St. John's University Athletics
PREGAME QUOTES: No. 2 St. John’s vs. No. 15 Omaha
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino and Red Storm players spoke with the media ahead of the team’s NCAA Tournament First-Round game with No. 15 Omaha
Head Coach Rick Pitino
On taking this tournament one game at a time…
“I'm just concerned about Omaha. Their point guard would be a top-four point guard in the BIG EAST. They have the player of the year at the power-forward spot. I'm just excited to be here, regardless of who's coaching, it doesn't matter to me. I'm very concerned about the talent we're facing.”
On Kadary Richmond’s return to the tournament and growth as a player…
“Well, I don't know anything about his freshman year, but he has grown just this year from a good practice player to a great practice player. In great shape. Terrific basketball player.”
On his mentality taking his sixth team to the NCAA Tournament…
“First of all, I've been blessed for a long period of time. 50 years of coaching, 50-plus years of coaching. I don't know if God will bless me with two, three, or four more years, but if he does, I know it's going to stop. So why not have a blast? Why not get the most out of it? Why not laugh, have fun? Get great experiences because in the early years it wasn't like that. You're trying to move up the ladder. You're trying to accomplish certain things collectively with the team and for yourself. Now I don't have to move up the ladder. I don't have to look for another job. I don't have any dreams of coaching elsewhere. So, it's just fun. You have fun with your guys, it's laughter, it's all the great things, but I do know it's coming to an end.”
On if he is having the most fun he ever has…
“Without question. I just revel in every single day of all of it and being part of the NCAA Tournament is what college basketball is all about. This is our month. This is what college basketball lives for, March. So, it's exciting.”
On his players experiencing March Madness for the first time…
“To go through a career and not be part of March Madness is really difficult for any athlete, especially at the major level. So for these guys to see Madison Square Garden packed, and they're not from New York, they don't know what Madison Square Garden really is about and then to experience that the entire year, to win the BIG EAST, to win the BIG EAST Tournament, sold out, Madison Square Garden louder than I've ever heard it, even as the Knick coach, was an amazing feeling for them. And now they get to experience March Madness. It's wonderful for them.”
On his team’s resilience and hard play all season…
“Well, I think you have to look at the whole body of work the entire year. When you lose four games by a total of seven points, you're bringing it every night. I think there's only one game the entire year that I was just a little disappointed in our performance and that was the win at Butler. Outside of that, they bring it all the time. We've been behind a lot. We had never panicked. We just get on to the next play, make the comeback, and do a lot of good things.
On continuing the strong play into phase three of the season and the team’s individual improvement…
“I just hope they play like phase one and phase two. The one thing I will say about our team, and it's exciting for me, is the improvement. Remember you guys mentioned RJ [Luis Jr.] being a three-star athlete. And here he is, a Second-Team All-American. He's First Team All-BIG EAST. Zuby [Ejiofor] is a non-player at Kansas, now he's First Team All-BIG EAST. So, that's obvious. But I see tremendous improvement in Ruben Prey, in Vince [Iwuchukwu], and in Lefteris [Liotopoulos]. So, that's exciting for me, to see the guys that don't get all that publicity really improving and getting a lot better.”
St. John’s guard Kadary Richmond
On if anything has been different about Coach Pitino leading up to the NCAA Tournament compared to the rest of the season…
“I'll say the intensity definitely took a jump. There's no margin for error. We've been sharp with everything we've done this week in preparing. So, I'll say that's the biggest thing I noticed.”
On having the support of New York City…
“It feels good just knowing that the whole city is backing you and that we did special things this year and we're trying to continue to keep it up and continue to keep the special things going on.”
St. John’s forward RJ Luis Jr.
On his thoughts heading into tomorrow’s game…
“The night before the big game there is a lot of excitement. There is a lot of excitement because it’s going to be a tough game, playing against a tough team, and it’s the first time for me playing in March Madness. So, it's just crazy and I’m just trying to soak it all in and take advantage of the opportunity. I’m just thankful.”
On if he is worried about the team’s lack of NCAA Tournament experience…
“Not necessarily worry, but just we have to listen to the coaches. Coach Pitino has the most experience, so just listening to him and focusing on the little details.”
