St. John's Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino. Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Rick Pitino had ice-cold reaction to St. John’s beating Kansas at the buzzer

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated Mar 23, 2026 8:05 AM ET

Rick Pitino has been to the Sweet 16 before, and he sure acted like it on Sunday after St. John’s beat Kansas at the buzzer.

St. John’s guard Dylan Darling caught the ball in the backcourt with 3.9 seconds left and got all the way to the cup for a layup that sent the crowd into a frenzy at Viejas Arena in San Diego, Calif. Darling’s clutch bucket gave the 5-seed Red Storm a 67-65 win over the 4-seed Jayhawks in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

But judging by Pitino’s reaction directly after the play, one might have assumed Darling had missed. The veteran coach had a steely look on his face as if the game were headed to overtime.

WE HAVE A MARCH BUZZER BEATER WIN FOR THE JOHNIES

DYLAN DARLING SENDS ST. JOHNS TO THE SWEET 16 pic.twitter.com/18WNZyP5WP
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) March 22, 2026

Rick Pitino's reaction to the buzzer beater was all business. pic.twitter.com/jAYGWjxUZa
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 22, 2026

With St. John’s victory, Pitino is set to coach in his 13th Sweet 16 matchup, with the 1-seed Duke Blue Devils standing between him and his ninth appearance in the Elite 8.

Darling had not made a shot all game, but Pitino trusted the junior to deliver in the biggest moment of the contest. He finished with two points coming on a shot immortalized in March Madness and St. John’s lore.

St. John’s has lost just one game since Jan. 6, with the lone defeat coming in an embarrassing drubbing at the hands of UConn. The Red Storm avenged the loss by beating the Huskies in the Big East Tournament Final.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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