Latest news with #RickPitino
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Players Era 2025: Schedule announced for NIL-driven Players Era Men's Championship
Las Vegas will once again be the place to be during Feast Week this college basketball season. Coined "November Mania," the Players Era Men's Championship announced its schedule for the newly expanded 18-team men's basketball NIL multi-team event in November in Las Vegas on July 14, and to no surprise, it's quite loaded. Advertisement Then called the Players Era Festival, the NIL-driven event by storm last season and has quickly become a must-play event with NCAA Tournament caliber teams, so much so that teams paid their way out of already scheduled multi-team events to participate in it last season. Headlining the first two days of competition in Las Vegas is Gonzaga vs. Alabama on Wednesday, Nov. 25. Preceding the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide on Nov. 25 is St. John's vs. Iowa State, two teams that are notoriously known for their defense under Rick Pitino and T.J. Otzelberger. REQURIED READING: College basketball too-early Top 25 rankings after transfer portal, NBA draft Advertisement Day 2 of the 2025 Players Era Men's Championship field is headlined by an Elite Eight rematch of Houston vs. Tennessee and then Iowa State vs. Creighton, two teams that were already scheduled to meet in October for an exhibition. The 2025 Players Era Men's Championship field includes 14 teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season, and nine teams — Auburn, Houston, St. John's, Alabama, Iowa State, Maryland, Oregon and Michigan — that were seeded at least a five seed or higher in the field of 68. Eleven teams that appear in the USA TODAY Sports too-early top 25 poll will also compete in Las Vegas. The four-day multi-team event will take place in Las Vegas at MGM Grand Garden Arena and Michelob Ultra Arena from Monday, Nov. 24 through Thursday, Nov. 27 with the championship game taking place on Wednesday, Nov. 26. There will also be a four-team Players Era Women's Championship featuring South Carolina, UCLA, Texas and Duke that will take place Wednesday, Nov. 26 and Thursday, Nov. 27 in Las Vegas. Advertisement Here's what to know from the July 14 announcement of the 2025 Players Era Men's Championship: Players Era Championship bracket 2025 The returning teams to the Players Era Festival include Alabama, Houston, Rutgers, Notre Dame, Oregon, San Diego State and Creighton. The only team that isn't returning to the Players Era Championship from last year's field, which Oregon won, is Texas A&M. The Aggies were replaced in the field by Maryland, which hired away Buzz Williams from Texas A&M this offseason. Here's a full breakdown of who is competing in the 2025 Players Era Men's Championship: Alabama Auburn Baylor Creighton Gonzaga Houston Iowa State Kansas Maryland Michigan Notre Dame Oregon Rutgers San Diego State St. John's Syracuse UNLV Tennessee Players Era Festival 2025 schedule Here's a look at schedule for the 2025 Players Era Men's Championship, which will take place MGM Grand Garden Arena and Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas: Advertisement Monday, Nov. 24 Rutgers vs. Tennessee | 1 p.m. ET Creighton vs. Baylor | 2 p.m. ET Kansas vs. Notre Dame | 3:30 p.m. ET St. John's vs. Iowa State | 4:30 p.m. ET Houston vs. Syracuse | 6 p.m. ET Auburn vs. Oregon | 8 p.m. ET Gonzaga vs. Alabama | 9:30 p.m. ET Michigan vs. San Diego State | 10:30 p.m. ET UNLV vs. Maryland | Midnight ET Tuesday, Nov. 25 Rutgers vs. Notre Dame | 1 p.m. ET Iowa State vs. Creighton | 2 p.m. ET Kansas vs. Syracuse | 3:30 p.m. ET St. John's vs. Baylor | 4:30 p.m. ET Houston vs. Tennessee | 6 p.m. ET Michigan vs. Auburn | 8:30 p.m. ET Gonzaga vs. Maryland | 9:30 p.m. ET Oregon vs. San Diego State | 11 p.m. ET UNLV vs. Alabama | Midnight ET Wednesday, Nov. 26 Third Place Game: 7 p.m. ET Championship Game: 9:30 p.m. ET Note: For those that didn't make the championship or third place game on Wednesday, November 26, they will play in consolation games across Wednesday, November 26 and Thursday, November 27 in Las Vegas What is the Players Era Championshop? The Players Era Championship is a one-of-a-kind multi-team event that takes place during "Feast Week" of the college basketball season in November, during Thanksgiving week. Debuted during the 2024-25 season with an eight-team field, The Players Era Championship is a NIL-driven multi-team event with some of the best college basketball teams in the country. Advertisement Each team will receive $1 million for participating in the event, while players and teams will have the opportunity to earn more NIL while in Las Vegas. The champion of the Players Era Championship will win an additional $1 million in NIL earnings as well. Noted by CBS Sports' Matt Norlander, the total pot for the 2025 Players Era Championship will be north of $20 million in NIL-related earnings — quite the expensive multi-team event and regular season showcase event. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Players Era Men's Championship full field, schedule announced
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Players Era 2025: Schedule announced for NIL-driven Players Era Men's Championship
