Rick Pitino’s Magic Continues to Shine, This Time at Providence Basketball
PROVIDENCE — Rick Pitino, the legendary college basketball coach, stood in his huddle on Friday at Amica Mutual Pavilion, drawing on memories of a game from February 1994. Kentucky was facing an insurmountable 31-point deficit against LSU, with just over 15 minutes left. Most would have written it off as a loss, but what followed was one of the greatest comebacks in college basketball history. Pitino’s Wildcats mounted an unbelievable rally with a flurry of 3-pointers and stifling defense, ultimately pulling off a stunning victory.
While the players from that iconic Kentucky squad—Tony Delk, Rodrick Rhodes, Walter McCarty, Jeff Sheppard, and Travis Ford—weren’t in the building on Friday, Pitino drew on that experience to motivate his current St. John’s team. His message was clear: believe in the impossible.
It was a testament to Pitino’s enduring coaching prowess that, despite the long years since that Kentucky triumph, his methods continue to inspire players and lead teams to victories. His St. John’s squad, echoing that 1994 Kentucky team’s resilience, showed once again that Pitino’s magic has not faded.
As Pitino leads St. John’s through the season, his players are learning the power of belief—and the incredible transformations it can bring to their games.
