St. John's Red Storm coach Rick Pitino couldn't resist throwing some playful shade at Dan Hurley and UConn while previewing the NCAA Tournament.

Pitino, fresh off leading St. John’s to its first trip to the Big Dance since 2019 and its first Big East tournament title since 2000, will return to the city where he first built a college basketball powerhouse — Pitino’s Providence team reached the Final Four in 1987 — when the Red Storm face 15th-seeded Omaha on Thursday in the first round.

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.