Rick Pitino Comments on Wild Dust-Up in St. John's vs. Providence

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Reflections on Big East Basketball: Rick Pitino and Current Events

Discussing college basketball, especially the historical strength of the Big East during the 1980s and early 1990s, brought up recent events involving Providence and Saint John's, also referred to as The Rumble. Rick Pitino commented on a challenging game that was difficult to officiate, noting that crowd behavior seemed to lose focus on supporting their team actively and instead shifted to ridiculing individual players like Bryce Hopkins.

Pitino expressed pride in his team's ability to secure a win despite missing several players, emphasizing the significance of this victory under the circumstances. The game's intensity reminded many of the old days of the Big East, where physical altercations were more common. Pitino also highlighted that Providence had not been significantly relevant in basketball discussions since Ed Cooley's coaching or their memorable run to the Final Four in 1987 with Billy Donovan.

In terms of game officiating and repercussions, it was acknowledged that the decision to eject the player Powell was appropriate, with the Big East adding two extra games to his suspension. However, there was a suggestion that the severity of Powell's actions perhaps warranted an even longer suspension.

These recent events have stirred memories and comparisons to the heyday of Big East basketball, suggesting a potential revival of its former intensity and competitive spirit.