St. John’s fires Mike Anderson, focusing on Rick Pitino, sources say

St. John’s fired head coach Mike Anderson on Friday, and sources informed ESPN that the Red Storm are anticipated to make Iona’s Rick Pitino their high goal.

Anderson failed to achieve the NCAA event in any of his 4 seasons at St. John’s, with the Red Storm going 68-56 beneath his watch. They completed their season on Thursday, shedding to Marquette within the Big East event quarterfinals. The loss dropped them to 18-15 total and 7-13 in Big East play.

“After fully evaluating the men’s basketball program, our University has decided a change is needed in both the leadership and direction of St. John’s Basketball,” athletic director Mike Cragg stated in a press release. “We wish Coach Mike Anderson and his family the best in their future.”

The Red Storm employed Anderson in 2019, weeks after Arkansas parted methods with him. He reached the NCAA event thrice in his ultimate 5 seasons with the Razorbacks, however failed to copy that success within the Big East.

St. John’s is predicted to show to Pitino as its high candidate to switch Anderson, sources informed ESPN. A New York native, the Hall of Fame head coach has gained two regular-season championships and one convention event in his three seasons with the Gaels.

Pitino, 70, is taken into account arguably the very best faculty basketball coach of his era, and he could be the kind of massive title wanted to ignite a St. John’s fanbase that hasn’t seen an NCAA event win since 2000.