The “Rick Pitino Watch” is on as the Hall of Fame coach is back on top of the college basketball world, leading Iona into the NCAA Tournament and finding his name once again linked to every top-tiered coaching job for next season.
Despite missing 55 contact days this season due to COVID protocols, Pitino’s Iona Gaels went on an exciting run to end the season, winning four games in five days to win the MAAC Tournament before falling to No. 2 seed Alabama 68-55 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Pitino has now taken five different schools to the NCAA Tournament (Iona, Louisville, Kentucky, Providence and Boston University).