St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: BIG EAST Tournament Quarterfinals vs No. 9 Butler
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino and Red Storm players spoke with the media following the team’s 78-57 victory over ninth-seeded Butler in the BIG EAST Quarterfinals on Thursday at Madison Square Garden
Head Coach Rick Pitino
Opening Statement…
“I told the guys that a five-star performance is a Michael Jordan performance and we were a four-star tonight, which was good enough to win. Sometimes, the team that plays a game has a little under their belt. It hurts them in the third game, obviously, but we played well enough to win. We did a lot of good things tonight. We did a lot of things we need to get better at, but overall, it was a four-star performance, and we'll take it.”
On Deivon Smith’s health…
“I think he's mentally very self-conscious, and it's bothering him more mentally than it will bother him physically. Injuries, you've got to get over the hump mentally and he has to get over the hump mentally. I'm sure it's bothering him. He's a tough kid, but you've got to get over the hump mentally, and that's what he is really struggling with. Pays too much attention to it. He's got to block it out of his mind, and it's easier said than done to do that.”
On how important it is to find a rhythm on offense…
“Well, I think you have to have a number of assists. You have to share the basketball. We did that tonight, most of the night. We got good looks in the breaks, good looks moving the basketball. Like I said, we're a better shooting team than our numbers indicate, and we will continue. We're not going to be a great shooting team, but I think we're going to be a good shooting team.”
On the crowd’s energy during today’s game…
“Energy was good. We didn't have a lot of our fans here. There was a lot of blue. Must be Marquette. A lot of blue in the place. It's not a home game because it's tough to get tickets. … It's not a home game. Now you get more tickets as it opens up. Although it's a home court, it's not a home game.”
On what the team focused on playing Butler for a third time…
“We focused on blocking out. Our point guards did not block out the last game off rotations. We wanted to get out in transition and make good plays because [Butler] goes to the glass hard and gets out in transition. We did some different things. They opened up in a 1-3-1 [zone], which we've only seen a few possessions, and we handled it well. We played really good defense in the first eight or nine minutes, holding them to three points. Like I said, it was a good four-star performance.”
On Kadary Richmond…
“I told this to the team, and I'll repeat it to you guys, and I think I've said it before. A lot of our team was upset that Kadary wasn't First Team All-League. I understand it because it's tough to get in three guys. I said, ‘Kadary, your teammates and coaching staff think you're a top-three guard in the nation. Maybe the best guard in the nation. So, what does that matter? You've got the respect of every coach and every teammate. We think you're the best guard in the nation. So that's better than anything else.’ He's been terrific. he's playing brilliant basketball. He's a 6'5", 6'6" guard that has great body control, understands the game, owns up to everything he does wrong. He's coachable. He's got a great attitude. He's very humble. There aren't enough adjectives I can say about that young man.
St John’s forward Aaron Scott:
On being undefeated at The Garden and if there is an advantage…
“We are just taking it game-by-game. We're in New York, and you know the fans are going to come. It's our own gym. We are just taking it game-by-game.”
On how important it was to get out to a big lead in today’s game…
“It was very important. We had two close games [against Butler]. We didn't want this game to be close at all. So, in the first four minutes, we emphasized that.”
On his mentality picking up fouls…
“I am upset with myself. I have to stop showing emotion, but I am upset with myself. But that doesn't stop me from still playing aggressively. I'm still playing aggressively throughout the whole game. I know that can hurt me by picking up my second foul closer, but I still play the same way, either way.”
On his contributions to the team…
“I have always been a winning player. I make winning plays. Sometimes it goes unnoticed, but I really don't care because I know my teammates know what I bring to the team, and I know the coaches know what I bring to the team. I'm just gonna keep playing. Keep doing me, keep playing how I play, and helping the team win.”
On his three-point shooting…
“I just can't worry about my misses. Because when you start worrying about your misses, that's when you start thinking, you can't think; just shoot. I struggle with that at times. But it's March. I can’t be thinking about none of that. It's one and done, win or go home. I just got to shoot my open shots, if I'm making, I'm making, if I'm missing, find other ways to score and impact the game.”
St John’s guard Kadary Richmond:
On the rhythm he feels like he is in right now…
“I feel like I'm just making the right play, just going out there, playing basketball, having fun freely and guys are making shots. That's really it.”
On what the team could do better after today’s game…
“Attention to detail. We gave up a couple of threes in the first half not rotating. Stuff like that.”
