St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John’s vs New Mexico
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino, Red Storm wings RJ Luis Jr. and Aaron Scott, as well as New Mexico Men’s Basketball Head Coach Richard Pitino and Lobos guard CJ Noland spoke with the media ahead of the Red Storm matchup against the Lobos on Sunday at Madison Square Garden
Head Coach Rick Pitino
Opening Statement…
“Well, I thought we played awesome defense in the first half. Really great defense. In the second half, we didn't play as well defensively, but overall, New Mexico is a very good basketball team. They put a lot of pressure on you. Without question, we won the game on the backboard. There's no doubt about it; the backboard was the key to the game. We made our mistakes defensively, giving up the three and underneath, out-of-bounds plays. We did a good job in transition most of the time. So, it was a great win with a great crowd, great day. Really proud of the guys, and this was our first big test, and now we really go into the gauntlet with Baylor, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia.”
On what went into the decision not to start Simeon Wilcher…
“Sim [Wilcher] is a great player. He's had a great week [of practice]. If you looked at the starting lineups, every single game, they've changed. This was just about defensive matchups. We had to have Deivon [Smith] on the point guard in the beginning. So, it was all about matchups. We just matched up better with Deivon and RJ [Luis Jr.] guarding [Donovan Dent]. Sim will probably start against Baylor, so nothing to it.”
On his thoughts following the win…
“This was a tough team to play against, as UCLA found out because they don't beat themselves. They keep putting pressure on you with pick and rolls. In the first half, we were great defensively, we were great on the backboard. I thought individually, we did a lot of good things with great plays. They just have to learn to use each other a little bit more. Certain guys are not even close to their potential. It’s interesting because it's the older guys that are not close to their potential.”
On what changes when you get production from Zuby Ejiofor…
“I think Zuby [Ejiofor] was a big catalyst. We have so much respect for [New Mexico forward] Nellie [Junior] Joseph. … [Zuby] was really a catalyst for making the offense go tonight by stepping away from the basket. Obviously, he had a big rebounding night. He had three assists. We turned the ball over too much, but this team does it to you. So, they all rebounded. You have Zuby with 10, Kadary [Richmond] with eight, RJ [Luis Jr.] with 11. So, everybody was rebounding the basketball. Aaron [Scott] with six.”
On squaring off with New Mexico that is coached by his son Richard Pitino…
“It was great for New Mexico to come into The Garden. They just came off beating UCLA. Now they play a St John's team in The Garden. Their resume only gets enhanced by that. He [Richard Pitino] is a great young coach. Great young coach. His offensive mind is brilliant. He puts you in situations that really hurt you defensively. …. He's got a great team this year. He does it with all new players, different players. He's one of the bright young offensive minds in the game today. So, he's a lot different than me. He handles losing much better than me.”
On if this was a special match-up facing his son…
“I think the way The Garden got behind the game, I thought it was unbelievable for me, and my son will remember this forever. Certainly, for the New Mexico kids to play in Madison Square Garden. My pre-game speech was, ‘Guys, this is your first game in Madison Square Garden. I grew up on 26th Street, between Second and Third Avenue, and I said I always dreamed about playing a high school game in The Garden, playing in the NIT back at UMass. You get to call this your home court. You don't understand how special it is. It’s The World's Most Famous Arena for a reason. This is our home court. So, for New Mexico, for my son, for me, every time I walk in this building, it's special.”
St. John’s forward RJ Luis Jr.:
On how he feels after four games…
“I feel great. Give all the glory to God. You know, I feel great, no longer in pain. It was a very exciting game. Felt like it was a good team win. We needed a little challenge like that heading into the Bahamas. I was just trying to play hard on both sides of the floor and I was able to find my teammates and we got the dub.”
On his career-best seven assists…
“I feel like with my abilities, I'm able to do that. So, it's helpful when my teammates are cutting, it's easy to find them. I feel like I'm a playmaker, so I'm able to create for myself and others.”
