St. John's University Athletics
PREGAME QUOTES: St. John’s vs. New Mexico
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino, Simeon Wilcher, New Mexico Men’s Basketball Head Coach Richard Pitino and Tunnel to Towers Foundation Executive Vice President Matthew Mahoney spoke with the media ahead of the Red Storm’s matchup against the Lobos on Sunday at Madison Square Garden
Head Coach Rick Pitino
Opening statement…
“Well, obviously, this is the first Madison Square Garden game of the year. It's a special game
pitting two teams that hopefully will go on to have highly successful years. New Mexico, we have a great deal of respect for. They're coming off a win against a top-25 team with UCLA, where they led wire to wire. So, we know we're obviously going to have to play much better than we've played of late to come away with a victory.”
On the feeling of coaching against his son…
“Well, I think before the game, you know he's there. During the game, you really don't know each other is on the sidelines at that point. You're so focused on stopping the opponent, stopping the players, that you don't really pay attention to coaches. So, before the game, certainly, after the game, certainly. But during the game, there's very little notice of the other coaches.”
On the impact of Tunnel to Towers…
“Well, I think Tunnel to Towers is an organization that just about every American admires with great respect. Certainly, I lost my best friend and brother-in-law in life, along with a number of other friends on 9/11. There isn't a day that goes by where most of the 9/11 families don't remember their loved ones. The rest of the country, time passes, but for us, it never passes. That day lives on for us until we die, and to just have the Tunnel to Towers behind it, with all the fabulous work that they are doing for our veterans, for our responders. They're an amazing, absolutely amazing organization. … They do more for people in need and support our country than any organization in America. So we're real excited to have them behind the game.”
On the matchup against New Mexico…
“It’s a good matchup. I think their point guard [Donovan Dent] is probably one of the best premier point guards in the nation. He’s a great basketball player. I've always felt that way. He was a great high school basketball player, champion in high school, and the other night, having 10 assists, no turnovers, he dominated the game against UCLA. Nelly [Junior Joseph] was terrific. Nelly has been playing outstanding, and I think they've got a great support cast. I like their power forward, transfer from Dayton [Mustapha Amzil]. He's terrific. I like Tru Washington. He's very good. I like the new guys they brought in. I like this team a lot because they have a better length than they had last year, and last year's team was terrific. I think they play excellent defense. I think it's going to be a fabulous year for them. So, we know this is a toss-up game. I've played against Richards's teams before, and sometimes we've had an advantage, sometimes he's had an advantage. This is a toss-up game. It's anybody's game. They're playing well, we're playing well. It's Madison Square Garden, the world's greatest arena, and it's great for the New Mexico fans as well as their players, to experience Madison Square Garden.”
Closing statement…
“It's going to be a very exciting game, because both teams want to get out there with a high-tempo. No better place than to have a great game than Madison Square Garden. So, we're very excited to have the Lobos in and welcome their fans into town, certainly, and it should be as exciting for our fans as well as theirs.”
St. John’s guard Simeon Wilcher
On if Coach Pitino has talked up New Mexico heading into the game…
“Not really. Coach is kind of always intense, especially once the season kicks off. But of course, this game is extremely important for us and for him as well. He’s just been being himself.”
On being more ready to face tougher competition than last year….
“I feel like this year we have the blessing of having some returners and having some guys come in that really mesh well with us, so just that. And then last year, having all new guys, it's kind of hard to get everything that we need to have in in such a short time, and kind of have everybody really know how coach wants to play and how coach wants to go about things in general. It could be hard when it's all new guys but having those returners and then just us knowing what's at stake, because these next few games for us are very important. It’s going to set the tone for the rest of the season.”
On if he’s excited to see how this team stacks up against the next few opponents…
“Extremely. I'm just excited to just to go out there and battle with my guys, battle with my team, have fun with it, and just win. Just have fun winning. And whatever comes with it. That's really what I'm looking forward to. I'm not really looking at like, oh, how we can match up to his team, because at the end of the day, we are going have to play them anyway. So, we just got to go out there with everything that we put in on the daily, and all the time that the coaches spend breaking down film and trying to give us the answer to the test, we just got to put it all together and just do what we have to do.”
