St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: BIG EAST Tournament Championship vs. No. 2 Creighton
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino and Red Storm players spoke with the media following the team’s 82-66 victory over No. 2 Creighton in the BIG EAST Championship on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden
Head Coach Rick Pitino
Opening statement…
“We had three phases we set out, and phase one was to win the regular BIG EAST Championship. Phase two gets very difficult because you can't embrace what you are accomplishing. You just have to keep getting better. We accomplished that, and phase three was to make the tournament and go as far as we could possibly go. These two young men make it possible. Kadary [Richmond] is about as much fun to coach as any coach could have because he takes coaching really well, and he owns up to every mistake he makes. In the first half, we were just really intimidated by Kalkbrenner and we were pulling up and missing at midrange. What we talked about at halftime was to take it to the rim, use the rim as a shield. He can't cut through steel. Then take the three when it's there. Don't worry about the midrange game. Both of these guys took it to the rim. They used the rim as jail, what we call jail, and even when we missed two free throws, RJ [Luis Jr.] got the rebound. So, both of these guys have had an incredible season. I've said it all along with RJ that he's going to be even a better pro, and he's a hell of a college player. Kadary is going to have a long career because somebody is going to invest in Kadary and get a 6'6" guard who is going to play a long, long time in the NBA. I'm positive of that. So, I'm proud of both of them. Great win for the city. Great win for our university. You hear it all along that it's New York's team, and it truly is. As a New Yorker myself, I'm very, very proud that St. John's has gotten to this level. So we're all excited. We're all thrilled. These guys deserve all the credit because they shot 72 percent in the second half, 66.7 percent from three, and they were just brilliant.”
On if he expected this level of play from Zuby Ejiofor and RJ Luis Jr.…
“I think that neither guy was heavily recruited. Neither guy had great seasons where they were, but after working both of them out, I thought they both had great potential as basketball players and could get a lot better. Did I expect them to reach these heights? I didn't really think about it, but I have great gratitude that they did because we won a regular season and a BIG EAST Championship because of their play. They have been unstoppable.”
On winning this championship for Lou Carnesecca…
“He crosses my mind after the game. I'm thinking he would be so proud of this team. You know, I say it all along. St. John's is Lou Carnesecca, Chris Mullin, Mark Jackson, Walter Berry, and all the greats from Joe DePre and Johnny Warren back in the day. That's St. John's. I'm just a caretaker of what all those guys built and I'm a proud caretaker of that. After the game, you obviously think of Lou and how proud he would have been.”
On his mindset after the BIG EAST Tournament…
“I don't send any messages to anyone. Humility is a big part of my life right now. It wasn't always that way. I don't believe in redemption. I believe in humility. I don't believe in things that -- I believe in living what I call the precious present, a gift that we all get. We just lost a super star in Louisville, Junior Bridgeman, who was a young man who didn't smoke, didn't drink, carried his life in God's name in a big way. So, I take life as one day at a time. I take it one game at a time. I don't consider ourselves that people should beware of us. I've lost in the first round. I've been to seven Final Fours. So, we'll take it one game at a time, one possession at a time.” “I don't send any messages to anyone. Humility is a big part of my life right now. It wasn't always that way. I don't believe in redemption. I believe in humility. I don't believe in things that -- I believe in living what I call the precious present, a gift that we all get. We just lost a super star in Louisville, Junior Bridgeman, who was a young man who didn't smoke, didn't drink, carried his life in God's name in a big way. So, I take life as one day at a time. I take it one game at a time. I don't consider ourselves that people should beware of us. I've lost in the first round. I've been to seven Final Fours. So, we'll take it one game at a time, one possession at a time.”
On the physicality of the NCAA Tournament compared to the BIG EAST…
“It is physical, but you have to adjust come tournament time. You have to adjust, move your feet more, but that's been said in 1987 when I was a coach, they said that about the BIG EAST.”
On the perception that the team was built through NIL…
“Well, first of all, I think there's a lot of misrepresentations about NIL. NIL didn't get us this team because Zuby and RJ are very low-paid players. That's nonsense about the NIL. You don't know what you are getting. Somebody asked me about Zuby and RJ. You don't know what you are getting. Zuby didn't even play at Kansas. RJ was a good freshman, solid, but you don't know what you are getting. So here's two stars, very underpaid. So you build a team by making sure you understand the whole puzzle of what goes into it, and people just mischaracterize the NIL and why St. John's has been built. St. John's didn't get built by the NIL. St. John's got built with character of the players, and certainly we are excited to have these young men.”
