Now in his second season at St. John’s, Rick Pitino led the sixth-ranked Red Storm to a 27-4 regular-season record, including 18-2 in conference play, and to the top seed in this week’s Big East

As an individual who worked with Pitino for years, Willard could rightfully say what he did about Pitino. By referring to Pitino as a “World-Famous ballbuster,” Willard meant that Pitino is a coach who pushes his players to their limits.

Rick Pitino has won his first Big East Coach of the Year award and RJ Luis Jr. took Player of the Year honors after they propelled a resurgent St.