Las Vegas will once again be the place to be during Feast Week this college basketball season. Coined "November Mania," the Players Era Men's Championship announced its schedule for the newly expanded 18-team men's basketball NIL multi-team event in November in Las Vegas on July 14, and to no surprise, it's quite loaded. Then called the Players Era Festival, the NIL-driven event by storm last season and has quickly become a must-play event with NCAA Tournament caliber teams, so much so that teams paid their way out of already scheduled multi-team events to participate in it last season. Headlining the first two days of competition in Las Vegas is Gonzaga vs. Alabama on Wednesday, Nov. 25. Preceding the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide on Nov. 25 is St. John's vs. Iowa State, two teams that are notoriously known for their defense under Rick Pitino and T.J. Otzelberger. REQURIED READING: College basketball too-early Top 25 rankings after transfer portal, NBA draft Day 2 of the 2025 Players Era Men's Championship field is headlined by an Elite Eight rematch of Houston vs. Tennessee and then Iowa State vs. Creighton, two teams that were already scheduled to meet in October for an exhibition. The 2025 Players Era Men's Championship field includes 14 teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season, and nine teams — Auburn, Houston, St. John's, Alabama, Iowa State, Maryland, Oregon and Michigan — that were seeded at least a five seed or higher in the field of 68. Eleven teams that appear in the USA TODAY Sports too-early top 25 poll will also compete in Las Vegas. The four-day multi-team event will take place in Las Vegas at MGM Grand Garden Arena and Michelob Ultra Arena from Monday, Nov. 24 through Thursday, Nov. 27 with the championship game taking place on Wednesday, Nov. 26. There will also be a four-team Players Era Women's Championship featuring South Carolina, UCLA, Texas and Duke that will take place Wednesday, Nov. 26 and Thursday, Nov. 27 in Las Vegas. Here's what to know from the July 14 announcement of the 2025 Players Era Men's Championship: Players Era Championship bracket 2025 The returning teams to the Players Era Festival include Alabama, Houston, Rutgers, Notre Dame, Oregon, San Diego State and Creighton. The only team that isn't returning to the Players Era Championship from last year's field, which Oregon won, is Texas A&M. The Aggies were replaced in the field by Maryland, which hired away Buzz Williams from Texas A&M this offseason. Here's a full breakdown of who is competing in the 2025 Players Era Men's Championship: Players Era Festival 2025 schedule Here's a look at schedule for the 2025 Players Era Men's Championship, which will take place MGM Grand Garden Arena and Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas: Monday, Nov. 24 Tuesday, Nov. 25 Wednesday, Nov. 26 Note: For those that didn't make the championship or third place game on Wednesday, November 26, they will play in consolation games across Wednesday, November 26 and Thursday, November 27 in Las Vegas What is the Players Era Championshop? The Players Era Championship is a one-of-a-kind multi-team event that takes place during "Feast Week" of the college basketball season in November, during Thanksgiving week. Debuted during the 2024-25 season with an eight-team field, The Players Era Championship is a NIL-driven multi-team event with some of the best college basketball teams in the country. Each team will receive $1 million for participating in the event, while players and teams will have the opportunity to earn more NIL while in Las Vegas. The champion of the Players Era Championship will win an additional $1 million in NIL earnings as well. Noted by CBS Sports' Matt Norlander, the total pot for the 2025 Players Era Championship will be north of $20 million in NIL-related earnings — quite the expensive multi-team event and regular season showcase event.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"She reminds me of a female version of Steph Curry" - Rick Pitino breaks down what makes Caitlin Clark so similar to Stephen Curry
"She reminds me of a female version of Steph Curry" - Rick Pitino breaks down what makes Caitlin Clark so similar to Stephen Curry originally appeared on Basketball Network. Ever since Caitlin Clark entered the world of professional sports, she has boosted the WNBA's marketability and financial visibility and elevated its entertainment aspect immensely. Her performances have captivated fans and forced many to ask whether anyone has impacted a league this profoundly so early in their career. Advertisement According to St. John's head coach Rick Pitino, Clark's influence and playing style reminds him of the undisputed "Three-Point King" Steph Curry. Rick Pitino draws a comparison between Caitlin Clark and Steph Curry When Steph entered the NBA in 2009, he immediately showcased his range and efficiency, shooting 43.7 percent from beyond the arc in his rookie season and 44.2 percent in his second year. Statistically, Clark hasn't reached that level of sharpshooting yet - she shot 34.4 percent from three in her rookie campaign and is currently averaging 29.5 percent in the 2025 season. But for Pitino, it is not about the raw numbers but about the fearlessness. The willingness to pull up from deep, sometimes from near the logo, with unwavering confidence, is one aspect of "Ponytail Pete's" game that reminds him of Curry. Add in their similarly lean, athletic builds, and Pitino sees even more similarities between the two stars. Advertisement "Well, she's a great passer. She reminds me of Steph Curry when Steph Curry came into the league. She is doing what Steph did early on," Pitino confidently declared during his appearance on Colin Cowherd's 'The Herd' show. "She has unbelievable range, has great vision, is a terrific passer. You know, physically, she's a little weak, but she'll get stronger as time goes on. She really understands how to play and she reminds me of a female version of Steph Curry." Caitlin Clark's game is more well-rounded than Steph Curry's Though Caitlin still has a way to go before reaching Steph's elite status as a shooter, her playmaking ability sets her apart at this early stage. The Indiana Fever guard has averaged 8.6 assists per game since her debut, displaying a pass-first mentality rarely seen from a rookie guard. While a young Steph was laser-focused on scoring, Caitlin seems determined to be a true floor general - dropping dimes, elevating her