On being undefeated at The Garden and if there is an advantage…
“I wouldn't say it's an advantage, but we feel comfortable in here. We've played in here. Like you said, we're undefeated. We just treat every game like every game we have in the past. So, we just stay humble and get better one by one, day by day.”
On being a native New Yorker and play in the BIG EAST Tournament…
“It’s special. Just having one more chance to play this tournament, there's nothing like it. It's one of the best tournaments during championship week. So, it's a great feeling.”
On if rebounding was a point of emphasis in today’s game…
“Yeah, you got to block out. I missed some block outs in the previous two games [against Butler], and today was a much better day for that.”
On the team’s defense…
“You know, that's what we preach, it's our defense. If we make it hard to score, we know we have talented guys that can score the ball at all positions. So, we're just locking you down and guarding our opponents has been big for us this year.”
On the year the team has had…
“It’s been fun. We have a lot of fun guys, we have a lot of good guys and guys that are competitive that want to do well. It’s been a great year so far, and we’re going to keep it up.”
St. John’s forward RJ Luis Jr.:
On the early start of the game…
“It's all good. It's an early game. It’s just about trying to get up early, body movement, get the blood flowing and prepare for the game.”
On the difference against playing Butler this time as opposed to earlier in the season…
“I think we did a better job of speeding them up, being in the gaps and pressuring the ball. We played this game at our speed instead of at their speed like we did away. So it was just good to get back to playing St. John basketball, playing fast and playing aggressive on the defensive end.”
St John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor:
On Kadary Richmond…
“I feel like everybody that made the team was more than deserving of it, but from a personal experience and what Kadary has been able to contribute to this team and how much he means to us, more than anything he deserved to make the team. I don't think he's really all too worried about that as the person, that that's the character that he got. But we all believe that he's one of the best guards in the country, and he shows each and every night, and especially tonight. Another near triple-double performance, and it's something that he brings every night. So, we're really proud of what he's been able to do for the entire year. He does a great job of playing for himself and for others.”
St John’s guard Deivon Smith:
On having a break before this game…
“It was super helpful. I was able to strengthen and get some of those muscles working. It was good to just take some time off, get back in the gym, and get a grip. It was super helpful.”
On how important it was to be back on the court with the team…
“Down the stretch, just having the chemistry and just [the team] being together and being out there with the guys, I think it was super important for me to show that I can push through these games and just keep going. I want to win with them.”
Opening Statement…
“I told the guys that a five-star performance is a Michael Jordan performance and we were a four-star tonight, which was good enough to win. Sometimes, the team that plays a game has a little under their belt. It hurts them in the third game, obviously, but we played well enough to win. We did a lot of good things tonight. We did a lot of things we need to get better at, but overall, it was a four-star performance, and we'll take it.”
On Deivon Smith’s health…
“I think he's mentally very self-conscious, and it's bothering him more mentally than it will bother him physically. Injuries, you've got to get over the hump mentally and he has to get over the hump mentally. I'm sure it's bothering him. He's a tough kid, but you've got to get over the hump mentally, and that's what he is really struggling with. Pays too much attention to it. He's got to block it out of his mind, and it's easier said than done to do that.”
On how important it is to find a rhythm on offense…
“Well, I think you have to have a number of assists. You have to share the basketball. We did that tonight, most of the night. We got good looks in the breaks, good looks moving the basketball. Like I said, we're a better shooting team than our numbers indicate, and we will continue. We're not going to be a great shooting team, but I think we're going to be a good shooting team.”
On the crowd’s energy during today’s game…
“Energy was good. We didn't have a lot of our fans here. There was a lot of blue. Must be Marquette. A lot of blue in the place. It's not a home game because it's tough to get tickets. … It's not a home game. Now you get more tickets as it opens up. Although it's a home court, it's not a home game.”
On what the team focused on playing Butler for a third time…
“We focused on blocking out. Our point guards did not block out the last game off rotations. We wanted to get out in transition and make good plays because [Butler] goes to the glass hard and gets out in transition. We did some different things. They opened up in a 1-3-1 [zone], which we've only seen a few possessions, and we handled it well. We played really good defense in the first eight or nine minutes, holding them to three points. Like I said, it was a good four-star performance.”
