Pitino Blasts Providence Fans After Heated Ejection-Filled Game

St. John's coach calls out Providence crowd for losing objectivity during physical matchup.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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In a heated matchup between St. John's and Providence, multiple players were ejected from the game. After the contest, St. John's head coach Rick Pitino, a former Providence coach, criticized the Providence fans for their behavior during the physical game, saying the crowd "lost objectivity of what they're here for."

Why it matters

Pitino's comments highlight the intense rivalry and emotions that can boil over in college basketball games, especially when former coaches return to face their old teams and fanbases. The ejections and Pitino's criticism also raise questions about sportsmanship, crowd behavior, and how physical play is officiated in the sport.

The details

A total of six players were ejected from the game, four from St. John's and two from Providence. Pitino said his team had to "get tough" between the lines, but criticized the Providence fans for their behavior, saying they were "just here to poke fun" at a St. John's player rather than support their own team. Pitino coached at Providence from 1985 to 1987, leading the team to the Final Four in his final season before leaving for Kentucky.

  • The St. John's vs. Providence game took place on February 15, 2026.

The players

Rick Pitino

The head coach of the St. John's basketball team, who previously coached at Providence from 1985 to 1987.

Bryce Hopkins

A St. John's player who Pitino said the Providence fans were "just here to poke fun at" rather than support their own team.

Val Ackerman

The Big East Conference Commissioner, whom Pitino jokingly said he wanted to call to get out of the arena before the Providence fans "beat the coaches up."

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What they’re saying

“You're not supposed to come off the bench, but you can't let your players get beat up. You can't fight. Back when I was the Kentucky coach we fought almost every SEC game, and it was not a big deal. But you can't fight any more, so toughness has to come between the lines.”

— Rick Pitino, St. John's Head Coach (ESPN)

“The crowd lost objectivity of what they're here for. If they're just here to poke fun at Bryce Hopkins and not get a win for the Friars, that's not the Friars I remember in '87.”

— Rick Pitino, St. John's Head Coach (ESPN)

“We're getting out of here before the fans beat the coaches up. Get me [Big East Commissioner] Val Ackerman on the phone.”

— Rick Pitino, St. John's Head Coach (ESPN)

What’s next

The Big East Conference is likely to review the incident and determine if any further disciplinary action is warranted for the players and coaches involved.

The takeaway

Pitino's criticism of the Providence fans highlights the intense emotions and rivalries that can boil over in college basketball, especially when former coaches return to face their old teams. The ejections and Pitino's comments raise questions about sportsmanship, crowd behavior, and how physical play is officiated in the sport.