St. John's University Athletics
PREGAME QUOTES: St. John’s Men’s Basketball vs. Kentucky
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino, senior forward Zuby Ejiofor and senior forward Dillon Mitchell met with the media prior to the Red Storm’s game against Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic
Head Coach Rick Pitino
On playing Kentucky…
“We were a replacement in, for UCLA in the CBS [Sports] Classic, and I don't think I would have taken it if it wasn't Kentucky, because I thought it would be a great match-up. Their size, speed, talent is outstanding, gets us ready for our conference, and we're excited about it.”
On the team’s physicality…
“I think our biggest weakness right now, after watching Iowa State and Michigan, is a lack of physicality. We're working on it. One of the guys on our basketball team who I'm so proud of is Joson [Sanon]. He's gone from a bad defensive player, giving up like 16 points a game, to a very good defensive player. He's gone from a non-existent rebounder to a very good rebounder.”
On Mark Pope taking the Kentucky job…
“There's no better guy than a Rhodes Scholar candidate, captain of one of the greatest teams ever to play there, a young man that's very cerebral, has done it at all levels, and really wears Kentucky on his chest. It's never going to be about money with Mark [Pope]. It's never going to be about fame with Mark. It's always going to be about representing Kentucky the right way, and I thought he'd be an excellent choice.”
On his relationship with Mark Pope…
“Well, when you get a team that's one of the greatest in NCAA history, that was a team that had a lot of egos. And, there was one person, two people that were totally selfless, and Mark was the captain of a team with a lot of egos. He had to keep everybody in line and keep everybody as one fist, and he did a fabulous job at doing that because everybody knew how selfless he was. It was never ever about Mark Pope.”
On being in good graces with Kentucky fans…
“Well, I think it hurt a great deal when I was at Louisville and I walked into Rupp [Arena], really hurt. But, I will say today I realize why. If I went back next year to Olympiakos and I walked into Panathinaikos, I won't be cheered. I'm happy that my name is hanging from the rafters of Rupp Arena and it's a big part of my life, a big part of eight great years I had there. So, I'm happy to be part of their family.”
Senior forward Zuby Ejiofor
On facing Kentucky and the added ties to Coach Pitino…
“Obviously, it's a big-time game, two big time teams matching up. It’s going to be a great challenge for us and we're excited for the opportunity. I don't think we're thinking about it as Coach Pitino's former team, and his former captain, but just a matchup that we are excited for, and one we got to get a win.”
On the opportunity to earn a resume-boosting win and playing in a road-like environment…
“The days of preparation that goes into it, I feel like guys are competing at a high level. We know what the stakes are and it's a game that we want to go out there and win. They are probably going to have more of a crowd than us on a neutral site like that and it’s great to get that feeling of a road game. We just have to do whatever it takes to come out with a victory.”
Senior forward Dillon Mitchell
On integrating new transfers and building team chemistry…
“It’s up to the players to have that connection and that relationship and that's just opening up, chatting, having a lot of locker room moments, and then all that leads to on the court. But for us, it can be a challenge, especially early on, just a lot of new faces, a lot of new characters with different personalities. But now you get to a point where you having laughter and communication in the locker room and then everybody is kind of opening just themselves and that helps a lot with on the court.”
On matching up against Kentucky’s size and athleticism…
“We have a lot of guys that are very athletic and lengthy. Josan [Sanon] is one who's very athletic and lengthy. I think we're very versatile, just matching up with a lot of different teams and the SEC is one conference that is known for that length and athleticism. For the most part, we can match up with anyone in any conference.”