Legendary college basketball coaches Rick Pitino and John Calipari both have enduring legacies that are among the most impressive in the sport’s history. The two appeared friendly at one point but soured after facing each other so many times. In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, they met in the second round. Pitino is now with St. John’s, and Calipari is with Arkansas. Calipari’s Razorbacks won to advance to the Sweet 16 at Pitino’s expense this time, but this beef dates back to 1977.

It all started in Pittsburgh at a summer basketball camp in 1977. Pitino was an assistant coach at Syracuse, and Calipari was a local prospect in Pittsburgh. Due to their Italian-American heritage, the camp counselors called a young Calipari Little Ricky, or the next Pitino. At the time, none of them knew of the legendary battles that were coming between the two.