On winning for New York…
“I am, as a New Yorker, about as proud as any person could be because, you know, when I hear St. John's is New York's team and we're New York strong and we represent New York, that makes me feel awesome inside. So for New York, for St. John's, to see that crowd tonight, it's an extra special feeling for me. Now, I was elated with Louisville when we came in here and won three times I believe, elated for the players. There's an extra special feeling being a New Yorker who grew up on 26th Street and grew up in Queens and then Long Island. For me, it's just extra, extra special because I share this with every fan that takes great pride in what was accomplished this year. The fans are very much part of our team. Tonight when we celebrate, I will toast the fans.”
St John’s guard Kadary Richmond:
On having three players named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team…
“You can't keep counting on of us out. So, it's just a good thing to show that all three of us [RJ Luis Jr., Zuby Ejiofor and himself] deserve whatever we got and whatever God gave us. So, I'm just happy and thankful. I'm happy for the guys, happy for myself.”
On when he felt like he could win a championship here after transferring…
“Once we started getting up and down, started playing together, you see the level of competitiveness, you see the coaching staff, the intensity. So, just seeing that from when we started going up and down, it just showed me that they're serious about what they do here and they really want to win, and we're reaping the benefits of that.”
On winning the BIG EAST Championship with St. John’s and if it means more…
“Yeah, definitely. We should have a parade soon when we finish everything, when we get everything done, we should have a parade. This city is special. They've shown up for every game for us. They've been with us through the ups and downs in the Bahamas all the way till now. So, we are just thankful to have a crowd like that.”
On what the team expects in the NCAA Tournament…
“I don't think we have any concerns yet. We don't know where we will play or who we're going to play. So, we’re just taking it day by day, staying humble like we've been and being ready to go when our name is called.”
On RJ Luis Jr’s performance tonight…
“I think that was just beast mode being beast mode. He got in foul trouble in the first half, so there was no doubt in my mind that he was coming out to be aggressive and do anything to get a win.”
St. John’s forward RJ Luis Jr.:
On how he feels after being named the BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player…
“First and foremost, I have to give the glory to God. Without him, I wouldn't be here. I'm just very blessed for this opportunity. Like Coach [Pitino] says, there's not that many second chances in life, so when the opportunity presents itself, you've got to grab it by the neck. I mean, I'm just truly happy. This is incredible just to come from last year to this year and see the transformation. We brought in big-time transfers with [Kadary Richmond] Deivon [Smith], [Aaron] Scott and Vince [Iwuchukwu], so it's just great. Coach [Pitino] is the mastermind behind all of this. I mean, it's truly special. I'm at a loss for words. I'm just truly blessed and I'm just very happy to bring this championship back to New York City and St. John's University. We're going to continue to build.”
On getting to cut down the nets after winning the BIG EAST Tournament Championship…
“As a little kid, you dream about these special moments during March Madness and the tournament championship. When I was little, I would see the guys go up to the ladders and cut the nets and to do it myself is incredible. It's a great feeling. I'm just truly blessed. God has been so good to me. I just keep my faith in him and know that he has already planned all of this. This has been my destiny and I'm just continuing to work on my craft and just trust in the process.”
On winning the BIG EAST Tournament Championship…
“I don't think it settled in yet. I’m just still trying to soak it in, and it's just crazy how much you can speak things into existence and just watch it all come together. This has by far been the most emotional and happiest week of my 22 years of existence, so this is great. I mean, I love Coach [Pitino] and what he does for his players. He looks out for all of us. Not even just Coach [Pitino], but the whole coaching staff and all my teammates. We gel very well together. We goof around on and off the court and we go to war every day in practice to experience moments like these.”
On the energy in Madison Square Garden…
“I mean, we feed off the crowd, the energy and the atmosphere. It was ridiculous. It was very loud. I mean, it's great to have that level of support from the atmosphere. We feed off that energy, so it's big-time.”