On what he hopes people learn about the team as competition gets better…
“I feel like people are going to learn that we can play with anybody, like we can go out there and compete and look good doing it. I feel like what we're going to figure out about each other is just how we stick together through the ups and downs, through basketball, it just happens every game. Everything is not going to be perfect and great and just all about the response to things when stuff starts to not go our way. So, I feel like we're going to be able to bond more and just be able to figure out everything out about each other, to be honest.”
New Mexico Head Coach Richard Pitino
On how excited he is to play St. John’s and against his dad…
“I am very excited about the game because there's a lot of things. One, phenomenal opportunity. We took advantage of, obviously, a really good one with UCLA. We've got one here just from a quality win perspective. That's great. I'm also fired up – I heard we've got almost 500 fans flying in New York City, just hearing all these people that are coming from Albuquerque, first time going to The Garden. My players - only one of my players has played in The Garden. So, grateful that my dad was willing to do this. As for playing my dad, it doesn't even feel like a factor, honestly. I mean, this is the fourth time we've done it. There's no extra motivation, extra anything. I mean, I'm excited to see him. I'm excited to see my mom. But other than that, it’s just more in New York and The Garden, more so than playing my dad that excites me.”
Tunnel to Towers Executive Vice President Matt Mahoney
Opening Statement…
“We're extremely grateful to the Pitino family, St John's University and their athletic department, especially, they've done a great job with this. For those of you who aren't familiar with us, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation was born out of September 11, 2001. It's named in honor of New York City firefighter Steven Siller. Steven was off duty that morning. A member of Squad One in Brooklyn heard the call, turned this truck around, grabbed 60 pounds of gear from his firehouse and drove to the mouth of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. He was denied access because of the civilian vehicle and ran the two-mile stretch through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the South Tower, where he eventually lost his life with the rest of the squad. Through the last 23 years, we've been the largest 501CP charity supporting first responders, their families and members of the military and their families. Right now, we pay off the mortgages of our firefighters, police officers and members of our military who were killed in the line of duty. We build smart homes for injured veterans and first responders and we are on the road to eradicating homelessness amongst our veterans. Just this year alone, we will permanently house around 6,500 veterans across the country. We will pay off over 220 mortgages for first responders and military members or purchase them brand new homes, all mortgage-free. We'll build over 40 smart homes for cash shop leaders, veterans and first responders. The Pitino Family knows the loss of September 11; they lost a family member that day. 75 graduates of St John's University perished at the World Trade Center, and scores more from 9/11 illnesses, so it's something very near and dear to them. So, we're really thrilled to be here with all of you today. Really grateful to St. John's University, their athletic department and of course, the Pitino family.”
On putting together the NYC Hoops for Heroes game…
“Frank [Kehoe] got to know Coach Pitino and the folks at St. John's. He's done some stuff with us before. This was really important to Coach Pitino, he really spearheaded this and made it all happen. He got St. John's right behind us, which was just fantastic. Because once they embrace a charitable event or any kind of community cause, they really go all in. It's just been wonderful with his leadership at the top, and this is such a special game for his family. It's a really newsworthy event and it's a really great thing. For [Coach Pitino] to take time out and say, you know, how can we make this better, more fulfilling for them? Let's help our heroes. Let's help those who have lost their lives and put their families back together. It was really great. So we couldn't have been done without Coach Pitino.”
On the impact of the game…
“It's huge. First, it’s important for all our New York City institutions, especially at St John's University, which lost 75 alumni at the World Trade Center, to get involved. 23 years later, still remembering the sacrifice of those alumni. We think about all the family members of alumni, family members of current students and faculty and staff that perished at the World Trade Center and would perish afterwards from 9/11 illnesses. It's a huge deal and it's really one of these things that is a really great sporting event. This is a great sports event. It's a great New York story. It's a great basketball story. It's a college basketball story. You know, it must be crazy for a father and son to play each other in a game like this. I wouldn't want to be at the Thanksgiving table afterward, I don't know who gets the bragging rights in something like this. But at the end of the day, take a moment out and really say, ‘let's do something to help families that are really in need and let's do something to help our homeless veterans’. It's a very special moment for us. It's seeing folks who are incredibly busy and incredibly focused on the game and their job take a minute and just remember the sacrifice of those Americans. We're really thrilled that they're doing this.”
