Tournament appearance on Sunday night.

Pitino, whose St. John's team flamed out of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, is attending the second round game between No. 2 Michigan State and No. 10 New Mexico on Sunday evening. Pitino's son, Richard Pitino Jr., is the head coach of the New Mexico team. 

College basketball fans are praising Pitino for making it to his son's game, one day after St. John's crushing loss. Few things in sports, if any, are tougher to get over than a brutal NCAA Tournament loss. And Pitino and St. John's had that on Saturday.

"Rick Pitino has made the trip to Cleveland to watch his son Richard Pitino. Less than 24 hours after St. John's season came to an end, he is now in the stands rooting and supporting his son," CBS Sports wrote.

College basketball fans are praising him.

"A moment to feel proud that his son is playing and he is supporting there," one fan wrote.

"Family over everything!! Love it. Easiest thing to understand and live by," one fan added.

"That's awesome!" one fan added.

"Say what you want but this is freakin awesome. 99% of coaches wouldn't leave their room after that loss," one fan added.

"This is actually awesome. You can see the emotion all over Rick's face. Love this," one fan added.

Rick Pitino has made the trip to Cleveland to watch his son Richard Pitino.

Less than 24 hours after St. John's season came to an end, he is now in the stands rooting and supporting his son. pic.twitter.com/sbKUDVrqHJ

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 24, 2025

Richard Pitino's New Mexico team is currently in a tight battle against the No. 2 seed Michigan State Spartans.

Michigan State is leading New Mexico, 60-52, with less than five minutes to play in the second round game on Sunday evening.

The game is airing on TNT.