St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: ST. JOHN’S VS. SETON HALL
St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino, senior forward Zuby Ejiofor and redshirt junior guard Dylan Darling spoke with the media on Friday after defeating Seton Hall, 72-65.
Head Coach Rick Pitino
Opening statement…
“It's not easy winning on the road against one of the best defensive teams in the country. My message to the guys, ‘when you play a team like Seton Hall, your defense has got to be every bit as good as their defense, in order to win.’ Great crowd for [Seton Hall]. Certainly, Shaheen's got to be one of the front runners for [BIG EAST] Coach of the Year. [He] did a fabulous job this year. It's still not over, it's just beginning. We have won back-to-back championships with two different teams, and that's not easy to do. There's been one common denominator, and that's the young man to my left [Zuby Ejiofor].”
On the Big Bells Award…
“The Big Bells Award Tonight was not given to Zuby [Ejiofor], although his stats were great, and when needed to score, he scored. But it went to Ruben Prey because when Zuby was out resting, Ruben did a phenomenal job.”
On Zuby Ejiofor…
“We've said this 100 times this year in huddles, ‘no fear of failure. no fear. go.’ And he epitomized that tonight. He just got the ball, he just went, scored, played with great confidence, the confidence of a two-guard, putting the ball on the floor, making those plays. But he's had a great, great run, great two years, just so beloved by the fans.”
On Seton Hall…
“I think they're tough. You've got to match the defense. We didn't turn the ball over tonight and they're a team that turns people over. They're tenacious. They run a good system. Every time you play Seton Hall, you're in for a battle. A battle. … We’ve got nothing but great respect for them.”
Senior forward Zuby Ejiofor
On his three years at St. John’s…
“My first year [was] just kind of like a learning curve for me, just getting to understand, Coach Pitino and him understanding me, especially that first kind of a down year with expectations that we didn't meet. But then the following year, just stick to it, sticking and trusting him and him trusting me and giving me a new role, stepping up as a leader, new role for me, for my family. And yeah, just winning a title and a tournament title as well the past year. And then you come to this year, where else would I, could I possibly go?”
On St. John’s fans chanting his name postgame…
“I still get chills each and every time, stepping on the floor and going out there and performing at a high level, for my teammates, for the fans. And St. John's [fans], they showed out tonight. They showed out tonight. And when the final buzzer was called and I was able to step off the floor, I was met with some ovations that I pretty much had all year. So, I appreciate you guys.”
Redshirt junior guard Dylan Darling
On what it feels like to win the regular-season BIG EAST title…
“It feels super good. It feels, it's awesome. It's super fulfilling because this didn't start in November. This started back in June, with summer workouts with these guys. And it's just super fulfilling to know the hard work's paying off with this group.”
Opening statement…
“It's not easy winning on the road against one of the best defensive teams in the country. My message to the guys, ‘when you play a team like Seton Hall, your defense has got to be every bit as good as their defense, in order to win.’ Great crowd for [Seton Hall]. Certainly, Shaheen's got to be one of the front runners for [BIG EAST] Coach of the Year. [He] did a fabulous job this year. It's still not over, it's just beginning. We have won back-to-back championships with two different teams, and that's not easy to do. There's been one common denominator, and that's the young man to my left [Zuby Ejiofor].”
On the Big Bells Award…
“The Big Bells Award Tonight was not given to Zuby [Ejiofor], although his stats were great, and when needed to score, he scored. But it went to Ruben Prey because when Zuby was out resting, Ruben did a phenomenal job.”
On Zuby Ejiofor…
“We've said this 100 times this year in huddles, ‘no fear of failure. no fear. go.’ And he epitomized that tonight. He just got the ball, he just went, scored, played with great confidence, the confidence of a two-guard, putting the ball on the floor, making those plays. But he's had a great, great run, great two years, just so beloved by the fans.”
On Seton Hall…
“I think they're tough. You've got to match the defense. We didn't turn the ball over tonight and they're a team that turns people over. They're tenacious. They run a good system. Every time you play Seton Hall, you're in for a battle. A battle. … We’ve got nothing but great respect for them.”
Senior forward Zuby Ejiofor
On his three years at St. John’s…
“My first year [was] just kind of like a learning curve for me, just getting to understand, Coach Pitino and him understanding me, especially that first kind of a down year with expectations that we didn't meet. But then the following year, just stick to it, sticking and trusting him and him trusting me and giving me a new role, stepping up as a leader, new role for me, for my family. And yeah, just winning a title and a tournament title as well the past year. And then you come to this year, where else would I, could I possibly go?”
On St. John’s fans chanting his name postgame…
“I still get chills each and every time, stepping on the floor and going out there and performing at a high level, for my teammates, for the fans. And St. John's [fans], they showed out tonight. They showed out tonight. And when the final buzzer was called and I was able to step off the floor, I was met with some ovations that I pretty much had all year. So, I appreciate you guys.”
Redshirt junior guard Dylan Darling
On what it feels like to win the regular-season BIG EAST title…
“It feels super good. It feels, it's awesome. It's super fulfilling because this didn't start in November. This started back in June, with summer workouts with these guys. And it's just super fulfilling to know the hard work's paying off with this group.”