St John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor:
On what he plays for…
“I'm the type of person that doesn't care about all that NIL stuff. All I care about is winning and going out there and playing for Johnny Nation and playing for my teammates. These are the moments that I play for. I played for winning championships and making history. I'm just so proud of the guys for everything that we've been through and just playing through adversity all year.”
On the second half of today’s game…
“We just got into the mindset that we're gonna go do whatever it takes to win. We got some good looks and we were able to capitalize on that, especially on our defense. We locked down some possessions. When we go out there and run in transition, we're a really scary team.”
On what changed in the second half…
“I just really went out there and played with offensive confidence like Coach [Pitino] tells us to each and every night. I got some good looks and I was able to be successful. I just want to thank you Coach [Pitino] and the staff and everybody for putting me in situations to be successful.”
St. John’s guard Deivon Smith:
On the feelings after tonight’s win…
“Dreams come true. Fifth year, that was one of my goals here, to win a title, a championship. Now, phase three, trying to get a National Championship.”
On the resilience of this team…
“A lot of guys are battling injuries that people wouldn't even play, not just myself – Aaron Scott, RJ [Luis Jr.}, [Kadary Richmond], my boy Sadiku [Ibine Ayo] is fasting. So, everybody's going through a challenge, a tough time and everybody comes together as one. We win these games and special moments like this.”
On the potential of this team…
“I think we're going to the national championship. I think we can play with any team in the country. We started off down 10, won by 15. So, I think it's all about our start. Once we come out with that energy like we finish, I think we're unstoppable, and the sky is the limit honestly.”
St, John’s guard Simeon Wilcher:
On how far this team can go…
“As far as we want to go. As long as we just keep working, keep grinding, keep putting games together. I'm just proud of these guys. I know we're not finished because we got a lot of hungry people over here who want to want to go as far as we can go.”
St. John’s center Vince Iwuchukwu:
On the emotions after tonight’s win…
“I thought basketball was taken away from me a couple of years ago, and miraculously, through hard work, God and my family, I was able to be here and come to a winning school. I mean, with the legendary Coach [Pitino], with the legendary team that we're making right now, and had a legendary run. When I cut that net down, every hardship that I felt, that I went through went away. It’s so crazy how one good moment can change everything for you. I just want to keep on elevating from this.”
Opening statement…
“We had three phases we set out, and phase one was to win the regular BIG EAST Championship. Phase two gets very difficult because you can't embrace what you are accomplishing. You just have to keep getting better. We accomplished that, and phase three was to make the tournament and go as far as we could possibly go. These two young men make it possible. Kadary [Richmond] is about as much fun to coach as any coach could have because he takes coaching really well, and he owns up to every mistake he makes. In the first half, we were just really intimidated by Kalkbrenner and we were pulling up and missing at midrange. What we talked about at halftime was to take it to the rim, use the rim as a shield. He can't cut through steel. Then take the three when it's there. Don't worry about the midrange game. Both of these guys took it to the rim. They used the rim as jail, what we call jail, and even when we missed two free throws, RJ [Luis Jr.] got the rebound. So, both of these guys have had an incredible season. I've said it all along with RJ that he's going to be even a better pro, and he's a hell of a college player. Kadary is going to have a long career because somebody is going to invest in Kadary and get a 6'6" guard who is going to play a long, long time in the NBA. I'm positive of that. So, I'm proud of both of them. Great win for the city. Great win for our university. You hear it all along that it's New York's team, and it truly is. As a New Yorker myself, I'm very, very proud that St. John's has gotten to this level. So we're all excited. We're all thrilled. These guys deserve all the credit because they shot 72 percent in the second half, 66.7 percent from three, and they were just brilliant.”
On if he expected this level of play from Zuby Ejiofor and RJ Luis Jr.…
“I think that neither guy was heavily recruited. Neither guy had great seasons where they were, but after working both of them out, I thought they both had great potential as basketball players and could get a lot better. Did I expect them to reach these heights? I didn't really think about it, but I have great gratitude that they did because we won a regular season and a BIG EAST Championship because of their play. They have been unstoppable.”