On New Mexico Head Coach Richard Pitino calling him an NBA prospect…
“It feels good to take that praise but just got to keep working hard. I'm thankful that I'm healthy, and I feel like there's nothing really stopping me right now. I just give the glory to God for allowing me to play this sport, for putting on for the Dominican, Ecuadorian nationality. So, I mean, it's fun. Not everybody gets to play in The Garden, we play eight games here, I could call it home. So, it's great.”
St. John’s forward Aaron Scott:
On the ability to withstand New Mexico’s pressure…
“Really just stay composed. They go on their runs, we go on our runs. We just [have] to stay composed, you know, stay calm. Don't let anything speed us up. I had an open three. Confidence is key. .... My teammates, my coaches, give me a lot of confidence.”
On playing in Madison Square Garden for the first time…
“This is my first game ever in The Garden, so it was crazy. The atmosphere was crazy. The fans were crazy. It got really loud. I couldn't hear my own teammates at times. But I love the crowd. I love the atmosphere. I can't wait to play these next games in The Garden.”
New Mexico Head Coach Richard Pitino:
Opening Statement…
“Well, the concern that I had going into the game kind of came true. I thought their size, their strength, their physicality certainly broke open the game at times. We were able to get some stops, we just could not get rebounds. They're big and they're strong, they're bigger than a lot of teams, and they're really, really good. So really proud of the fight our guys had. I think we cut it to five in the second half, six a couple times, just couldn't get over the hump. But [St. John’s] is a team that is going to sit in the Top-20 all year. They are a team that's going to be right there for the BIG EAST title. So, awesome opportunity. Your sitting there looking up at Madison Square Garden. So much fun to be a part of, although we didn't win. I'm very, very grateful that my dad agreed to do it, and I'm grateful that my players were able to experience something like this because who knows when they'll ever be able to experience it again. So great crowd and terrific team in St John's.”
New Mexico guard CJ Noland:
On defending Kadary Richmond…
“Well, like you said, he's six-seven, so he sees the floor really well. I think that he uses his length as well on the court for defense and offense. Yeah, he's pretty tough, tough kid.”
Opening Statement…
“Well, I thought we played awesome defense in the first half. Really great defense. In the second half, we didn't play as well defensively, but overall, New Mexico is a very good basketball team. They put a lot of pressure on you. Without question, we won the game on the backboard. There's no doubt about it; the backboard was the key to the game. We made our mistakes defensively, giving up the three and underneath, out-of-bounds plays. We did a good job in transition most of the time. So, it was a great win with a great crowd, great day. Really proud of the guys, and this was our first big test, and now we really go into the gauntlet with Baylor, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia.”
On what went into the decision not to start Simeon Wilcher…
“Sim [Wilcher] is a great player. He's had a great week [of practice]. If you looked at the starting lineups, every single game, they've changed. This was just about defensive matchups. We had to have Deivon [Smith] on the point guard in the beginning. So, it was all about matchups. We just matched up better with Deivon and RJ [Luis Jr.] guarding [Donovan Dent]. Sim will probably start against Baylor, so nothing to it.”
On his thoughts following the win…
“This was a tough team to play against, as UCLA found out because they don't beat themselves. They keep putting pressure on you with pick and rolls. In the first half, we were great defensively, we were great on the backboard. I thought individually, we did a lot of good things with great plays. They just have to learn to use each other a little bit more. Certain guys are not even close to their potential. It’s interesting because it's the older guys that are not close to their potential.”
On what changes when you get production from Zuby Ejiofor…
“I think Zuby [Ejiofor] was a big catalyst. We have so much respect for [New Mexico forward] Nellie [Junior] Joseph. … [Zuby] was really a catalyst for making the offense go tonight by stepping away from the basket. Obviously, he had a big rebounding night. He had three assists. We turned the ball over too much, but this team does it to you. So, they all rebounded. You have Zuby with 10, Kadary [Richmond] with eight, RJ [Luis Jr.] with 11. So, everybody was rebounding the basketball. Aaron [Scott] with six.”
