When the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament begins Thursday, one of its most unexpected national title contenders will be led by a coach whose return to prominence once might have felt inconceivable.

St. John’s coach Rick Pitino hired Taliek Brown as an assistant coach based in part on the fact that Brown won an NCAA championship at UConn under Pitino’s former rival Jim Calhoun. Pitino said he made the hire based in part on the recommendation of UConn associate head coach Kimani Young.

St. John's head coach Rick Pitino, Zuby Ejiofor, and Kadary Richmond discuss the Red Storms' journey to the NCAA Tournament, New York pro team's supporting St. John's, and Pitino making the team watch Morehead State's 62-61 upset over Louisville in 2011.

St. John's head coach Rick Pitino has never been one to shy away from a good sound byte with the media, and ahead of the Red Storm's round of 64 game against No. 15 seed Omaha on Thursday, the Hall of Fame head coach was asked who he considers to be his biggest rival.

The coaches are the story at this NCAA tournament site, and it’s too good to ignore.