On winning this championship for Lou Carnesecca…
“He crosses my mind after the game. I'm thinking he would be so proud of this team. You know, I say it all along. St. John's is Lou Carnesecca, Chris Mullin, Mark Jackson, Walter Berry, and all the greats from Joe DePre and Johnny Warren back in the day. That's St. John's. I'm just a caretaker of what all those guys built and I'm a proud caretaker of that. After the game, you obviously think of Lou and how proud he would have been.”
On his mindset after the BIG EAST Tournament…
“I don't send any messages to anyone. Humility is a big part of my life right now. It wasn't always that way. I don't believe in redemption. I believe in humility. I don't believe in things that -- I believe in living what I call the precious present, a gift that we all get. We just lost a super star in Louisville, Junior Bridgeman, who was a young man who didn't smoke, didn't drink, carried his life in God's name in a big way. So, I take life as one day at a time. I take it one game at a time. I don't consider ourselves that people should beware of us. I've lost in the first round. I've been to seven Final Fours. So, we'll take it one game at a time, one possession at a time.” “I don't send any messages to anyone. Humility is a big part of my life right now. It wasn't always that way. I don't believe in redemption. I believe in humility. I don't believe in things that -- I believe in living what I call the precious present, a gift that we all get. We just lost a super star in Louisville, Junior Bridgeman, who was a young man who didn't smoke, didn't drink, carried his life in God's name in a big way. So, I take life as one day at a time. I take it one game at a time. I don't consider ourselves that people should beware of us. I've lost in the first round. I've been to seven Final Fours. So, we'll take it one game at a time, one possession at a time.”
On the physicality of the NCAA Tournament compared to the BIG EAST…
“It is physical, but you have to adjust come tournament time. You have to adjust, move your feet more, but that's been said in 1987 when I was a coach, they said that about the BIG EAST.”
On the perception that the team was built through NIL…
“Well, first of all, I think there's a lot of misrepresentations about NIL. NIL didn't get us this team because Zuby and RJ are very low-paid players. That's nonsense about the NIL. You don't know what you are getting. Somebody asked me about Zuby and RJ. You don't know what you are getting. Zuby didn't even play at Kansas. RJ was a good freshman, solid, but you don't know what you are getting. So here's two stars, very underpaid. So you build a team by making sure you understand the whole puzzle of what goes into it, and people just mischaracterize the NIL and why St. John's has been built. St. John's didn't get built by the NIL. St. John's got built with character of the players, and certainly we are excited to have these young men.”
On winning for New York…
“I am, as a New Yorker, about as proud as any person could be because, you know, when I hear St. John's is New York's team and we're New York strong and we represent New York, that makes me feel awesome inside. So for New York, for St. John's, to see that crowd tonight, it's an extra special feeling for me. Now, I was elated with Louisville when we came in here and won three times I believe, elated for the players. There's an extra special feeling being a New Yorker who grew up on 26th Street and grew up in Queens and then Long Island. For me, it's just extra, extra special because I share this with every fan that takes great pride in what was accomplished this year. The fans are very much part of our team. Tonight when we celebrate, I will toast the fans.”
St John’s guard Kadary Richmond:
On having three players named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team…
“You can't keep counting on of us out. So, it's just a good thing to show that all three of us [RJ Luis Jr., Zuby Ejiofor and himself] deserve whatever we got and whatever God gave us. So, I'm just happy and thankful. I'm happy for the guys, happy for myself.”
On when he felt like he could win a championship here after transferring…
“Once we started getting up and down, started playing together, you see the level of competitiveness, you see the coaching staff, the intensity. So, just seeing that from when we started going up and down, it just showed me that they're serious about what they do here and they really want to win, and we're reaping the benefits of that.”
On winning the BIG EAST Championship with St. John’s and if it means more…
“Yeah, definitely. We should have a parade soon when we finish everything, when we get everything done, we should have a parade. This city is special. They've shown up for every game for us. They've been with us through the ups and downs in the Bahamas all the way till now. So, we are just thankful to have a crowd like that.”
On what the team expects in the NCAA Tournament…
“I don't think we have any concerns yet. We don't know where we will play or who we're going to play. So, we’re just taking it day by day, staying humble like we've been and being ready to go when our name is called.”
On RJ Luis Jr’s performance tonight…
“I think that was just beast mode being beast mode. He got in foul trouble in the first half, so there was no doubt in my mind that he was coming out to be aggressive and do anything to get a win.”