Opening statement…
“Well, obviously, this is the first Madison Square Garden game of the year. It's a special game
pitting two teams that hopefully will go on to have highly successful years. New Mexico, we have a great deal of respect for. They're coming off a win against a top-25 team with UCLA, where they led wire to wire. So, we know we're obviously going to have to play much better than we've played of late to come away with a victory.”
On the feeling of coaching against his son…
“Well, I think before the game, you know he's there. During the game, you really don't know each other is on the sidelines at that point. You're so focused on stopping the opponent, stopping the players, that you don't really pay attention to coaches. So, before the game, certainly, after the game, certainly. But during the game, there's very little notice of the other coaches.”
On the impact of Tunnel to Towers…
“Well, I think Tunnel to Towers is an organization that just about every American admires with great respect. Certainly, I lost my best friend and brother-in-law in life, along with a number of other friends on 9/11. There isn't a day that goes by where most of the 9/11 families don't remember their loved ones. The rest of the country, time passes, but for us, it never passes. That day lives on for us until we die, and to just have the Tunnel to Towers behind it, with all the fabulous work that they are doing for our veterans, for our responders. They're an amazing, absolutely amazing organization. … They do more for people in need and support our country than any organization in America. So we're real excited to have them behind the game.”
On the matchup against New Mexico…
“It’s a good matchup. I think their point guard [Donovan Dent] is probably one of the best premier point guards in the nation. He’s a great basketball player. I've always felt that way. He was a great high school basketball player, champion in high school, and the other night, having 10 assists, no turnovers, he dominated the game against UCLA. Nelly [Junior Joseph] was terrific. Nelly has been playing outstanding, and I think they've got a great support cast. I like their power forward, transfer from Dayton [Mustapha Amzil]. He's terrific. I like Tru Washington. He's very good. I like the new guys they brought in. I like this team a lot because they have a better length than they had last year, and last year's team was terrific. I think they play excellent defense. I think it's going to be a fabulous year for them. So, we know this is a toss-up game. I've played against Richards's teams before, and sometimes we've had an advantage, sometimes he's had an advantage. This is a toss-up game. It's anybody's game. They're playing well, we're playing well. It's Madison Square Garden, the world's greatest arena, and it's great for the New Mexico fans as well as their players, to experience Madison Square Garden.”
Closing statement…
“It's going to be a very exciting game, because both teams want to get out there with a high-tempo. No better place than to have a great game than Madison Square Garden. So, we're very excited to have the Lobos in and welcome their fans into town, certainly, and it should be as exciting for our fans as well as theirs.”
St. John’s guard Simeon Wilcher
On if Coach Pitino has talked up New Mexico heading into the game…
“Not really. Coach is kind of always intense, especially once the season kicks off. But of course, this game is extremely important for us and for him as well. He’s just been being himself.”
On being more ready to face tougher competition than last year….
“I feel like this year we have the blessing of having some returners and having some guys come in that really mesh well with us, so just that. And then last year, having all new guys, it's kind of hard to get everything that we need to have in in such a short time, and kind of have everybody really know how coach wants to play and how coach wants to go about things in general. It could be hard when it's all new guys but having those returners and then just us knowing what's at stake, because these next few games for us are very important. It’s going to set the tone for the rest of the season.”
On if he’s excited to see how this team stacks up against the next few opponents…
“Extremely. I'm just excited to just to go out there and battle with my guys, battle with my team, have fun with it, and just win. Just have fun winning. And whatever comes with it. That's really what I'm looking forward to. I'm not really looking at like, oh, how we can match up to his team, because at the end of the day, we are going have to play them anyway. So, we just got to go out there with everything that we put in on the daily, and all the time that the coaches spend breaking down film and trying to give us the answer to the test, we just got to put it all together and just do what we have to do.”
