St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: No. 9/8 St. John’s at Villanova
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino, guard Simeon Wilcher and wing Aaron Scott spoke with the media following the Red Storm’s 73-71 loss at Villanova
Head Coach Rick Pitino
Opening statement…
“A tough loss for us. Really wasn't about missing shots or making shots, because they made a lot of terrific shots with one second on the shot clock, but twice we didn't block out and it cost us the game. That's been a weakness of ours and it finally bit us. But great game. The guys played their [tails] off. This is one of the best shooting teams in the country and we were unable to stop their outside shot.”
On Villanova’s shooting performance tonight…
“I think it was more their offense than our defense. With one second on the clock, they made tough threes. The driving by in the first dribble, that was poor, but it was the blocking out twice with the game on the line that hurt us.”
On the team shooting a lot of threes…
“Tonight was a shooters night, and [Simeon Wilcher] was shooting well. Kadary [Richmond] is playing well on the offensive end. …Without question [they wanted us to shoot threes]. From the last game, they had four guys in the paint.”
On his outlook of the loss…
“People are going to give [the three-point shot] to us, we got to have the confidence and take it. We lost because we didn't block out. We were not good at guarding the ball. They shot 52 percent from the field, 45 percent from three, so they deserve the victory. One of the better shooting teams in the nation. Proud of our guys, played hard, just didn't come away with the win.”
St. John’s guard Simeon Wilcher
On the final shot…
“I knew it was off. It was a clean look, I just didn't make it. Not really hanging my head too low about it because we have a big game coming up this weekend and we have to prepare for that.”
On the team’s defense tonight…
“We usually play defense a lot better than that. But tonight, I guess we just didn't have it. But we are going to go back to the drawing board and get ready for Sunday.”
St. John’s wing Aaron Scott
On what was the difference in tonight’s loss…
“I mean it’s just our defense. We just weren’t good defensively and that is our identity.”
On the absence of Deivon Smith…
“It hurts a lot. He’s a big piece, but we have to keep playing.”
Opening statement…
“A tough loss for us. Really wasn't about missing shots or making shots, because they made a lot of terrific shots with one second on the shot clock, but twice we didn't block out and it cost us the game. That's been a weakness of ours and it finally bit us. But great game. The guys played their [tails] off. This is one of the best shooting teams in the country and we were unable to stop their outside shot.”
On Villanova’s shooting performance tonight…
“I think it was more their offense than our defense. With one second on the clock, they made tough threes. The driving by in the first dribble, that was poor, but it was the blocking out twice with the game on the line that hurt us.”
On the team shooting a lot of threes…
“Tonight was a shooters night, and [Simeon Wilcher] was shooting well. Kadary [Richmond] is playing well on the offensive end. …Without question [they wanted us to shoot threes]. From the last game, they had four guys in the paint.”
On his outlook of the loss…
“People are going to give [the three-point shot] to us, we got to have the confidence and take it. We lost because we didn't block out. We were not good at guarding the ball. They shot 52 percent from the field, 45 percent from three, so they deserve the victory. One of the better shooting teams in the nation. Proud of our guys, played hard, just didn't come away with the win.”
St. John’s guard Simeon Wilcher
On the final shot…
“I knew it was off. It was a clean look, I just didn't make it. Not really hanging my head too low about it because we have a big game coming up this weekend and we have to prepare for that.”
On the team’s defense tonight…
“We usually play defense a lot better than that. But tonight, I guess we just didn't have it. But we are going to go back to the drawing board and get ready for Sunday.”
St. John’s wing Aaron Scott
On what was the difference in tonight’s loss…
“I mean it’s just our defense. We just weren’t good defensively and that is our identity.”
On the absence of Deivon Smith…
“It hurts a lot. He’s a big piece, but we have to keep playing.”