St. John’s coach Rick Pitino recently made headlines for his harsh criticism of his team following a tough loss to Seton Hall. He didn’t hold back during a postgame news conference, pointing out his players’ lack of toughness and athleticism. Pitino singled out specific players by name, highlighting their shortcomings on the court.
Despite the backlash, Pitino stood by his comments when speaking to Newsday the following day. He clarified that his intention was not to rip into his players, but rather to provide them with a wake-up call. Pitino emphasized that he wants his players to hear and read his words to understand what went wrong in the game.
St. John’s started the season strong with notable wins against top teams in the conference. However, the team has struggled in recent games, losing eight out of their last ten matchups. Pitino has been grappling with finding the right player combinations and making adjustments to improve their performance.
One of the key issues highlighted by Pitino is the team’s defensive shortcomings. He pointed out that several players lack lateral quickness, making it difficult for them to guard opponents without fouling. Pitino specifically mentioned the slow lateral movement of certain players, including All-Big East big man Joel Soriano.
Pitino attributed the team’s second-half collapses to a variety of factors, including missed free throws, turnovers, and poor shot selection. He emphasized the connection between defensive lapses and fouls, noting that bad positioning and slow lateral movement often lead to unnecessary fouls.
Pitino’s criticism of his team serves as a wake-up call for St. John’s players as they strive to improve their performance on the court. By addressing their weaknesses head-on, Pitino hopes to motivate his team to make the necessary changes to turn their season around. It remains to be seen how the players will respond to Pitino’s tough love approach and whether it will yield positive results in the games to come.
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