St. John’s forward RJ Luis Jr.:
On how he feels after being named the BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player…
“First and foremost, I have to give the glory to God. Without him, I wouldn't be here. I'm just very blessed for this opportunity. Like Coach [Pitino] says, there's not that many second chances in life, so when the opportunity presents itself, you've got to grab it by the neck. I mean, I'm just truly happy. This is incredible just to come from last year to this year and see the transformation. We brought in big-time transfers with [Kadary Richmond] Deivon [Smith], [Aaron] Scott and Vince [Iwuchukwu], so it's just great. Coach [Pitino] is the mastermind behind all of this. I mean, it's truly special. I'm at a loss for words. I'm just truly blessed and I'm just very happy to bring this championship back to New York City and St. John's University. We're going to continue to build.”
On getting to cut down the nets after winning the BIG EAST Tournament Championship…
“As a little kid, you dream about these special moments during March Madness and the tournament championship. When I was little, I would see the guys go up to the ladders and cut the nets and to do it myself is incredible. It's a great feeling. I'm just truly blessed. God has been so good to me. I just keep my faith in him and know that he has already planned all of this. This has been my destiny and I'm just continuing to work on my craft and just trust in the process.”
On winning the BIG EAST Tournament Championship…
“I don't think it settled in yet. I’m just still trying to soak it in, and it's just crazy how much you can speak things into existence and just watch it all come together. This has by far been the most emotional and happiest week of my 22 years of existence, so this is great. I mean, I love Coach [Pitino] and what he does for his players. He looks out for all of us. Not even just Coach [Pitino], but the whole coaching staff and all my teammates. We gel very well together. We goof around on and off the court and we go to war every day in practice to experience moments like these.”
On the energy in Madison Square Garden…
“I mean, we feed off the crowd, the energy and the atmosphere. It was ridiculous. It was very loud. I mean, it's great to have that level of support from the atmosphere. We feed off that energy, so it's big-time.”
St John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor:
On what he plays for…
“I'm the type of person that doesn't care about all that NIL stuff. All I care about is winning and going out there and playing for Johnny Nation and playing for my teammates. These are the moments that I play for. I played for winning championships and making history. I'm just so proud of the guys for everything that we've been through and just playing through adversity all year.”
On the second half of today’s game…
“We just got into the mindset that we're gonna go do whatever it takes to win. We got some good looks and we were able to capitalize on that, especially on our defense. We locked down some possessions. When we go out there and run in transition, we're a really scary team.”
On what changed in the second half…
“I just really went out there and played with offensive confidence like Coach [Pitino] tells us to each and every night. I got some good looks and I was able to be successful. I just want to thank you Coach [Pitino] and the staff and everybody for putting me in situations to be successful.”
St. John’s guard Deivon Smith:
On the feelings after tonight’s win…
“Dreams come true. Fifth year, that was one of my goals here, to win a title, a championship. Now, phase three, trying to get a National Championship.”
On the resilience of this team…
“A lot of guys are battling injuries that people wouldn't even play, not just myself – Aaron Scott, RJ [Luis Jr.}, [Kadary Richmond], my boy Sadiku [Ibine Ayo] is fasting. So, everybody's going through a challenge, a tough time and everybody comes together as one. We win these games and special moments like this.”
On the potential of this team…
“I think we're going to the national championship. I think we can play with any team in the country. We started off down 10, won by 15. So, I think it's all about our start. Once we come out with that energy like we finish, I think we're unstoppable, and the sky is the limit honestly.”
St, John’s guard Simeon Wilcher:
On how far this team can go…
“As far as we want to go. As long as we just keep working, keep grinding, keep putting games together. I'm just proud of these guys. I know we're not finished because we got a lot of hungry people over here who want to want to go as far as we can go.”
St. John’s center Vince Iwuchukwu:
On the emotions after tonight’s win…
“I thought basketball was taken away from me a couple of years ago, and miraculously, through hard work, God and my family, I was able to be here and come to a winning school. I mean, with the legendary Coach [Pitino], with the legendary team that we're making right now, and had a legendary run. When I cut that net down, every hardship that I felt, that I went through went away. It’s so crazy how one good moment can change everything for you. I just want to keep on elevating from this.”