While previewing the Red Storm's draw in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, Pitino implored players and fans to "wave" as they passed the exit for UConn's campus on the drive north to Providence, where St. John's will take on the No. 15 seed Omaha to open the tourney.

Pitino made his first tournament appearance as a coach in his fourth season with Boston University in the 1982-83 season. After a brief stint with the New York Knicks, Pitino became the coach of the Providence Friars in the 1986-87 season, leading them to the Final Four in his second year.

Rick Pitino blasted the NCAA enforcement staff before St. John's starts its NCAA Tournament run in a few days.