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West Region will feature 3 Hall of Fame coaches, another with consecutive national titles

Rick Pitino, whose St. John's team recently won its first Big East Tournament title since 2000, believes college basketball has drastically changed regarding paying players legally since his cameo in the movie 'Blue Chips' thirty-one years ago.
Kadary Richmond, who transferred from Seton Hall, is reportedly receiving a high-six-figure payment from St. John's, believed to be the highest on the team, as part of the team's $4 million NIL budget led by billionaire donor Mike Repole.
Pitino stated that Zuby Ejiofor and RJ Luis are 'very low-paid players' despite NIL rules, even though paying players is completely legal.
Ejiofor, who scored 33 points in the Big East semifinal, the most since Kemba Walker in 2011, and Luis, who was named Big East Tournament MOP, are key players for St. John's, with Ejiofor expected to return next season and Luis potentially testing the NBA Draft waters.
Despite some misrepresentation about NIL, St. John's is thriving under Pitino and Repole, aiming to make more history and projected as a 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

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Omaha World-Herald

Center

West Region offers collection of coaches

Rick Pitino's latest rebuilding project will take him to Providence, where he pulled off one of the biggest surprises in March Madness history by leading the Friars to the 1987 Final Four.

2 months ago·Omaha, United States

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Newsday

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West Region will feature 3 Hall of Fame coaches, another with consecutive national titles

Rick Pitino's latest rebuilding project will take him to Providence, where he pulled off one of the biggest surprises in NCAA Tournament history by leading the Friars to the 1987 Final Four.

2 months ago·United States

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Mass Live

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Rick Pitino and John Calipari will both begin NCAA Tournament in Providence

Long-time rivals Rick Pitino and John Calipari could face each other in the NCAA Tournament again if St. John's and Arkansas each reach the second round.

2 months ago·Springfield, United States

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NBC New York

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St. John's to face Omaha in first round of NCAA tournament

St. John’s coach Rick Pitino leads his unprecedented sixth program into the tournament, and what a road he would have to take to get to the Final Four through the west region. First, he will travel to Providence, the same building where the coach led the Friars to a surprise Final Four trip back in 1987, to lead St. John’s...

2 months ago·New York, United States

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Center

Rick Pitino says two St. John’s stars are ‘under-paid’ on team’s NIL budget

NEW YORK -- Thirty-one years ago, Rick Pitino had a cameo in the movie “Blue Chips,” which remains one of the best and most realistic portrayals of college basketball to this day.

2 months ago·New Jersey, United States

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