Pitinos become 1st father-son duo to win games in same NCAA tourney

The Pitino family continues to make history.

With No. 10 New Mexico’s victory over No. 7 Marquette on Friday, Richard and Rick Pitino become the first father-son coaching duo to both win an NCAA Tournament game in the same season, according to John Fanta of FOX Sports.

No. 2 St. John’s beat Omaha on Thursday, so the elder Pitino will face off against friend-turned-rival John Calipari and No. 10 Arkansas on Saturday.

The Red Storm are in the Big Dance for the first time since 2015.

Meanwhile, the younger Pitino’s Lobos will either face No. 2 Michigan State or No. 15 Bryant in the second round Sunday.

Richard Pitino took over for Paul Weir at New Mexico in 2021 after spending eight seasons at Minnesota. The Lobos made March Madness last year but lost to Clemson in the first round.

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