On squaring off with New Mexico that is coached by his son Richard Pitino…
“It was great for New Mexico to come into The Garden. They just came off beating UCLA. Now they play a St John's team in The Garden. Their resume only gets enhanced by that. He [Richard Pitino] is a great young coach. Great young coach. His offensive mind is brilliant. He puts you in situations that really hurt you defensively. …. He's got a great team this year. He does it with all new players, different players. He's one of the bright young offensive minds in the game today. So, he's a lot different than me. He handles losing much better than me.”
On if this was a special match-up facing his son…
“I think the way The Garden got behind the game, I thought it was unbelievable for me, and my son will remember this forever. Certainly, for the New Mexico kids to play in Madison Square Garden. My pre-game speech was, ‘Guys, this is your first game in Madison Square Garden. I grew up on 26th Street, between Second and Third Avenue, and I said I always dreamed about playing a high school game in The Garden, playing in the NIT back at UMass. You get to call this your home court. You don't understand how special it is. It’s The World's Most Famous Arena for a reason. This is our home court. So, for New Mexico, for my son, for me, every time I walk in this building, it's special.”
St. John’s forward RJ Luis Jr.:
On how he feels after four games…
“I feel great. Give all the glory to God. You know, I feel great, no longer in pain. It was a very exciting game. Felt like it was a good team win. We needed a little challenge like that heading into the Bahamas. I was just trying to play hard on both sides of the floor and I was able to find my teammates and we got the dub.”
On his career-best seven assists…
“I feel like with my abilities, I'm able to do that. So, it's helpful when my teammates are cutting, it's easy to find them. I feel like I'm a playmaker, so I'm able to create for myself and others.”
On New Mexico Head Coach Richard Pitino calling him an NBA prospect…
“It feels good to take that praise but just got to keep working hard. I'm thankful that I'm healthy, and I feel like there's nothing really stopping me right now. I just give the glory to God for allowing me to play this sport, for putting on for the Dominican, Ecuadorian nationality. So, I mean, it's fun. Not everybody gets to play in The Garden, we play eight games here, I could call it home. So, it's great.”
St. John’s forward Aaron Scott:
On the ability to withstand New Mexico’s pressure…
“Really just stay composed. They go on their runs, we go on our runs. We just [have] to stay composed, you know, stay calm. Don't let anything speed us up. I had an open three. Confidence is key. .... My teammates, my coaches, give me a lot of confidence.”
On playing in Madison Square Garden for the first time…
“This is my first game ever in The Garden, so it was crazy. The atmosphere was crazy. The fans were crazy. It got really loud. I couldn't hear my own teammates at times. But I love the crowd. I love the atmosphere. I can't wait to play these next games in The Garden.”
New Mexico Head Coach Richard Pitino:
Opening Statement…
“Well, the concern that I had going into the game kind of came true. I thought their size, their strength, their physicality certainly broke open the game at times. We were able to get some stops, we just could not get rebounds. They're big and they're strong, they're bigger than a lot of teams, and they're really, really good. So really proud of the fight our guys had. I think we cut it to five in the second half, six a couple times, just couldn't get over the hump. But [St. John’s] is a team that is going to sit in the Top-20 all year. They are a team that's going to be right there for the BIG EAST title. So, awesome opportunity. Your sitting there looking up at Madison Square Garden. So much fun to be a part of, although we didn't win. I'm very, very grateful that my dad agreed to do it, and I'm grateful that my players were able to experience something like this because who knows when they'll ever be able to experience it again. So great crowd and terrific team in St John's.”
New Mexico guard CJ Noland:
On defending Kadary Richmond…
“Well, like you said, he's six-seven, so he sees the floor really well. I think that he uses his length as well on the court for defense and offense. Yeah, he's pretty tough, tough kid.”