rick pitino will lead St. John’s against Bill Self’s Kansas Sunday at 5: 15 p. m. ET at Viejas Arena in San Diego in a second-round NCAA Tournament game that sends the winner into the East Region’s Sweet 16. St. John’s arrives on a seven-game win streak at 29-6 overall while Kansas is 24-10 after a hard-fought first-round victory. The matchup carries extra weight: two Hall of Fame coaches with long resumes and a combined 1, 769 career wins collide on one national stage.
Rick Pitino vs. Bill Self: rare coaching collision
Rick Pitino, St. John’s head coach, and Bill Self, Kansas head coach, have spent decades building decorated resumes but have met only once previously on the sideline. Pitino recalled that earlier meeting in Florida when Kansas beat his Iona team 96-83, saying, “And he sent us home crying. ” Self, Kansas head coach, returned praise for Pitino’s longevity and adaptability: “The coaches that are so impressive to me are the coaches that coached without a 3-point line and then became efficient with the 3-point line. ” Both coaches are Hall of Famers; Pitino was inducted in 2013 and Self in 2017, and their career win totals — 914 for Pitino and 855 for Self as listed in team materials — underline the high stakes and historical texture of this pairing.
For rick pitino, 73 years old, the tournament run carries personal intensity: he said this week he is coaching every game at St. John’s as if it’s his last. Self, 63, emphasized present focus after recent health concerns, framing the game as the next task for two veteran programs. The matchup is also notable as the first time the two coaches meet on the NCAA Tournament stage.
How both teams arrived: form, key players and broadcast details
Kansas reached the second round after a tight opening-round win over Cal Baptist in which freshman Darryn Peterson scored 28 points, a performance that helped Kansas overcome a game that tightened in the second half. The Jayhawks have struggled at times this season, going 5-5 over their last 10 games before the tournament push, but advanced to face St. John’s on Sunday.
St. John’s has momentum. The Red Storm are 29-6 and riding seven straight victories after a decisive rebound from a late-season loss. St. John’s routed Northern Iowa 79-53 in the opening round; Zuby Ejiofor led that game with 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. That mix of veteran coaching and rising contributors gives St. John’s a clear identity going into the East Region matchup.
Broadcasters have scheduled the tip: Kansas vs. St. John’s will tip off Sunday at 5: 15 p. m. ET at Viejas Arena. Fans can access the game on the SiriusXM app or on channel 203 in vehicles. The winner advances to the East Region’s Sweet 16.
What’s next: stakes and immediate outlook
Sunday’s result will determine which program continues in the East Region and which ends its March run. Expect both coaches to lean on experience and adjustments: Self and Pitino bring decades of tournament strategy to a single-elimination setting where matchups and momentum shift quickly. For rick pitino, the immediate goal is clear — guide St. John’s into the Sweet 16 — while Kansas will look to steady its rhythm and build on freshman scoring sparks. Tip time is 5: 15 p. m. ET; attention now turns to Viejas Arena as the national tournament narrows and the next round comes into view.
