Richard Pitino relishes challenges ahead at Xavier
Associated Press
CINCINNATI (AP) — Richard Pitino said he needed the right situation to come along for him to leave New Mexico.
He ended up getting one in an unlikely spot.
Pitino was introduced as Xavier's new coach on Tuesday. With Xavier's past track record of hiring coaches who were former assistants or who had ties to the program, Pitino thought his chances of getting a call from athletic director Greg Christopher would be slim until it happened last week.
'It always works out this way. You may have a list of some jobs you may think you may get a call on. And then out of nowhere comes one where, like, 'wow, this would be amazing.' And that was Xavier,' Pitino said during a news conference.
It is the first time since Thad Matta's arrival in 2000 that Xavier has hired a coach without previous ties to the program. Sean Miller, who left to accept the Texas job on March 17, was promoted in 2004 after Matta left for Ohio State. Miller led the program for five seasons before leaving for Arizona, and then came back for three seasons in 2022.
Chris Mack and Travis Steele were also former assistants. Ironically, Pitino was quickly hired after Mack announced he would remain at the College of Charleston.
Pitino said his father, St. John's coach Rick Pitino, encouraged him to stay at New Mexico until Xavier entered the picture, even if it meant being in the same conference and playing each other twice a year.
'He saw the way the community embraced me in Albuquerque, how much we were winning, and he saw how happy I was. When Xavier called, he changed his tune,' Richard Pitino said. 'I think that the fit is really good. I just resonate with this type of community and very, very comfortable with it. I can tell you there was no bigger fan of taking Xavier than my dad.'
Pitino returns to the Big East — where he was a student at Providence College and an assistant at Louisville — after four years at New Mexico, where he led the Lobos to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. New Mexico went 27-8 this season before it was eliminated by Michigan State 71-63 in the second round.
The 42-year old Pitino was the Mountain West Coach of the Year this season after the Lobos won the conference's regular-season title. He went 88-49 at New Mexico and has an overall mark of 247-186.
Christopher said the reason why Pitino stood out as a candidate was how he rebounded at New Mexico after being fired at Minnesota. Pitino became a head coach in the Big Ten at age 30. He led the Golden Gophers for eight seasons — including an NIT championship in his first season in 2014-15 as well as two trips to the NCAA Tournament — but was fired after two straight losing campaigns.
'It's very clear he's hungry and incredibly competitive. Some of what fuels that drive is how he's been humbled. That was an important factor to me,' Christopher said of Pitino. 'How you handle adversity is really telling and we all face challenges. Handled the right way, adversity makes you better. And that is what's happened with Richard.'
Pitino is looking to bring the same aggressive style on both sides of the court that he had at New Mexico. It's also not much different from what Miller ran as both coaches like to run.
On offense, the Lobos averaged 81.1 points, which led the Mountain West and was 26th in Division I. They averaged 16.2 fast break points, third-best in Division I.
Defensively, New Mexico forced 15.2 turnovers per game, 14th in Division I.
'It's not real hard to sell a vision of we don't want to run a bunch of set plays and walk the ball up the court. Not as many set plays, and honestly it's similar to what they ran with coach Miller ran here in the past. We talked a lot about it,' Pitino said. 'It's hard, but it's a fun way to play.'
Pitino's first task will be rebuilding Xavier's roster, which has only two scholarship players remaining after Miller's departure and the opening of the transfer portal. Pitino is bringing most of his staff from New Mexico
'It's very challenging to build a whole roster. It's way more doable now in the current landscape than ever before, but we're going to be patient,' he said.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
recommended
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
36 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
The Paris Games flame rises again — but it's no longer ‘Olympic'
PARIS (AP) — The Paris Games may be over, but the flame is still rising — just don't call it Olympic. The helium-powered hot-air balloon that lit up the French capital's skyline during the 2024 Games is making a dramatic comeback to the Tuileries Gardens, reborn as the 'Paris Cauldron.' Thanks to an agreement with the International Olympic Committee, the renamed marvel will now lift off into the sky each summer evening — a ghostly echo of last year's opening ceremony — from June 21 to Sept. 14, for the next three years. Gone is the official 'Olympic' branding — forbidden under IOC reuse rules — but not the spectacle. The 30-meter-tall (98-foot) floating ring, dreamed up by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur and powered by French energy giant EDF, simulates flame without fire: LED lights, mist jets, and high-pressure fans create a luminous halo that hovers above the city at dusk, visible from rooftops across the capital. 'It's one of those monuments in Paris that could stay,' said Laurent Broéze, a local architect pausing in the gardens Thursday. 