On how special this experience is for him…
“Very special. This is my first time going dancing so I’m trying to stay dancing for as long as possible.”
On his outlook on Omaha…
“They are a great offensive team with a very good point guard. We are just trying to take them away from their game by just trying to pressure the ball and stuff like that. I think it's going to be a fun game, it's going to be competitive, I can’t wait.”
On his message to St. John’s fans…
“Hopefully, all you guys can come out and come support. We are going to need all the energy and support possible tomorrow. I hope everyone can come make the trip and I wish everyone safe travels.”
St. John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor
On the pressure of the NCAA Tournament…
“We don’t see this as a pressure moment because, throughout this entire year, we fought through the BIG EAST and through a lot of adversity. As long as we’re staying together and sticking to the script, our level of focus continues to rise. Sticking to our identity – it starts on defense and when we get out there and play our game, we are one of the best teams in the country.”
On how playing BIG EAST teams has prepared them for the NCAA Tournament…
“The BIG EAST has always been a monster of a league. Every team is always going to give you their best shot. To be able to do what we did – win the [BIG EAST] Tournament, fight through adversity whether we were down or up. It was truly special to create long-lasting memories, but the road to a National Title starts now. “
On creating a legacy in the NCAA Tournament…
“This is a time where you create your own legacies and create long-lasting memories you will remember for the rest of your life. We started off the season with three goals. We accomplished two, and now we have one to go. We still have a lot to prove to ourselves and to everybody. As long as we stay connected we will be fine.”
On playing under Coach Pitino…
“It means a lot. He sets the standard for what a championship team looks like. To see our growth both personally and as a team from year one to year two shows a lot about Coach Pitino and everything he has meant to this sport. I am truly grateful for the two years I have spent under him and I look forward to winning a lot more games.”
On having New York City behind the team…
“There’s nothing like it – winning in New York, playing in New York. To be able to have the year that we did was truly special and something I could have never dreamt of. You got the whole city behind you, you got the different sports teams behind you wishing you good luck, so we are looking forward to paying it off.”
On his time at Kansas and transferring to St. John’s…
“I was just coming in as a freshman with the highest of expectations. Things didn't necessarily go the way I had planned. Ultimately, Hunter [Dickinson] made the decision to commit to Kansas. Me and my family made the decision that was best for me at that stage. So, we decided to, look elsewhere. I'm entirely grateful for my time in Kansas. Now I find myself in a better situation for myself. Over these past two years, I couldn't have imagined going to a different program where I could develop under Coach Pitino and all the standards that he put out for me. So, I'm really grateful that I spent the last two years here at St. John's and looking forward to it.”
On his outlook of Omaha…
“They're a really talented offensive team. They have their point guard who's as best as there is in the country and their power forward as well that stands out. And all their role players around them, do their roles and everything like that. They can really shoot the ball. And like I said, they're really talented on the offensive end. We watched film in that department to see the spots where we could be the most successful and just apply pressure the entire game.”
St. John’s forward Aaron Scott
On if experiencing March Madness is better than dreaming about it…
“I’m in the moment, I get to control my own destiny. I’m in the moment right now, so of course living it is better than dreaming it.”
On this week’s preparation for Omaha and the rest of the Tournament…
“It feels amazing. It's my first time being in the tournament. It’s my last year and its win or go home, so I’m just playing every game like it's my last, and honestly, it could be. I’m just ready for the games to get started.”
On how Coach Pitino has been preparing the team for this week…
“What he’s been preaching all week is just take it one game at a time. Don’t get ahead of ourselves and just focus on beating Omaha.”
On playing in his first NCAA Tournament…
“It’s exciting. I’m ready for what is to come. We just got to take it one game at a time, and I’m ready for this game.”
On the team’s mentality heading into the NCAA Tournament…
“Coach Pitino has been preaching all season that there are three stages. The regular season, the conference tournament and now this tournament. We are finished with stage two and now we are onto stage three.”
