St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: No. 15/14 St. John’s at Georgetown
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino, guard Kadary Richmond and forward Aaron Scott spoke with the media after the Red Storm’s 66-41 win at Georgetown
Head Coach Rick Pitino
Opening statement…
“Aaron [Scott] had a big night. Kadary [Richmond] was awesome. That was the best defense and offense we've ever played. I told them at halftime, ‘I've only had one team in my life that had a big lead like that, that just went for blood.’ We knew Georgetown is a well-coached team. We knew they'd come out hard. They were trapping every play, but we kept making good defensive plays…So, I'm proud of these guys.”
On the team’s ability to not let its head get too large…
“I think our best quality that we have is we're humble. We just keep playing hard. We don't think we're great. We aspire to be great, but we don't believe we're great. We understand that anybody can beat us, but these two guys [Aaron Scott and Kadary Richmond] are great leaders, terrific players.”
On Kadary Richmond…
“Kadary keeps getting better and better. Now, all of a sudden, he thinks he's Steph Curry Jr, but he made it. We'll keep working at it, but he's just a remarkable player. There are so many things he does that you all don't see. Here's what I love about him, absolutely love - he knows when he makes a mistake, and he immediately puts his thumb up when I get on him, and he knows it right away. Always owns up to every mistake and that's a great quality because you can really teach someone how to run an offense and defense when he owns up to every mistake. So, I'm proud of these two guys. It was a wonderful win for us in every fundamental area.”
On the team’s humility and drive to get better…
“We really just do focus on getting better. This team is getting better and better. Many times in the second half the clock was winding down and we made them take a desperation shot. So, that was great switching. That was great covering the gaps. So, we're getting better and better, and all we want to do is be the best. Like I said earlier, humility is what we're all after. I think at 50 years of coaching, the one thing I've learned the most important word is humility. Being humble allows you to keep getting better, allows you not to embrace success, allows you to stay grounded and know who you are. We know Georgetown can beat us, we know Providence can beat us. We know everybody can beat us. But we're getting better and better and better, and that's all we care about. Humility is a major factor.”
On the spectacular defense tonight…
“We're a great man team because of our length. Aaron [Scott] has got length. RJ [Luis Jr.] has length. Kadary Richmond, he's got length. Even though Deivon [Smith] is six foot, he's a leading defensive rebounder. So, it's a really good basketball team getting better.”
On the fan support…
“I'm happiest, not only for the players because they are the reason this is happening, but I'm happy for the St. John's fans. Been a long time for them, and I see them so positive. As I walk around the streets of New York, I see them so happy. They come on the road, we're going to have 18,000 people for the Providence game on Saturday. So, I'm happy for them, because it's an identity they want to see. There's no reason that St. John's can't be a great basketball team.”
St. John’s guard Kadary Richmond
On if Deivon Smith being out has led him to a bigger role on offense …
“I wouldn't say him being out led to it, but just knowing that I'm a better player than the way I started the season, and just working out every day.
On his teammates contributing to his recent success…
“Nothing I do is possible without them. So, I'm thankful for the guys in the locker room and the confidence that they give me day in and day out.”
On if anything surprised him about how great the team plays defense…
“I'll say how quickly we formed it. There are a lot of new guys and stuff like that, but we preach it every day in practice since the summer. So, I like the results.”
St. John’s forward Aaron Scott
On the team’s performance in the first half…
“Honestly, we just knew Georgetown was going to come out hard. We knew [Georgetown Head Coach Ed Cooley] on them constantly. We just were prepared for the first four minutes, and that's what [Coach Pitino] was telling us. We knew they were going to come out with a run. We knew they were going to trap.”
On going undefeated in the month of January…
“It means a lot for us, but we are just taking and one game at a time. We're not looking too far in the future. Just going prepare for Providence and get ready for that game.”
On the preparation going into tonight’s game…
“Our coaches watched a lot of film on the other team. We came out a little slow the last time we played Georgetown, and we knew we were going to have to pick up the energy for the first four minutes. That's what we did and did it throughout the first half.”
