St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John’s vs. Creighton
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino, Dylan Darling and Dillon Mitchell spoke with the media after to the Red Storm’s 81-52 win over Creighton on Saturday at Madison Square Garden
Head Coach Rick Pitino
Opening Statement:
“Well, first, the Big Bells Award could have gone to anybody tonight but we had our first tie. These two guys could have won it, but it went to Bryce [Hopkins] and [Handje] Tomba for that sweet move in the lane. This was the best defense we played all season. The guys were totally locked in because of their respect for Creighton and their ability to score. There were so many times where we almost got the shot clock down to twenty-four seconds, which is awesome defense the entire night. This is a very good shooting team, a very good motion team, and they shot thirty-two percent [from the field] and twenty-seven percent [from three], and that's outstanding defense.”
On the team playing off Dillon Mitchell:
“[ Dillon Mitchell] is a summa cum laude basketball player. ... If you have to get a rebound in the game, he's the guy that’s going to get it. Seven assists, zero turnovers, ten rebounds, a steal. He's just a great basketball player.”
On the coaching staff preparing the team:
“[Steve Masiello] is one of the best scouts that I've ever had, and I've had some great ones, including my son, who was terrific. But Mas is, great, Bob [Walsh] is great, Ricky [Johns] and Taliek [Brown] are great. Our staff is doing a phenomenal job of getting the guys [ready]. It's one thing to be a great scout and break it down, but it's getting the players to listen to every little detail, and they're listening to every little detail. I'm proud of them for that.”
Dylan Darling
On his confidence:
“I’m just trying to stay aggressive. That's really just my mindset. Trying to stay engaged offensively and honestly, just paying most of my focus to the defensive side of the floor and then the offense will just take care of itself.”
Dillon Mitchell
On the team playing through him:
“I look at it as a strength for me. We have a lot of offensive threats and it's my job to try to get them good shots. Just using it to our advantage. … I actually ask for the ball, try to get the ball and to try to get the other guys open. So, I look at it as an advantage for me and for the team.”
Opening Statement:
“Well, first, the Big Bells Award could have gone to anybody tonight but we had our first tie. These two guys could have won it, but it went to Bryce [Hopkins] and [Handje] Tomba for that sweet move in the lane. This was the best defense we played all season. The guys were totally locked in because of their respect for Creighton and their ability to score. There were so many times where we almost got the shot clock down to twenty-four seconds, which is awesome defense the entire night. This is a very good shooting team, a very good motion team, and they shot thirty-two percent [from the field] and twenty-seven percent [from three], and that's outstanding defense.”
On the team playing off Dillon Mitchell:
“[ Dillon Mitchell] is a summa cum laude basketball player. ... If you have to get a rebound in the game, he's the guy that’s going to get it. Seven assists, zero turnovers, ten rebounds, a steal. He's just a great basketball player.”
On the coaching staff preparing the team:
“[Steve Masiello] is one of the best scouts that I've ever had, and I've had some great ones, including my son, who was terrific. But Mas is, great, Bob [Walsh] is great, Ricky [Johns] and Taliek [Brown] are great. Our staff is doing a phenomenal job of getting the guys [ready]. It's one thing to be a great scout and break it down, but it's getting the players to listen to every little detail, and they're listening to every little detail. I'm proud of them for that.”
Dylan Darling
On his confidence:
“I’m just trying to stay aggressive. That's really just my mindset. Trying to stay engaged offensively and honestly, just paying most of my focus to the defensive side of the floor and then the offense will just take care of itself.”
Dillon Mitchell
On the team playing through him:
“I look at it as a strength for me. We have a lot of offensive threats and it's my job to try to get them good shots. Just using it to our advantage. … I actually ask for the ball, try to get the ball and to try to get the other guys open. So, I look at it as an advantage for me and for the team.”