St. John's Brings Unusual Pitino Style to March Madness

Rick Pitino's best teams were known for their high-powered offenses, but this year's St. John's squad is taking a different approach.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 10:56pm

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Rick Pitino's most successful teams have traditionally been defined by their high-octane offenses, from the 3-point shooting Providence Friars to the clutch-shooting Louisville Cardinals to the prodigious Kentucky Wildcats. However, this year's St. John's team under Pitino is taking a different approach, relying more on defense and grit than pure offensive firepower as they make a surprise March Madness run.

Why it matters

Pitino's coaching style and teams are usually known for their offensive prowess, so the fact that this St. John's squad is finding success through a more defensive-minded approach is an intriguing twist. It speaks to Pitino's adaptability as a coach and the versatility of this year's Johnnies team.

The details

While Pitino's best teams have been defined by their high-scoring, up-tempo offenses, this year's St. John's squad is taking a different path. Rather than relying on a barrage of 3-pointers and fast-break points, the Johnnies are grinding out wins with a stifling defense that creates turnovers and limits opponents' scoring opportunities.

  • St. John's is currently making an unexpected March Madness run in 2026.

The players

Rick Pitino

The head coach of the St. John's basketball team, known for leading high-powered offenses at his previous coaching stops.

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What they’re saying

“That team excelled at the matchup zone, and they were still aggressive on that end but they earned their scholarships and lifted a championship banner (which actually happened, no matter what the NCAA record book says) thanks to a whole lot of clutch shooting in a procession of do-or-die moments.”

— Rick Pitino, Head Coach, St. John's (New York Post)

“That was one of the best teams of all time, and so of course they excelled on the defensive end, too. But those Wildcats were such prodigious prodigies offensively they could erase 30-point deficits on the road, as they did one night at LSU. Everyone could shoot. Even the walk-ons could make shooting look as easy as breathing.”

— Rick Pitino, Head Coach, St. John's (New York Post)

What’s next

St. John's will look to continue their surprising March Madness run as they advance deeper into the tournament.

The takeaway

Rick Pitino's coaching prowess is on full display as he has adapted his typically high-powered offensive approach to fit the strengths of this year's St. John's team, which is finding success through a gritty, defensive-minded style of play.