On Kadary Richmond…
“I told this to the team, and I'll repeat it to you guys, and I think I've said it before. A lot of our team was upset that Kadary wasn't First Team All-League. I understand it because it's tough to get in three guys. I said, ‘Kadary, your teammates and coaching staff think you're a top-three guard in the nation. Maybe the best guard in the nation. So, what does that matter? You've got the respect of every coach and every teammate. We think you're the best guard in the nation. So that's better than anything else.’ He's been terrific. he's playing brilliant basketball. He's a 6'5", 6'6" guard that has great body control, understands the game, owns up to everything he does wrong. He's coachable. He's got a great attitude. He's very humble. There aren't enough adjectives I can say about that young man.
St John’s forward Aaron Scott:
On being undefeated at The Garden and if there is an advantage…
“We are just taking it game-by-game. We're in New York, and you know the fans are going to come. It's our own gym. We are just taking it game-by-game.”
On how important it was to get out to a big lead in today’s game…
“It was very important. We had two close games [against Butler]. We didn't want this game to be close at all. So, in the first four minutes, we emphasized that.”
On his mentality picking up fouls…
“I am upset with myself. I have to stop showing emotion, but I am upset with myself. But that doesn't stop me from still playing aggressively. I'm still playing aggressively throughout the whole game. I know that can hurt me by picking up my second foul closer, but I still play the same way, either way.”
On his contributions to the team…
“I have always been a winning player. I make winning plays. Sometimes it goes unnoticed, but I really don't care because I know my teammates know what I bring to the team, and I know the coaches know what I bring to the team. I'm just gonna keep playing. Keep doing me, keep playing how I play, and helping the team win.”
On his three-point shooting…
“I just can't worry about my misses. Because when you start worrying about your misses, that's when you start thinking, you can't think; just shoot. I struggle with that at times. But it's March. I can’t be thinking about none of that. It's one and done, win or go home. I just got to shoot my open shots, if I'm making, I'm making, if I'm missing, find other ways to score and impact the game.”
St John’s guard Kadary Richmond:
On the rhythm he feels like he is in right now…
“I feel like I'm just making the right play, just going out there, playing basketball, having fun freely and guys are making shots. That's really it.”
On what the team could do better after today’s game…
“Attention to detail. We gave up a couple of threes in the first half not rotating. Stuff like that.”
On being undefeated at The Garden and if there is an advantage…
“I wouldn't say it's an advantage, but we feel comfortable in here. We've played in here. Like you said, we're undefeated. We just treat every game like every game we have in the past. So, we just stay humble and get better one by one, day by day.”
On being a native New Yorker and play in the BIG EAST Tournament…
“It’s special. Just having one more chance to play this tournament, there's nothing like it. It's one of the best tournaments during championship week. So, it's a great feeling.”
On if rebounding was a point of emphasis in today’s game…
“Yeah, you got to block out. I missed some block outs in the previous two games [against Butler], and today was a much better day for that.”
On the team’s defense…
“You know, that's what we preach, it's our defense. If we make it hard to score, we know we have talented guys that can score the ball at all positions. So, we're just locking you down and guarding our opponents has been big for us this year.”
On the year the team has had…
“It’s been fun. We have a lot of fun guys, we have a lot of good guys and guys that are competitive that want to do well. It’s been a great year so far, and we’re going to keep it up.”
St. John’s forward RJ Luis Jr.:
On the early start of the game…
“It's all good. It's an early game. It’s just about trying to get up early, body movement, get the blood flowing and prepare for the game.”
On the difference against playing Butler this time as opposed to earlier in the season…
“I think we did a better job of speeding them up, being in the gaps and pressuring the ball. We played this game at our speed instead of at their speed like we did away. So it was just good to get back to playing St. John basketball, playing fast and playing aggressive on the defensive end.”
St John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor:
On Kadary Richmond…
“I feel like everybody that made the team was more than deserving of it, but from a personal experience and what Kadary has been able to contribute to this team and how much he means to us, more than anything he deserved to make the team. I don't think he's really all too worried about that as the person, that that's the character that he got. But we all believe that he's one of the best guards in the country, and he shows each and every night, and especially tonight. Another near triple-double performance, and it's something that he brings every night. So, we're really proud of what he's been able to do for the entire year. He does a great job of playing for himself and for others.”
St John’s guard Deivon Smith:
On having a break before this game…
“It was super helpful. I was able to strengthen and get some of those muscles working. It was good to just take some time off, get back in the gym, and get a grip. It was super helpful.”
On how important it was to be back on the court with the team…
“Down the stretch, just having the chemistry and just [the team] being together and being out there with the guys, I think it was super important for me to show that I can push through these games and just keep going. I want to win with them.”