How quickly can the shine wear off even the most celebrated coaches? Just ask John Calipari. Once hailed as one of college basketball’s brightest minds, the architect of Kentucky’s 2012 National Championship run, Calipari now finds himself navigating unfamiliar territory—criticism, doubt, and a restless Arkansas fan base wondering if their $7 million investment is starting to rust. As Calipari’s Razorbacks stumble through a rocky season, a familiar figure in the coaching world is basking in the glow of an unexpected resurgence. Enter Rick Pitino, the ageless mastermind on the verge of snapping a 33-year drought at St. John’s, reminding everyone what it means to adapt and thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of college basketball.
The stark contrast between Calipari’s struggles in Fayetteville and Pitino’s renaissance in Queens was dissected on a recent episode of The Field of 68: After Dark podcast, where hosts John Fanta and CJ Moore couldn’t help but marvel at how the two coaching legends now find themselves on opposite trajectories. While Calipari seems trapped in a downward spiral, Pitino is engineering what could be one of the greatest comebacks in college hoops history.
Pitino’s Resurgence: A 33-Year Drought on the Brink of Extinction
St. John’s hasn’t tasted Big East glory since 1992, a drought so long that the last time they hoisted a conference banner, Bill Clinton was in his first term as president and the internet was barely a thing. “You get chills when you say it,” John Fanta exclaimed on the podcast. “That was Lou Carnesecca’s final year. Since then, nothing.” But Pitino, who many thought was past his prime after stints in the NBA and a scandal-ridden departure from Louisville, has resurrected the Red Storm with a vengeance.
As of February 2025, St. John’s is sitting pretty with an 11-1 Big East record, their best start since the iconic 1984-85 season when they made it to the Final Four. Pitino’s fingerprints are all over this transformation. His players hustle like their scholarships depend on it, guard like their lives are on the line, and execute with a precision that belies the chaotic energy of college basketball. If Pitino manages to secure the Big East title, it won’t just be a win for St. John’s—it’ll be a masterclass in coaching longevity and adaptability.
Calipari’s Crisis: Has the Game Passed Him By?
Meanwhile, in Arkansas, Calipari’s first season with the Razorbacks has been nothing short of turbulent. The man who once seemed untouchable is now under a microscope, his every decision questioned, his every loss magnified. CJ Moore didn’t hold back during the podcast, offering a sobering assessment: “It happens earlier than 72; usually, the game passes them by. Look at what’s happening to John Calipari.” The comparison to other coaching legends who bowed out before their legacies were tarnished—like Roy Williams and Jim Boeheim—hung in the air. “Even Roy got out at the right time,” Moore noted. “The fact that Pitino just continues to win and win is incredible.”
Arkansas fans are feeling the heat too. The Razorbacks stumbled to an 0-5 start in SEC play and rank an abysmal 248th in three-point shooting percentage. For a program that had high hopes of returning to national prominence under Calipari, this is not the script they signed up for. But then, out of nowhere, a flicker of hope—a shocking upset over No. 12 Kentucky at Rupp Arena. Could this be the turning point, or just a blip in an otherwise disappointing season?
Can Calipari Engineer a Comeback of His Own?
Pitino’s success at St. John’s isn’t just about winning games—it’s about how he’s winning them. His ability to evolve with the times, embracing the transfer portal, NIL deals, and modern strategies, has kept him relevant in a rapidly changing landscape. Calipari, on the other hand, seems to be grappling with those same shifts, struggling to connect the dots between his past successes and the current demands of college basketball.
But if there’s one thing Calipari is known for, it’s his ability to adjust when the stakes are highest. His track record of late-season turnarounds and roster tweaks has saved him before—can it save him now? Arkansas’s recent win over Kentucky hints at a possible revival, but with postseason hopes teetering on the edge, the Razorbacks have little room for error. Missing the NCAA tournament would be a devastating blow, turning 2025 from a season of promise into a cautionary tale.
The Final Countdown: A Tale of Two Coaches
As the season barrels toward its climax, the fates of two legendary coaches hang in the balance. For Rick Pitino, this could be the crowning achievement of a storied career, a testament to resilience and reinvention. For John Calipari, it’s a fight for relevance, a desperate bid to prove that the game hasn’t passed him by. The next few weeks will determine whether Calipari can reclaim his former glory—or if he’ll become the latest in a long line of coaching legends who stayed one season too long.
In the high-stakes world of college basketball, legends are made—and unmade—faster than ever. And as Arkansas and St. John’s march toward their respective destinies, fans and analysts alike are watching, waiting, and wondering: who will rise, and who will fall?
