Did Richard Pitino cost Rick Pitino an NCAA Tournament bid?

NCAA Basketball: Division I Championship-Michigan State vs Louisville — March 22, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Louisville Cardinals assistant coach Richard Pitino (left) and head coach Rick Pitino (right) stand during the national anthem before the game against the Michigan State Spartans in the semifinals of the west region of the 2012 NCAA men's basketball tournament at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Just a day ago, Rick Pitino was celebrating his son’s big win in the Mountain West Conference Championship, Richard Pitino leading New Mexico to a 68-61 victory over San Diego State on Saturday to punch a ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

“From six wins three years ago to 26-9 (and) Mountain West Champions,” the eldest Pitino tweeted. “Please excuse me for celebrating my son Richard!! So awesome for the Lobos, congrats from the Big Apple!”

Today, that win may have been the difference in St. John’s missing the Big Dance when the bracket is announced here in a few hours. You see, the Johnnies are on the bubble and have officially been moved to the First Four Out group following a hectic day of upsets with bid-stealers owning the night — N.C. State (ACC) and Oregon (PAC-12) popped two bubbles while Dayton (A-10) and FAU (AAC) dropping out early popped another two for at-large hopefuls. The Red Storm won five straight to end the regular season then fought against top-ranked UConn in the Big East Tournament, but 20-13 is 20-13.

Pitino was celebrating his son Saturday, but could be wondering what could have been on Sunday.

St. John’s joins Virginia, Indiana State and Seton Hall in the First Four Out group while Florida Atlantic, Colorado, Michigan State and Oklahoma make up the Last Four In.

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Had one coach say that Richard Pitino may have cost Rick Pitino a bid

We shall see shortly pic.twitter.com/0HfnRVJWvl
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 17, 2024

March Madness is unforgiving (and could make Easter awkward with the Pitinos).

So Proud!! pic.twitter.com/YIg0X6TbRe
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) March 17, 2024

Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology with ESPN includes Texas A&M and Mississippi State as at-large teams along with TCU and Colorado State joining that group of Last Four In. As for the remaining teams out, Pittsburgh, Providence, Kansas State and South Florida are firmly outside the field of 68.

Take a look at the final update, which includes Kentucky as the No. 15 overall seed as the third No. 4 seed in the South. In that region, Houston is the No. 1, followed by Marquette at No. 2 and Illinois at No. 3: