St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: RV/RV St. John's Men's Basketball at Seton Hall
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino, guard Kadary Richmond and forward RJ Luis Jr. spoke with the media following the team’s 79-51 win over Seton Hall on Saturday Night at the Prudential Center.
Head Coach Rick Pitino
Opening statement…
“That was the best New Year’s Eve gift I could have gotten, the defense in the first half. That was a brilliant performance of team defense. We have been really working on that, and the guys had each other's back. When you get people to shoot 13 percent from the field, 12 percent from three, you are just playing remarkable defense. I’m real proud of our guys, it was a terrific win. Kadary [Richmond] had a beautiful homecoming, RJ [Luis Jr.] was brilliant as well. We are very excited about the win, we know we have a tough one coming up on Wednesday.”
On playing Deivon Smith despite his injury…
“I wasn't going to play him because he said he couldn't shoot, and he said, ‘Coach, I want to go’. He said that to me and I was surprised. The trainer and I both made a decision that he would play, but I thought it'd be good for him to get out there and run because he hasn’t practiced and play a little bit. It'll set him up for Wednesday's game.”
On his mindset being in first place in the BIG EAST…
“I really don't think about it. I'm just consumed with the next game. I think we're playing great defense right now. I think we're doing a lot of good things on the break. I'm just enjoying each practice, each game. I really don't think too much of that. I'm proud for the St. John's fans. I know it means something to them, but to me, it means very little.”
On the fan support at the Prudential Center tonight…
“St. John's fans are coming back. We're trying to make them join our team one by one. Whether it's the streets in New York, we don't care where they come from. One by one, we're trying to cultivate our fan base, because St. John's lost a big fan base in the last 20 years, a lot of subway alumni, and we're trying to get it back, and we're doing it one by one.”
On what it takes to win on the road in the BIG EAST…
“I think to win a BIG EAST road game, you have to be a good defensive team, and we're a good defensive team, and we're getting better and better at that. If you're not a really good defensive team, I don't care what league you're in, you're not going to win on the road. We got to be great defensively to win on the road.”
St John’s forward Kadary Richmond:
On the fan response from the Seton Hall fans…
“It was nice to come back and get a win, despite all the boo’s, I think I carved out a very nice career here, so I appreciate them.”
On the St. John’s fans chanting his name at the end of the game…
“I thought it was cool that they embraced me and showed me love. They knew what was going on all night with the crowd, so that was nice to see.”
On what it would mean to make the NCAA Tournament…
“It would be fun. We have been together since the summer, and we have been preaching winning, and we have been winning. So, it would be good for our team and the community.”
St. John’s forward RJ Luis Jr.:
On Kadary Richmond’s play tonight…
“He came into this game just like any other one. I know you guys are going to say maybe he was going to have a different mentality just because he was coming back to an old school, but I think he played great. We came out with the same fire, the same intensity, the same defensive purpose, and I’m just glad we got a win.”
On being in sole possession of first place in the BIG EAST…
“Sounds great, I’m really excited. Myself, my teammates and the whole coaching staff, we have put in a ton of work since the summer. So, it feels great to be in first place, but the job’s not finished. We got to continue winning games, playing together and having fun as a group.”
On the defensive effort in the first half…
“That's really been our next-level jump from last year’s team to this year. I feel like we have a nice group of long, athletic guys who can switch the one through the five. I think it was a good defensive half, and I want us to continue to playing defense that aggressively.”
Opening statement…
“That was the best New Year’s Eve gift I could have gotten, the defense in the first half. That was a brilliant performance of team defense. We have been really working on that, and the guys had each other's back. When you get people to shoot 13 percent from the field, 12 percent from three, you are just playing remarkable defense. I’m real proud of our guys, it was a terrific win. Kadary [Richmond] had a beautiful homecoming, RJ [Luis Jr.] was brilliant as well. We are very excited about the win, we know we have a tough one coming up on Wednesday.”
On playing Deivon Smith despite his injury…
“I wasn't going to play him because he said he couldn't shoot, and he said, ‘Coach, I want to go’. He said that to me and I was surprised. The trainer and I both made a decision that he would play, but I thought it'd be good for him to get out there and run because he hasn’t practiced and play a little bit. It'll set him up for Wednesday's game.”
On his mindset being in first place in the BIG EAST…
“I really don't think about it. I'm just consumed with the next game. I think we're playing great defense right now. I think we're doing a lot of good things on the break. I'm just enjoying each practice, each game. I really don't think too much of that. I'm proud for the St. John's fans. I know it means something to them, but to me, it means very little.”
On the fan support at the Prudential Center tonight…
“St. John's fans are coming back. We're trying to make them join our team one by one. Whether it's the streets in New York, we don't care where they come from. One by one, we're trying to cultivate our fan base, because St. John's lost a big fan base in the last 20 years, a lot of subway alumni, and we're trying to get it back, and we're doing it one by one.”
On what it takes to win on the road in the BIG EAST…
“I think to win a BIG EAST road game, you have to be a good defensive team, and we're a good defensive team, and we're getting better and better at that. If you're not a really good defensive team, I don't care what league you're in, you're not going to win on the road. We got to be great defensively to win on the road.”
St John’s forward Kadary Richmond:
On the fan response from the Seton Hall fans…
“It was nice to come back and get a win, despite all the boo’s, I think I carved out a very nice career here, so I appreciate them.”
On the St. John’s fans chanting his name at the end of the game…
“I thought it was cool that they embraced me and showed me love. They knew what was going on all night with the crowd, so that was nice to see.”
On what it would mean to make the NCAA Tournament…
“It would be fun. We have been together since the summer, and we have been preaching winning, and we have been winning. So, it would be good for our team and the community.”
St. John’s forward RJ Luis Jr.:
On Kadary Richmond’s play tonight…
“He came into this game just like any other one. I know you guys are going to say maybe he was going to have a different mentality just because he was coming back to an old school, but I think he played great. We came out with the same fire, the same intensity, the same defensive purpose, and I’m just glad we got a win.”
On being in sole possession of first place in the BIG EAST…
“Sounds great, I’m really excited. Myself, my teammates and the whole coaching staff, we have put in a ton of work since the summer. So, it feels great to be in first place, but the job’s not finished. We got to continue winning games, playing together and having fun as a group.”
On the defensive effort in the first half…
“That's really been our next-level jump from last year’s team to this year. I feel like we have a nice group of long, athletic guys who can switch the one through the five. I think it was a good defensive half, and I want us to continue to playing defense that aggressively.”