Opening statement…
“Aaron [Scott] had a big night. Kadary [Richmond] was awesome. That was the best defense and offense we've ever played. I told them at halftime, ‘I've only had one team in my life that had a big lead like that, that just went for blood.’ We knew Georgetown is a well-coached team. We knew they'd come out hard. They were trapping every play, but we kept making good defensive plays…So, I'm proud of these guys.”
On the team’s ability to not let its head get too large…
“I think our best quality that we have is we're humble. We just keep playing hard. We don't think we're great. We aspire to be great, but we don't believe we're great. We understand that anybody can beat us, but these two guys [Aaron Scott and Kadary Richmond] are great leaders, terrific players.”
On Kadary Richmond…
“Kadary keeps getting better and better. Now, all of a sudden, he thinks he's Steph Curry Jr, but he made it. We'll keep working at it, but he's just a remarkable player. There are so many things he does that you all don't see. Here's what I love about him, absolutely love - he knows when he makes a mistake, and he immediately puts his thumb up when I get on him, and he knows it right away. Always owns up to every mistake and that's a great quality because you can really teach someone how to run an offense and defense when he owns up to every mistake. So, I'm proud of these two guys. It was a wonderful win for us in every fundamental area.”
On the team’s humility and drive to get better…
“We really just do focus on getting better. This team is getting better and better. Many times in the second half the clock was winding down and we made them take a desperation shot. So, that was great switching. That was great covering the gaps. So, we're getting better and better, and all we want to do is be the best. Like I said earlier, humility is what we're all after. I think at 50 years of coaching, the one thing I've learned the most important word is humility. Being humble allows you to keep getting better, allows you not to embrace success, allows you to stay grounded and know who you are. We know Georgetown can beat us, we know Providence can beat us. We know everybody can beat us. But we're getting better and better and better, and that's all we care about. Humility is a major factor.”
On the spectacular defense tonight…
“We're a great man team because of our length. Aaron [Scott] has got length. RJ [Luis Jr.] has length. Kadary Richmond, he's got length. Even though Deivon [Smith] is six foot, he's a leading defensive rebounder. So, it's a really good basketball team getting better.”
On the fan support…
“I'm happiest, not only for the players because they are the reason this is happening, but I'm happy for the St. John's fans. Been a long time for them, and I see them so positive. As I walk around the streets of New York, I see them so happy. They come on the road, we're going to have 18,000 people for the Providence game on Saturday. So, I'm happy for them, because it's an identity they want to see. There's no reason that St. John's can't be a great basketball team.”
St. John’s guard Kadary Richmond
On if Deivon Smith being out has led him to a bigger role on offense …
“I wouldn't say him being out led to it, but just knowing that I'm a better player than the way I started the season, and just working out every day.
On his teammates contributing to his recent success…
“Nothing I do is possible without them. So, I'm thankful for the guys in the locker room and the confidence that they give me day in and day out.”
On if anything surprised him about how great the team plays defense…
“I'll say how quickly we formed it. There are a lot of new guys and stuff like that, but we preach it every day in practice since the summer. So, I like the results.”
St. John’s forward Aaron Scott
On the team’s performance in the first half…
“Honestly, we just knew Georgetown was going to come out hard. We knew [Georgetown Head Coach Ed Cooley] on them constantly. We just were prepared for the first four minutes, and that's what [Coach Pitino] was telling us. We knew they were going to come out with a run. We knew they were going to trap.”
On going undefeated in the month of January…
“It means a lot for us, but we are just taking and one game at a time. We're not looking too far in the future. Just going prepare for Providence and get ready for that game.”
On the preparation going into tonight’s game…
“Our coaches watched a lot of film on the other team. We came out a little slow the last time we played Georgetown, and we knew we were going to have to pick up the energy for the first four minutes. That's what we did and did it throughout the first half.”