Big Ten Basketball Coach Rankings
Just three years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined I would have Richard Pitino down in the No. 13 spot on this list. He is the son of great head coach Rick Pitino and he had a great first year with the program.
In the first season, Pitino was with the Golden Gophers they were 25-13. This was a great start coming off a 21 win campaign the year before with Tubby Smith.
Pitino hasn’t lived up to his expectations, though.
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The year after the 25 win season, Pitino only put up 18 wins. This was a rough season, but then he followed that up with an 8 win year last season.
Pitino has let this team decay over his three-year run and it has shown with his record.
One of the reasons for such decay in this team is the recruiting.
Pitino has only averaged a national ranking of 62nd in the country in recruiting the last three seasons. With that type of recruiting there is no wonder why this team is falling apart.
Minnesota wasn’t happy with going to the NCAA Tournament three out of the last five years that Tubby was at the helm so they let him go and hired Pitino.
Now the Golden Gophers are probably regretting that move as they haven’t been to the postseason under Pitino and there is no hope in sight.
I have never seen a coach take down a program like this before. If Pikiell wasn’t a new coach with Rutgers I would have had Pitino at the bottom of this list.
Next: No. 12