On Coach Pitino’s messaging to the team throughout the season…
“He has just preached the whole time what we can do. He preached the whole season to get on Broadway, so we can showcase our talents to the world. We are finally on Broadway and putting the world on notice and showcasing our talents.”
On taking this tournament one game at a time…
“I'm just concerned about Omaha. Their point guard would be a top-four point guard in the BIG EAST. They have the player of the year at the power-forward spot. I'm just excited to be here, regardless of who's coaching, it doesn't matter to me. I'm very concerned about the talent we're facing.”
On Kadary Richmond’s return to the tournament and growth as a player…
“Well, I don't know anything about his freshman year, but he has grown just this year from a good practice player to a great practice player. In great shape. Terrific basketball player.”
On his mentality taking his sixth team to the NCAA Tournament…
“First of all, I've been blessed for a long period of time. 50 years of coaching, 50-plus years of coaching. I don't know if God will bless me with two, three, or four more years, but if he does, I know it's going to stop. So why not have a blast? Why not get the most out of it? Why not laugh, have fun? Get great experiences because in the early years it wasn't like that. You're trying to move up the ladder. You're trying to accomplish certain things collectively with the team and for yourself. Now I don't have to move up the ladder. I don't have to look for another job. I don't have any dreams of coaching elsewhere. So, it's just fun. You have fun with your guys, it's laughter, it's all the great things, but I do know it's coming to an end.”
On if he is having the most fun he ever has…
“Without question. I just revel in every single day of all of it and being part of the NCAA Tournament is what college basketball is all about. This is our month. This is what college basketball lives for, March. So, it's exciting.”
On his players experiencing March Madness for the first time…
“To go through a career and not be part of March Madness is really difficult for any athlete, especially at the major level. So for these guys to see Madison Square Garden packed, and they're not from New York, they don't know what Madison Square Garden really is about and then to experience that the entire year, to win the BIG EAST, to win the BIG EAST Tournament, sold out, Madison Square Garden louder than I've ever heard it, even as the Knick coach, was an amazing feeling for them. And now they get to experience March Madness. It's wonderful for them.”
On his team’s resilience and hard play all season…
“Well, I think you have to look at the whole body of work the entire year. When you lose four games by a total of seven points, you're bringing it every night. I think there's only one game the entire year that I was just a little disappointed in our performance and that was the win at Butler. Outside of that, they bring it all the time. We've been behind a lot. We had never panicked. We just get on to the next play, make the comeback, and do a lot of good things.
On continuing the strong play into phase three of the season and the team’s individual improvement…
“I just hope they play like phase one and phase two. The one thing I will say about our team, and it's exciting for me, is the improvement. Remember you guys mentioned RJ [Luis Jr.] being a three-star athlete. And here he is, a Second-Team All-American. He's First Team All-BIG EAST. Zuby [Ejiofor] is a non-player at Kansas, now he's First Team All-BIG EAST. So, that's obvious. But I see tremendous improvement in Ruben Prey, in Vince [Iwuchukwu], and in Lefteris [Liotopoulos]. So, that's exciting for me, to see the guys that don't get all that publicity really improving and getting a lot better.”
St. John’s guard Kadary Richmond
On if anything has been different about Coach Pitino leading up to the NCAA Tournament compared to the rest of the season…
“I'll say the intensity definitely took a jump. There's no margin for error. We've been sharp with everything we've done this week in preparing. So, I'll say that's the biggest thing I noticed.”
On having the support of New York City…
“It feels good just knowing that the whole city is backing you and that we did special things this year and we're trying to continue to keep it up and continue to keep the special things going on.”
St. John’s forward RJ Luis Jr.
On his thoughts heading into tomorrow’s game…
“The night before the big game there is a lot of excitement. There is a lot of excitement because it’s going to be a tough game, playing against a tough team, and it’s the first time for me playing in March Madness. So, it's just crazy and I’m just trying to soak it all in and take advantage of the opportunity. I’m just thankful.”
On if he is worried about the team’s lack of NCAA Tournament experience…
“Not necessarily worry, but just we have to listen to the coaches. Coach Pitino has the most experience, so just listening to him and focusing on the little details.”
