St. John's University Athletics
PREGAME QUOTES: St. John’s Men’s Basketball vs. Utah
St. John’s Head Coach Rick Pitino and forward Chris Ledlum spoke with the media on Saturday ahead of St. John’s third-place game against Utah in the Charleston Classic
St. John’s Head Coach Rick Pitino
On Friday’s semifinal contest with Dayton…
“ We played a really good first half. We had one defensive breakdown [in the first half]. … When you're playing a team and the game is see-sawing back-and-forth with [eight] lead changes, you can’t blow coverage. We had 11 blown coverages in that game after having one in the first half. So, why is that? Because you have 14 guys that have not played together and are not used to this type of defense. Defense hasn’t been their personality. It’s like the best player on a high school team where the coach says stay out of foul trouble and let the other guys play defense. That’s what happening right now. We have a bunch of guys that were the best offensive player on their team and now in order to win the BIG EAST, they have to play defense and it’s going to take some time.”
On the players’ progression on defense …
“ I think it’s going to take time. I’m very confident they are going to learn it and do it. Every first year I’ve ever been in [with a new program] it has been this way. This is nothing different than any year I’ve ever coached. ... I thought we could have won last night if we did the right things like we did in the first half.”
On sophomore guard RJ Luis Jr.’s return from injury …
“RJ [Luis] is going to practice today. He went through an individual instruction this morning. I’ll see how it goes today whether or not he plays tomorrow. … I would like to get his feet wet by giving him a little playing time.”
On the team keeping a positive mindset…
“We are not going to get discouraged right now. We are going to get encouraged. In the second half we are having trouble because of fatigue. Against Rutgers [in our charity exhibition], we played a beautiful first half. Last night, we played a really good first half and then we are making mental mistakes based on fatigue. The guys are giving so much effort. They want to win so badly and when you put that much into it, they are getting drained by the second half. The effort level is there. I’m very thankful for the effort level. They are working really hard.”
St. John’s Forward Chris Ledlum
On the mindset of the team following Friday’s loss to Dayton…
“We are definitely not discouraged. We want to go out and win every game, of course, but it's basketball and sometimes that doesn’t happen. We know the work that we have put in and we know that we are a great team. We just have to continue to play hard, play together and we will get those wins.”
On the importance of playing well against Utah…
“It is extremely important. We wanted to come here and win it all. Obviously, we lost a game but tomorrow is going to be just as important as any game we have played so far. It will definitely be good to go home with a positive record and some momentum going into the next game.”
On the team’s second half struggles…
“We have to be better at closing. We come out strong and as the second half fades, we have been fading with it. We have to stay on top of our assignments. We have to stay on top of our scout and just dig in.”
On Friday’s semifinal contest with Dayton…
“ We played a really good first half. We had one defensive breakdown [in the first half]. … When you're playing a team and the game is see-sawing back-and-forth with [eight] lead changes, you can’t blow coverage. We had 11 blown coverages in that game after having one in the first half. So, why is that? Because you have 14 guys that have not played together and are not used to this type of defense. Defense hasn’t been their personality. It’s like the best player on a high school team where the coach says stay out of foul trouble and let the other guys play defense. That’s what happening right now. We have a bunch of guys that were the best offensive player on their team and now in order to win the BIG EAST, they have to play defense and it’s going to take some time.”
On the players’ progression on defense …
“ I think it’s going to take time. I’m very confident they are going to learn it and do it. Every first year I’ve ever been in [with a new program] it has been this way. This is nothing different than any year I’ve ever coached. ... I thought we could have won last night if we did the right things like we did in the first half.”
On sophomore guard RJ Luis Jr.’s return from injury …
“RJ [Luis] is going to practice today. He went through an individual instruction this morning. I’ll see how it goes today whether or not he plays tomorrow. … I would like to get his feet wet by giving him a little playing time.”
On the team keeping a positive mindset…
“We are not going to get discouraged right now. We are going to get encouraged. In the second half we are having trouble because of fatigue. Against Rutgers [in our charity exhibition], we played a beautiful first half. Last night, we played a really good first half and then we are making mental mistakes based on fatigue. The guys are giving so much effort. They want to win so badly and when you put that much into it, they are getting drained by the second half. The effort level is there. I’m very thankful for the effort level. They are working really hard.”
St. John’s Forward Chris Ledlum
On the mindset of the team following Friday’s loss to Dayton…
“We are definitely not discouraged. We want to go out and win every game, of course, but it's basketball and sometimes that doesn’t happen. We know the work that we have put in and we know that we are a great team. We just have to continue to play hard, play together and we will get those wins.”
On the importance of playing well against Utah…
“It is extremely important. We wanted to come here and win it all. Obviously, we lost a game but tomorrow is going to be just as important as any game we have played so far. It will definitely be good to go home with a positive record and some momentum going into the next game.”
On the team’s second half struggles…
“We have to be better at closing. We come out strong and as the second half fades, we have been fading with it. We have to stay on top of our assignments. We have to stay on top of our scout and just dig in.”