St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: ST. JOHN’S MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. BUCKNELL
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino, sophomore guard Ian Jackson and senior forward Dillon Mitchell spoke to the media following the Red Storm’s 97-49 win over Bucknell
Head Coach Rick Pitino
Opening statement…
“Sometimes basketball is a strange game. In practice, the second-unit guys dominated the first unit with tremendous enthusiasm and fire, and it carried over. Dillon Mitchell, Ian Jackson and Ruben Prey shot 15-for-27 from the field, they had one turnover and 17 rebounds. They gave us a big lift when the first unit was struggling offensively.”
On Ian Jackson…
“I thought he did a really good job defensively as well as offensively. He didn’t force things, he took what was there. In practice he’s getting better and better, so I’m really impressed with his play.”
On limiting turnovers…
“We try to stay away from turnovers that aren’t caused by the defense. If the defense makes a great play, you give them credit. Dillon Mitchell was a demon defensively tonight, but earlier [in the season], he was turning it over by himself and not because of pressure. That’s where he’s really gotten better.”
On the challenges ahead in Las Vegas…
“Iowa State and Houston are as difficult to play against as any teams in basketball. Their defense and rebounding are relentless. It’s great for us to go against that competition.”
On what this team can become…
“We have four new starters, so it takes time. We’re going to get better and better and better. We’re a deep team with a great attitude. Whether we go 3-0 or 2-1 [in Las Vegas], we’re not going to get too high or disappointed. We’re just going to keep playing and improving.”
On the state of college basketball…
“I am so impressed with college basketball, more than ever in my coaching career. The influx of foreign players staying in college instead of going to European pro teams has made the game stronger, and players sticking around has done the same. From an execution and talent standpoint, the game is at its zenith.”
Sophomore guard Ian Jackson
On his confidence…
“My confidence is at an all-time high. Through the first games, I’ve stayed confident, and tonight I played a good game. There’s always things to improve on, but we won and I was good.”
On limiting turnovers…
“It’s all about getting better every day, listening to Coach [Pitino], taking feedback and trying to implement it. No turnovers and three assists is something me and Coach [Pitino] were big on, and it feels good. It’s a testament to my hard work and focus on doing the little things.”
On the backcourt’s rebounding emphasis…
“[Coach Rick Pitino] wants us to be complete players, not one-sided. The guys we brought in rebounded great. [Joson Sanon] had six, and I had four. We did a solid job listening to Coach [Pitino].”
Senior forward Dillon Mitchell
On bringing energy and defensive impact…
“I’m just trying to do whatever it takes to get our team going in the right direction. It starts with the right energy, effort and focus. For me, it starts on defense. I try to pride myself on getting deflections, steals and doing the little things to get the guys going.”
On Ian Jackson…
“Nobody sees the work that gets put in every day. Ian stays level-headed and does what the coaches need him to do. Everybody knows he’s a great scorer, but right now he’s figuring out other ways to impact the game. He takes it one day at a time and gets better each day.”
On his experience playing in the Big 12…
“I’ve played in the Big 12 for three years. I can’t get away from it. I know what it’s like to play Iowa State and Baylor. They’re physical and big, and I’ll be able to tell the guys what to expect.”
Opening statement…
“Sometimes basketball is a strange game. In practice, the second-unit guys dominated the first unit with tremendous enthusiasm and fire, and it carried over. Dillon Mitchell, Ian Jackson and Ruben Prey shot 15-for-27 from the field, they had one turnover and 17 rebounds. They gave us a big lift when the first unit was struggling offensively.”
On Ian Jackson…
“I thought he did a really good job defensively as well as offensively. He didn’t force things, he took what was there. In practice he’s getting better and better, so I’m really impressed with his play.”
On limiting turnovers…
“We try to stay away from turnovers that aren’t caused by the defense. If the defense makes a great play, you give them credit. Dillon Mitchell was a demon defensively tonight, but earlier [in the season], he was turning it over by himself and not because of pressure. That’s where he’s really gotten better.”
On the challenges ahead in Las Vegas…
“Iowa State and Houston are as difficult to play against as any teams in basketball. Their defense and rebounding are relentless. It’s great for us to go against that competition.”
On what this team can become…
“We have four new starters, so it takes time. We’re going to get better and better and better. We’re a deep team with a great attitude. Whether we go 3-0 or 2-1 [in Las Vegas], we’re not going to get too high or disappointed. We’re just going to keep playing and improving.”
On the state of college basketball…
“I am so impressed with college basketball, more than ever in my coaching career. The influx of foreign players staying in college instead of going to European pro teams has made the game stronger, and players sticking around has done the same. From an execution and talent standpoint, the game is at its zenith.”
Sophomore guard Ian Jackson
On his confidence…
“My confidence is at an all-time high. Through the first games, I’ve stayed confident, and tonight I played a good game. There’s always things to improve on, but we won and I was good.”
On limiting turnovers…
“It’s all about getting better every day, listening to Coach [Pitino], taking feedback and trying to implement it. No turnovers and three assists is something me and Coach [Pitino] were big on, and it feels good. It’s a testament to my hard work and focus on doing the little things.”
On the backcourt’s rebounding emphasis…
“[Coach Rick Pitino] wants us to be complete players, not one-sided. The guys we brought in rebounded great. [Joson Sanon] had six, and I had four. We did a solid job listening to Coach [Pitino].”
Senior forward Dillon Mitchell
On bringing energy and defensive impact…
“I’m just trying to do whatever it takes to get our team going in the right direction. It starts with the right energy, effort and focus. For me, it starts on defense. I try to pride myself on getting deflections, steals and doing the little things to get the guys going.”
On Ian Jackson…
“Nobody sees the work that gets put in every day. Ian stays level-headed and does what the coaches need him to do. Everybody knows he’s a great scorer, but right now he’s figuring out other ways to impact the game. He takes it one day at a time and gets better each day.”
On his experience playing in the Big 12…
“I’ve played in the Big 12 for three years. I can’t get away from it. I know what it’s like to play Iowa State and Baylor. They’re physical and big, and I’ll be able to tell the guys what to expect.”