Clashes of Titans: Calipari Nearly Opposed Self, Pitino & Izzo in Same Tourney
The four active coaches with the highest NCAA playoff winning percentages (minimum of 75 decisions) are John Calipari (59-22 entering Sweet 16, .728), Tom Izzo (58-25 entering Sweet 16, .699), Rick Pitino (55-22, .714) and Bill Self (57-24, .704). After defeating Kansas (Self) and St. John's (Pitino) in the first two rounds, Arkansas (Calipari) laid the groundwork for possibly opposing Michigan State (Izzo) at the Final Four but the Hogs squandered a 13-point lead with 4 1/2 minutes remaining in regulation in Sweet 16 overtime setback against Texas Tech. Calipari's iearlier success enabled him to secure some breathing room in the following comparison of how the four luminaries have fared against each other in their college careers (including stints with Illinois, Iona, Louisville, Massachusetts and Tulsa):
| Elite Coach | vs. Calipari | vs. Izzo | vs. Pitino | vs. Self | Combined Record (Pct.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Calipari | ..... | 3-2 | 10-5 | 7-7 | 20-14 (.588) |
| Tom Izzo | 2-3 | ..... | 3-1 | 7-8 | 12-12 (.500) |
| Rick Pitino | 5-10 | 1-3 | ..... | 0-1 | 6-14 (.300) |
| Bill Self | 7-7 | 8-7 | 1-0 | ..... | 16-14 (.533) |
Best Tourney Trivia Item: Did you know Kentucky coach Mark Pope hit all six of his free throws in 1996 Final Four game when UK defeated Massachusetts in first-ever NCAA playoff meeting between Calipari and Pitino?