'It was set up temporarily, but a bit like the Eiffel Tower, it makes sense for it to return. It's a bit of a shame they want to take it down later, but maybe it could be installed somewhere else, I don't know.' Though it stole the show in 2024, the cauldron's original aluminum-and-balloon build was only meant to be temporary — not engineered for multi-year outdoor exposure. To transform it into a summer staple, engineers reinforced it: The aluminum ring and tether points were rebuilt with tougher components to handle rain, sun, and temperature changes over several seasons. Aérophile, Paris's tethered balloon specialist, redesigned the winch and tether system to meet aviation rules, allowing safe operation in winds up to 20–25 kmh (12-15 mph). Hydraulic, electrical, and misting systems were fortified — not only to ensure smooth nightly flights but to endure months of wear and tear untested on the original design. These retrofits shift the cauldron from a fragile, one-off spectacle to a resilient, summer-long landmark — prepared to withstand everything Paris summers can throw at it. The structure first dazzled during the Paris 2024 Games, ignited on July 26 by Olympic champions Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Riner. Over just 40 days, it drew more than 200,000 visitors, according to officials. Now perched in the center of the drained Tuileries pond, the cauldron's return is part of President Emmanuel Macron's effort to preserve the Games' spirit in the city, as Paris looks ahead to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Visitors have already begun to gather. 'Beautiful,' said Javier Smith, a tourist from Texas. 'And the place where it's going to be, or is sitting now, it's beautiful. All these beautiful buildings, the Louvre, all that is fantastic.' Access is free and unticketed. The cauldron will be on display from morning to night, igniting with light from 10 a.m. and lifting off each evening after the garden closes — 10:30 pm in June and July, with earlier times through September. It will float above the city for several hours before quietly descending around 1 a.m. The 'flame,' while entirely electric, still conjures a sense of Olympic poetry. 'Yes, we came for a little outing focused on the statues related to mythology in the Tuileries Garden,' said Chloé Solana, a teacher visiting with her students. 'But it's true we're also taking advantage of the opportunity, because last week the Olympic cauldron wasn't here yet, so it was really nice to be able to show it to the students.' The cauldron's ascent may become a new rhythm of the Parisian summer, with special flights planned for Bastille Day on July 14 and the one-year anniversary of the 2024 opening ceremony on July 26. It no longer carries the Olympic name. But this phoenix-like cauldron is still lifting Paris into the clouds — and into memory. ___ Nicolas Garriga in Paris contributed to this report
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The Paris Games flame rises again — but it's no longer ‘Olympic'
PARIS (AP) — The Paris Games may be over, but the flame is still rising — just don't call it Olympic. The helium-powered hot-air balloon that lit up the French capital's skyline during the 2024 Games is making a dramatic comeback to the Tuileries Gardens, reborn as the 'Paris Cauldron.' Thanks to an agreement with the International Olympic Committee, the renamed marvel will now lift off into the sky each summer evening — a ghostly echo of last year's opening ceremony — from June 21 to Sept. 14, for the next three years. Gone is the official 'Olympic' branding — forbidden under IOC reuse rules — but not the spectacle. The 30-meter-tall (98-foot) floating ring, dreamed up by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur and powered by French energy giant EDF, simulates flame without fire: LED lights, mist jets, and high-pressure fans create a luminous halo that hovers above the city at dusk, visible from rooftops across the capital. 'It's one of those monuments in Paris that could stay,' said Laurent Broéze, a local architect pausing in the gardens Thursday. 'It was set up temporarily, but a bit like the Eiffel Tower, it makes sense for it to return. It's a bit of a shame they want to take it down later, but maybe it could be installed somewhere else, I don't know.' Though it stole the show in 2024, the cauldron's original aluminum-and-balloon build was only meant to be temporary — not engineered for multi-year outdoor exposure. To transform it into a summer staple, engineers reinforced it: The aluminum ring and tether points were rebuilt with tougher components to handle rain, sun, and temperature changes over several seasons. Aérophile, Paris's tethered balloon specialist, redesigned the winch and tether system to meet aviation rules, allowing safe operation in winds up to 20–25 kmh (12-15 mph). Hydraulic, electrical, and misting systems were fortified — not only to ensure smooth nightly flights but to endure months of wear and tear untested on the original design. These retrofits shift the cauldron from a fragile, one-off spectacle to a resilient, summer-long landmark — prepared to withstand everything Paris summers can throw at it. The structure first dazzled during the Paris 2024 Games, ignited on July 26 by Olympic champions Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Riner. Over just 40 days, it drew more than 200,000 visitors, according to officials. Now perched in the center of the drained Tuileries pond, the cauldron's return is part of President Emmanuel Macron's effort to preserve the Games' spirit in the city, as Paris looks ahead to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Visitors have already begun to gather. 