St. John's University Athletics
PREGAME QUOTES: ST. JOHN’S VS. GEORGETOWN
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino, Oziyah Sellers and Zuby Ejiofor Address Media Ahead of Georgetown Matchup in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 31
Head Coach Rick Pitino
On a team update entering Georgetown…
“There is not much to report since our non-conference finale with Harvard on Dec. 23rd. We have had some players miss practice due to illness. Ian [Jackson] and Dillon [Mitchell] are the players who have missed time. Our practices have been difficult with guys trying to get back in shape from having three days off [for the holidays]. We are gearing up for a talented and tough Georgetown team that has a deep bench and experienced backcourt.”
Senior Forward Zuby Ejiofor
On his challenge to the team to step up…
“Yeah, everybody's really stepping up in different areas. Joson [Sanon] and Ian [Jackson], as coach has said, from where they started on the defensive end to where they are now is a big step up. As far as the rebounding as well, I think they're doing their best and on the defensive glass as well. … I think everybody's just really honing in to what Coach Pitino wants for the rest of the season. It's a work in progress, but I have no doubt that we're going to get there.”
On the team’s defensive rebounding and areas for improvement…
“Coach Pitino talks about physicality. I think that we could do a lot better in terms of using our physicality, our strengths, and our quickness in order to secure those rebounds. It’s just something that must be done. I even have to do a better job at rebounding as well. I feel like we have had the opportunity to work on those things this past week.”
On instilling a championship mindset among new teammates…
“It just starts with winning habits and creating championship habits on a daily basis. It starts in practice, and I feel like the coaching staff, especially Coach Pitino, has done a great job trying to make sure that we’re playing to the level of his expectations and to the best of our abilities on a day-to-day basis. That’s where it starts. It starts in practice, and it starts with an understanding that these guys are coming in from different programs and it’s not easy to win in this league. You just have to play to the best of your abilities on a daily basis. Last year’s team was last year’s team. In order to accomplish the goals, you want to accomplish collectively, you have to practice and perform at a championship level each and every day.”
Senior Guard Oziyah Sellers
On embracing a championship mindset and defending the BIG EAST title as a new member of the team…
“As a competitor alone, you’re not going to want to lose games, you’re not going to want to be considered a loser, whatever. Regardless, our goal is to win. We know that expectations have been set, and like we said, we want to defend that title regardless of if we were here or not. We want to win games. We’re competitive, so that’s just in us naturally.”
On his shot selection and playing more aggressively offensively…
“I honestly didn’t see too many that I passed up [against Harvard]. Coach always continues to tell me to just shoot the ball all the time. There were definitely times I could have been a little more aggressive in that game. I watch a lot of film and I know things I can improve on, so I’ll be fine. ... Even defensively, just making a couple minor mistakes. I’ve watched film and I feel like I’ll be able to fix those things.”
On what it will take for the team to hit a new gear and reach the next level…
“I feel like our rebounding has not been exactly where we wanted it to be. Then a big thing is also just finishing games. Pretty much every game that we've lost, we've either had the lead or were right there and just didn't put a full 40 minutes together. I feel like that's our biggest goal moving forward, those two things, and I feel like we'll be fine if we get that.”