St. John's University Athletics
PREGAME QUOTES: No. 10/9 St. John’s vs RV/RV UConn
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino, guard Simeon Wilcher and forward Zuby Ejiofor met with media ahead of the team’s matchup against RV/RV UConn on Sunday at Madison Square Garden
St. John’s Head Coach Rick Pitino
On coaching in this new era of college athletics…
“If you want to coach between the lines, you've got to adapt, not only from a style standpoint but everything that takes place away from the lines. If you don't, you're not going to enjoy the game. That's when you should get out, but if you enjoy the game more than anything else in the world, you adjust.”
On how contracts could be beneficial for college athletics…
“I just think it gets guys focused on the right things, about improvement, becoming the best player you can be, and not dealing with their agent, looking at other schools during the year.”
On continuing to win with key guys out of the lineup…
“I just think we focus on the game plan, defensively and offensively, and don't worry about who's playing or who's not playing. Just focus on trying to win the game with what you have.”
On UConn having an up and down season…
“I think that's true with a lot of teams in the league, no different than Xavier, no different than a lot of the teams. It's just it's a tough, competitive league, and they came back with a great win against Villanova. We know they're very talented. We know they're very good, so we've got to be ready. No different than going Wednesday to Indianapolis [to play Butler].”
On Kadary Richmond’s performance against DePaul…
“I just think he was flawless in every area. You know, zero turnovers. He was good defensively, good in the backcourt. I mean, he’s had other great games, don’t get me wrong. I just thought after I watched the film, I thought he was brilliant.”
On game planning for UConn despite the injuries…
“I don't focus on who's available. I just focus on winning the game offensively and defensively. I don't focus on who's going to play, who's not going to play. Here's the scouting report. Here's what we must do to beat UConn from every little detail, every little thing that they do well and not focus on that stuff, because you can't control the injuries. It'll drive you nuts when you go to bed at night.”
St. John’s guard Simeon Wilcher
On Sunday’s game…
“Such a big stage, such a big arena, such a big game coming up. It's really hard to put into words how excited I am, especially just for the environment. UConn always brings their fans and now St. John's has the fans in there too. It's kind of going to be like a clash. I'm excited for that. Looking forward to it.”
On the next-man-up mentality the team has adopted…
“Just a testament to the guys that we have. We have great guys who can step up when our brothers are down. I just feel like everybody is ready for that and it's a testament to the guys that we have.”
On guys deeper down the bench getting more playing time…
“We are trying to make sure everybody gets the reps they need. We have a run that we have to go on these next few games and then with the BIG EAST Tournament coming up. We just want to make sure everybody is polished and ready to go.”
On what he wants from St. John’s fans on Sunday…
“I just want them to show the love and the support that they always do. We always have a great crowd. The Johnnies are a great fan base, and they always come out and show love every time we play here. So just do what they usually do.”
St John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor:
On dealing with injuries on the team…
“That really doesn't matter, it's always the next-man-up mentality. Anybody is capable of going out there and playing and it's just about everybody just raising their level of intensity and their level of focus, and that's what we've been doing.”
On the fan support against UConn on Sunday…
“It's always been like a sea of red this season. Johnnie fans packing MSG and that's something that we need, that's something that we thrive off of. The energy and the support they show us on a given night, just something we expect coming up against UConn.”
On what makes Kadary Richmond so great against the best teams…
“I wouldn't say something specific, but I think Kadary [Richmond] is a great player, obviously. And we know exactly what he's capable of bringing each night, and whenever the stakes are higher, he rises to the occasion. Against the best teams in the BIG EAST, that's something that we need from him.”
On wanting to finish the season strong…
“I hate to lose as well. Obviously, we want to win every single game from now on and especially with the what's at hand, the BIG EAST title. All these games obviously matter and it's going to be a big one against UConn.”