On what he hopes people learn about the team as competition gets better…
“I feel like people are going to learn that we can play with anybody, like we can go out there and compete and look good doing it. I feel like what we're going to figure out about each other is just how we stick together through the ups and downs, through basketball, it just happens every game. Everything is not going to be perfect and great and just all about the response to things when stuff starts to not go our way. So, I feel like we're going to be able to bond more and just be able to figure out everything out about each other, to be honest.”
New Mexico Head Coach Richard Pitino
On how excited he is to play St. John’s and against his dad…
“I am very excited about the game because there's a lot of things. One, phenomenal opportunity. We took advantage of, obviously, a really good one with UCLA. We've got one here just from a quality win perspective. That's great. I'm also fired up – I heard we've got almost 500 fans flying in New York City, just hearing all these people that are coming from Albuquerque, first time going to The Garden. My players - only one of my players has played in The Garden. So, grateful that my dad was willing to do this. As for playing my dad, it doesn't even feel like a factor, honestly. I mean, this is the fourth time we've done it. There's no extra motivation, extra anything. I mean, I'm excited to see him. I'm excited to see my mom. But other than that, it’s just more in New York and The Garden, more so than playing my dad that excites me.”
Tunnel to Towers Executive Vice President Matt Mahoney
Opening Statement…
“We're extremely grateful to the Pitino family, St John's University and their athletic department, especially, they've done a great job with this. For those of you who aren't familiar with us, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation was born out of September 11, 2001. It's named in honor of New York City firefighter Steven Siller. Steven was off duty that morning. A member of Squad One in Brooklyn heard the call, turned this truck around, grabbed 60 pounds of gear from his firehouse and drove to the mouth of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. He was denied access because of the civilian vehicle and ran the two-mile stretch through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the South Tower, where he eventually lost his life with the rest of the squad. Through the last 23 years, we've been the largest 501CP charity supporting first responders, their families and members of the military and their families. Right now, we pay off the mortgages of our firefighters, police officers and members of our military who were killed in the line of duty. We build smart homes for injured veterans and first responders and we are on the road to eradicating homelessness amongst our veterans. Just this year alone, we will permanently house around 6,500 veterans across the country. We will pay off over 220 mortgages for first responders and military members or purchase them brand new homes, all mortgage-free. We'll build over 40 smart homes for cash shop leaders, veterans and first responders. The Pitino Family knows the loss of September 11; they lost a family member that day. 75 graduates of St John's University perished at the World Trade Center, and scores more from 9/11 illnesses, so it's something very near and dear to them. So, we're really thrilled to be here with all of you today. Really grateful to St. John's University, their athletic department and of course, the Pitino family.”
On putting together the NYC Hoops for Heroes game…
“Frank [Kehoe] got to know Coach Pitino and the folks at St. John's. He's done some stuff with us before. This was really important to Coach Pitino, he really spearheaded this and made it all happen. He got St. John's right behind us, which was just fantastic. Because once they embrace a charitable event or any kind of community cause, they really go all in. It's just been wonderful with his leadership at the top, and this is such a special game for his family. It's a really newsworthy event and it's a really great thing. For [Coach Pitino] to take time out and say, you know, how can we make this better, more fulfilling for them? Let's help our heroes. Let's help those who have lost their lives and put their families back together. It was really great. So we couldn't have been done without Coach Pitino.”
On the impact of the game…
“It's huge. First, it’s important for all our New York City institutions, especially at St John's University, which lost 75 alumni at the World Trade Center, to get involved. 23 years later, still remembering the sacrifice of those alumni. We think about all the family members of alumni, family members of current students and faculty and staff that perished at the World Trade Center and would perish afterwards from 9/11 illnesses. It's a huge deal and it's really one of these things that is a really great sporting event. This is a great sports event. It's a great New York story. It's a great basketball story. It's a college basketball story. You know, it must be crazy for a father and son to play each other in a game like this. I wouldn't want to be at the Thanksgiving table afterward, I don't know who gets the bragging rights in something like this. But at the end of the day, take a moment out and really say, ‘let's do something to help families that are really in need and let's do something to help our homeless veterans’. It's a very special moment for us. It's seeing folks who are incredibly busy and incredibly focused on the game and their job take a minute and just remember the sacrifice of those Americans. We're really thrilled that they're doing this.”