Report: Richard Pitino off the Board for Villanova

Whoever Villanova Men’s Basketball ends up bringing into the fold as their next head coach, it won’t be Richard Pitino.

Pitino will take his services from New Mexico to the Big East, however. Per a report from CBS Sports insider Jon Rothstein, the 42-year-old inked a deal with the Xavier Musketeers late on Tuesday, March 25.

Pitino’s name came up with increased frequency in the hours leading up to his hiring — especially as two of his top players with the Lobos hit the transfer portal — mostly regarding Villanova and West Virginia. Instead, Xavier swooped in to pick him up.

Other Wildcats targets still on the board include Maryland’s Kevin Willard and UCLA’s Mick Cronin, both of whom possess a much heftier contract buyout than Pitino did.

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