Rick Pitino on facing John Calipari: 'I don't go against coaches, we go against teams'

Two hall of fame basketball coaches in Rick Pitino and John Calipari will square off for a spot in the Sweet 16 on Saturday. After winning their NCAA Tournament openers, No. 2-seed St. John’s will take on No. 10-seed Arkansas in the Round of 32.

Both coaches careers have crossed paths on numerous occasions. In 23 meetings in the college ranks, Calipari holds a 13-10 record over Pitino. However, Pitino isn’t worried about his history with Calipari. He’s worried about playing Arkansas.

“I don’t go against coaches, we go against teams,” Pitino said. “He doesn’t have to worry about me. My jump shot is long gone. We’re preparing for his players. He’s preparing for our players. John and I don’t play one on one anymore.”

Back in the day they might have. In fact, the two’s relationship goes way back. Pitino played for UMass from 1971-74, and was influential in helping Calipari get hired at his alma mater in 1988. It was Calipari’s first head coaching job after holding assistant positions at both Kansas and Pitt.

The two would go on to have Hall of Fame careers, obviously. And for a while, the rivalry one of the best in college basketball when Pitino was at Louisville and Calipari was at Kentucky. The two head coaches would win the NCAA Tournament in back to back years in 2012 and 2013, and spearheaded one of the hottest rivalries in college basketball at the time.

Rival is an intriguing word to describe Pitino and Calipari’s relationship. After all, Pitino said that the only rival he’s ever had was Jim Calhoun ahead St. John’s NCAA Tournament opener. Pitino didn’t walk back on that statement when discussing his coaching history with Calipari, but said that he holds the Arkansas coach in high regard.

“I’m talking about disliking each other [as a] rival. John was at Kentucky, [I was] at Louisville. It’s normal,” Pitino said of the difference between Calhoun and Calipari. “I have always had great respect for John.”

For Pitino, the past won’t win him an NCAA Tournament game. He’s soely focused on helping his team beat Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks.

“We know what we’re up against, obviously,” he said. “They had a lot of injuries, that’s why they opened up 0-5. I don’t know where they finished in the SEC… eighth or ninth. I’m glad we’re not in the SEC. That talent level in that conference is amazing to me.”

St. John’s is a 6.5-point betting favorite heading into Saturday’s Round of 32. Tip-off is set for 2:40 p.m. ET live on CBS.