teammates, and still putting up over 18 points per game. Advertisement In the end, Rick Pitino's comparison is not just a compliment but a testament to how Caitlin has already made waves across the basketball world. When your every move starts getting compared to one of the greatest players the game has ever seen, you are clearly doing something special, and everyone in the basketball world notices you. Nevertheless, if Clark wants to surpass the impact of a young Steph, she needs to lead her Fever team to unprecedented success, at least a meaningful and deep playoff run—something that the latter couldn't do with his Golden State Warriors team until he paired up with Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Related: Doc Rivers proclaims Caitlin Clark as basketball's biggest superstar: "That's what a superstar does" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Walter Clayton Jr. Reveals Favorite NBA Player Without Hesitation
Walter Clayton Jr. Reveals Favorite NBA Player Without Hesitation originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Yet for Clayton Jr., the journey didn't start off easy. He was a zero-star recruit coming out of high school and ranked just the No. 69 point guard in his class nationally. But he happened to land in the hands of arguably the greatest coach of all time, Rick Pitino, who offered him a chance at Iona. Advertisement Clayton spent his freshman and sophomore seasons at Iona before transferring to Florida after Pitino accepted the head coaching job at St. John's. Now, with the NBA draft just about a week away, Clayton is projected to hear his name called—whether it's in the first or second round. Most mock drafts have him going somewhere between picks 20–30 on day one. Ahead of the draft, Clayton Jr. sat down with the 'NBA Future Starts Now' social media team, where he was asked who his favorite NBA player was. He didn't even have to think twice—his answer came instantly: Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James. 'LeBron James,' Clayton Jr. said. 'That's who I grew up watching, man. He's been in the league since I was born.' It's currently very unlikely that Clayton Jr. will get the opportunity to join the Lakers, unless the team makes a move to trade up in the draft. As it stands, Los Angeles only holds the No. 55 pick this year, with their first-round selection belonging to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the Anthony Davis trade. Advertisement Still, whichever team ends up landing the Florida star is getting a player who doesn't crack under pressure—at all. It's almost as if he's immune to it, consistently hitting clutch shots throughout the NCAA Tournament and lifting the Gators in key moments. Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) celebrates after winning the national championship game of the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Donnan-Imagn Images Clayton Jr. has averaged 16 or more points in each of the last three seasons. This past year, he posted 18.3 points, 4.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting an impressive 38.6% from beyond the arc. Related: Walter Clayton and Florida Gators Land Unique Job After NCAA Championship This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rick Pitino reveals clear level of interest in Knicks coaching job
The post Rick Pitino reveals clear level of interest in Knicks coaching job appeared first on ClutchPoints. Earlier this week, the New York Knicks made the surprising decision to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau after leading the team to the Eastern Conference Finals. Thibodeau took the Knicks to the playoffs in four out of the five seasons that he was with the team, and they made a lot of improvements throughout his tenure. Now, the Knicks are looking for a new head coach, and in case anyone was wondering, it won't be St. John's head coach Rick Pitino. Advertisement Rick Pitino is a New Yorker through and through, and he is one of the best coaches in college basketball. Because of that, there are people wondering if he would be interested in the Knicks' opening. On Wednesday night, Pitino threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the New York Yankees game. He then made an appearance on the broadcast and was asked about the job. Pitino didn't leave the door open at all. 'Absolutely not,' Pitino said when he was asked about the Knicks job. Before the game, Pitino met with reporters, and he was asked about the surprising decision that the Knicks made. Pitino noted that he feels bad for Tom Thibodeau after everything that he has done for the city of New York. 'I feel bad for Thibs because he captured all of New York, built something very, very special,' he said, according to a post from Knicks Videos. 'A lot of us don't comprehend what happened, but Thibs is going to be well taken care of and he'll move on to other pastures.' Advertisement Pitino is confident that Thibodeau will be able to bounce back after this tough obstacle in his career. After going through some tough obstacles himself, Pitino has landed back on his feet and is back to being one of the best coaches in the game. The St. John's basketball team was one of the best squads in the country last year as the Red Storm went to the NCAA Tournament as a two-seed. They lost in the second round, but Pitino has this team trending in the right direction. A lot of college coaches who have been in the game for a long time and have experienced a lot of success have NBA aspirations. Coaching professionally is the goal for a lot of guys, but it doesn't sound like Rick Pitino is one of them. He is perfectly content with his job at St. John's, and it feels like big things are in store for the program. Related: Taj Gibson fires NSFW Tom Thibodeau message after Knicks firing Related: Knicks' Tom Thibodeau firing sparks surprise in NYC mayoral debate