On Ruben Prey…
“He's the guy that goes hard every single day and that's what I admire about him. Actually, he goes hard in practice, in the games, he's going to give you one hundred percent effort. I think he had like eight rebounds last game. We all know exactly what he's capable of doing, especially on the defensive end as well as just being able to stop guys and just grab rebounds when it's key.”
On coaching in this new era of college athletics…
“If you want to coach between the lines, you've got to adapt, not only from a style standpoint but everything that takes place away from the lines. If you don't, you're not going to enjoy the game. That's when you should get out, but if you enjoy the game more than anything else in the world, you adjust.”
On how contracts could be beneficial for college athletics…
“I just think it gets guys focused on the right things, about improvement, becoming the best player you can be, and not dealing with their agent, looking at other schools during the year.”
On continuing to win with key guys out of the lineup…
“I just think we focus on the game plan, defensively and offensively, and don't worry about who's playing or who's not playing. Just focus on trying to win the game with what you have.”
On UConn having an up and down season…
“I think that's true with a lot of teams in the league, no different than Xavier, no different than a lot of the teams. It's just it's a tough, competitive league, and they came back with a great win against Villanova. We know they're very talented. We know they're very good, so we've got to be ready. No different than going Wednesday to Indianapolis [to play Butler].”
On Kadary Richmond’s performance against DePaul…
“I just think he was flawless in every area. You know, zero turnovers. He was good defensively, good in the backcourt. I mean, he’s had other great games, don’t get me wrong. I just thought after I watched the film, I thought he was brilliant.”
On game planning for UConn despite the injuries…
“I don't focus on who's available. I just focus on winning the game offensively and defensively. I don't focus on who's going to play, who's not going to play. Here's the scouting report. Here's what we must do to beat UConn from every little detail, every little thing that they do well and not focus on that stuff, because you can't control the injuries. It'll drive you nuts when you go to bed at night.”
St. John’s guard Simeon Wilcher
On Sunday’s game…
“Such a big stage, such a big arena, such a big game coming up. It's really hard to put into words how excited I am, especially just for the environment. UConn always brings their fans and now St. John's has the fans in there too. It's kind of going to be like a clash. I'm excited for that. Looking forward to it.”
On the next-man-up mentality the team has adopted…
“Just a testament to the guys that we have. We have great guys who can step up when our brothers are down. I just feel like everybody is ready for that and it's a testament to the guys that we have.”
On guys deeper down the bench getting more playing time…
“We are trying to make sure everybody gets the reps they need. We have a run that we have to go on these next few games and then with the BIG EAST Tournament coming up. We just want to make sure everybody is polished and ready to go.”
On what he wants from St. John’s fans on Sunday…
“I just want them to show the love and the support that they always do. We always have a great crowd. The Johnnies are a great fan base, and they always come out and show love every time we play here. So just do what they usually do.”
St John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor:
On dealing with injuries on the team…
“That really doesn't matter, it's always the next-man-up mentality. Anybody is capable of going out there and playing and it's just about everybody just raising their level of intensity and their level of focus, and that's what we've been doing.”
On the fan support against UConn on Sunday…
“It's always been like a sea of red this season. Johnnie fans packing MSG and that's something that we need, that's something that we thrive off of. The energy and the support they show us on a given night, just something we expect coming up against UConn.”
On what makes Kadary Richmond so great against the best teams…
“I wouldn't say something specific, but I think Kadary [Richmond] is a great player, obviously. And we know exactly what he's capable of bringing each night, and whenever the stakes are higher, he rises to the occasion. Against the best teams in the BIG EAST, that's something that we need from him.”
On wanting to finish the season strong…
“I hate to lose as well. Obviously, we want to win every single game from now on and especially with the what's at hand, the BIG EAST title. All these games obviously matter and it's going to be a big one against UConn.”
On Ruben Prey…
“He's the guy that goes hard every single day and that's what I admire about him. Actually, he goes hard in practice, in the games, he's going to give you one hundred percent effort. I think he had like eight rebounds last game. We all know exactly what he's capable of doing, especially on the defensive end as well as just being able to stop guys and just grab rebounds when it's key.”