St. John’s was without its head coach on Tuesday night.
Rick Pitino tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the day and was not on the bench for the Red Storm’s 80-65 loss to Seton Hall at Prudential Center.
Associate head coach Steve Masiello served in Pitino’s role.
Pitino initially felt off Saturday, and the exposure to frigid temperatures in Omaha — the day of St. John’s one-point loss to Creighton — made him feel worse as the day wore on.
He missed Sunday’s practice, and though he seemed to feel better Monday, his symptoms worsened Tuesday as he returned to the team hotel.
He then tested positive for COVID, the school said.
St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino
If the 71-year-old’s symptoms abate, there is optimism he could be back with the team by the end of the week.
St. John’s was also without guard Jordan Dingle due to COVID, The Post’s Zach Braziller reported.
Pitino has led the team to a 12-5 record this season and a 4-2 mark in conference play in his first season at the school after three seasons at Iona.
While coaching the Gaels, Pitino contracted COVID in 2021 and was forced to live the “life of a monk” while the entire team was quarantined for 14 days — a hiatus that led to a 51-day break for Iona and wreaked havoc on its schedule.
The Gaels went on to win the MAAC tournament and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 15 seed.