'Beautiful,' said Javier Smith, a tourist from Texas. 'And the place where it's going to be, or is sitting now, it's beautiful. All these beautiful buildings, the Louvre, all that is fantastic.' Access is free and unticketed. The cauldron will be on display from morning to night, igniting with light from 10 a.m. and lifting off each evening after the garden closes — 10:30 pm in June and July, with earlier times through September. It will float above the city for several hours before quietly descending around 1 a.m. The 'flame,' while entirely electric, still conjures a sense of Olympic poetry. 'Yes, we came for a little outing focused on the statues related to mythology in the Tuileries Garden,' said Chloé Solana, a teacher visiting with her students. 'But it's true we're also taking advantage of the opportunity, because last week the Olympic cauldron wasn't here yet, so it was really nice to be able to show it to the students.' The cauldron's ascent may become a new rhythm of the Parisian summer, with special flights planned for Bastille Day on July 14 and the one-year anniversary of the 2024 opening ceremony on July 26. It no longer carries the Olympic name. But this phoenix-like cauldron is still lifting Paris into the clouds — and into memory. ___ Nicolas Garriga in Paris contributed to this report
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
The Paris Games flame rises again — but it's no longer 'Olympic'
Associated Press PARIS (AP) — The Paris Games may be over, but the flame is still rising — just don't call it Olympic. The helium-powered hot-air balloon that lit up the French capital's skyline during the 2024 Games is making a dramatic comeback to the Tuileries Gardens, reborn as the 'Paris Cauldron.' Thanks to an agreement with the International Olympic Committee, the renamed marvel will now lift off into the sky each summer evening — a ghostly echo of last year's opening ceremony — from June 21 to Sept. 14, for the next three years. Gone is the official 'Olympic' branding — forbidden under IOC reuse rules — but not the spectacle. The 30-meter-tall (98-foot) floating ring, dreamed up by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur and powered by French energy giant EDF, simulates flame without fire: LED lights, mist jets, and high-pressure fans create a luminous halo that hovers above the city at dusk, visible from rooftops across the capital. 'It's one of those monuments in Paris that could stay,' said Laurent Broéze, a local architect pausing in the gardens Thursday. 'It was set up temporarily, but a bit like the Eiffel Tower, it makes sense for it to return. It's a bit of a shame they want to take it down later, but maybe it could be installed somewhere else, I don't know.' Though it stole the show in 2024, the cauldron's original aluminum-and-balloon build was only meant to be temporary — not engineered for multi-year outdoor exposure. To transform it into a summer staple, engineers reinforced it: The aluminum ring and tether points were rebuilt with tougher components to handle rain, sun, and temperature changes over several seasons. Aérophile, Paris's tethered balloon specialist, redesigned the winch and tether system to meet aviation rules, allowing safe operation in winds up to 20–25 kmh (12-15 mph). Hydraulic, electrical, and misting systems were fortified — not only to ensure smooth nightly flights but to endure months of wear and tear untested on the original design. These retrofits shift the cauldron from a fragile, one-off spectacle to a resilient, summer-long landmark — prepared to withstand everything Paris summers can throw at it. The structure first dazzled during the Paris 2024 Games, ignited on July 26 by Olympic champions Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Riner. Over just 40 days, it drew more than 200,000 visitors, according to officials. Now perched in the center of the drained Tuileries pond, the cauldron's return is part of President Emmanuel Macron's effort to preserve the Games' spirit in the city, as Paris looks ahead to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Visitors have already begun to gather. 'Beautiful,' said Javier Smith, a tourist from Texas. 'And the place where it's going to be, or is sitting now, it's beautiful. All these beautiful buildings, the Louvre, all that is fantastic.' Access is free and unticketed. The cauldron will be on display from morning to night, igniting with light from 10 a.m. and lifting off each evening after the garden closes — 10:30 pm in June and July, with earlier times through September. It will float above the city for several hours before quietly descending around 1 a.m. The 'flame,' while entirely electric, still conjures a sense of Olympic poetry. 'Yes, we came for a little outing focused on the statues related to mythology in the Tuileries Garden,' said Chloé Solana, a teacher visiting with her students. 'But it's true we're also taking advantage of the opportunity, because last week the Olympic cauldron wasn't here yet, so it was really nice to be able to show it to the students.' The cauldron's ascent may become a new rhythm of the Parisian summer, with special flights planned for Bastille Day on July 14 and the one-year anniversary of the 2024 opening ceremony on July 26. It no longer carries the Olympic name. But this phoenix-like cauldron is still lifting Paris into the clouds — and into memory. ___ Nicolas Garriga in Paris contributed to this report in this topic