On how special this experience is for him…
“Very special. This is my first time going dancing so I’m trying to stay dancing for as long as possible.”
On his outlook on Omaha…
“They are a great offensive team with a very good point guard. We are just trying to take them away from their game by just trying to pressure the ball and stuff like that. I think it's going to be a fun game, it's going to be competitive, I can’t wait.”
On his message to St. John’s fans…
“Hopefully, all you guys can come out and come support. We are going to need all the energy and support possible tomorrow. I hope everyone can come make the trip and I wish everyone safe travels.”
St. John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor
On the pressure of the NCAA Tournament…
“We don’t see this as a pressure moment because, throughout this entire year, we fought through the BIG EAST and through a lot of adversity. As long as we’re staying together and sticking to the script, our level of focus continues to rise. Sticking to our identity – it starts on defense and when we get out there and play our game, we are one of the best teams in the country.”
On how playing BIG EAST teams has prepared them for the NCAA Tournament…
“The BIG EAST has always been a monster of a league. Every team is always going to give you their best shot. To be able to do what we did – win the [BIG EAST] Tournament, fight through adversity whether we were down or up. It was truly special to create long-lasting memories, but the road to a National Title starts now. “
On creating a legacy in the NCAA Tournament…
“This is a time where you create your own legacies and create long-lasting memories you will remember for the rest of your life. We started off the season with three goals. We accomplished two, and now we have one to go. We still have a lot to prove to ourselves and to everybody. As long as we stay connected we will be fine.”
On playing under Coach Pitino…
“It means a lot. He sets the standard for what a championship team looks like. To see our growth both personally and as a team from year one to year two shows a lot about Coach Pitino and everything he has meant to this sport. I am truly grateful for the two years I have spent under him and I look forward to winning a lot more games.”
On having New York City behind the team…
“There’s nothing like it – winning in New York, playing in New York. To be able to have the year that we did was truly special and something I could have never dreamt of. You got the whole city behind you, you got the different sports teams behind you wishing you good luck, so we are looking forward to paying it off.”
On his time at Kansas and transferring to St. John’s…
“I was just coming in as a freshman with the highest of expectations. Things didn't necessarily go the way I had planned. Ultimately, Hunter [Dickinson] made the decision to commit to Kansas. Me and my family made the decision that was best for me at that stage. So, we decided to, look elsewhere. I'm entirely grateful for my time in Kansas. Now I find myself in a better situation for myself. Over these past two years, I couldn't have imagined going to a different program where I could develop under Coach Pitino and all the standards that he put out for me. So, I'm really grateful that I spent the last two years here at St. John's and looking forward to it.”
On his outlook of Omaha…
“They're a really talented offensive team. They have their point guard who's as best as there is in the country and their power forward as well that stands out. And all their role players around them, do their roles and everything like that. They can really shoot the ball. And like I said, they're really talented on the offensive end. We watched film in that department to see the spots where we could be the most successful and just apply pressure the entire game.”
St. John’s forward Aaron Scott
On if experiencing March Madness is better than dreaming about it…
“I’m in the moment, I get to control my own destiny. I’m in the moment right now, so of course living it is better than dreaming it.”
On this week’s preparation for Omaha and the rest of the Tournament…
“It feels amazing. It's my first time being in the tournament. It’s my last year and its win or go home, so I’m just playing every game like it's my last, and honestly, it could be. I’m just ready for the games to get started.”
On how Coach Pitino has been preparing the team for this week…
“What he’s been preaching all week is just take it one game at a time. Don’t get ahead of ourselves and just focus on beating Omaha.”
On playing in his first NCAA Tournament…
“It’s exciting. I’m ready for what is to come. We just got to take it one game at a time, and I’m ready for this game.”
On the team’s mentality heading into the NCAA Tournament…
“Coach Pitino has been preaching all season that there are three stages. The regular season, the conference tournament and now this tournament. We are finished with stage two and now we are onto stage three.”
On Coach Pitino’s messaging to the team throughout the season…
“He has just preached the whole time what we can do. He preached the whole season to get on Broadway, so we can showcase our talents to the world. We are finally on Broadway and putting the world on notice and showcasing our talents.”