NEW YORK, NY – St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino did not hold back after the team’s loss to Seton Hall, expressing his frustrations in a postgame outburst. The 71-year-old coach criticized the team’s facilities, called out his players, and declared this season as the most unenjoyable experience of his lifetime.
Pitino voiced his discontent with the team’s performance, singling out the subpar facilities while also acknowledging that their lack of effort on defense had nothing to do with the conditions of the facilities.
The Red Storm had a promising start, leading Seton Hall 41-29 at halftime and holding a 19-point lead at one point. However, Seton Hall managed to erase the deficit, ultimately securing a 68-62 victory. Seton Hall’s Al-Amir Dawes led the charge with 19 points, while Kadary Richmond contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds for St. John’s.
The defeat came as a major setback for St. John’s, which had a strong start to the season but has since struggled, losing eight of their last 10 games. Pitino did not shy away from criticizing individual players, highlighting their lack of movement and physicality on the court.
Pitino expressed his disappointment in the team’s performance, as they have fallen off the NCAA Tournament bubble and would now have to win the Big East tournament to secure a spot in the dance. He also mentioned that the team’s current roster does not align with his coaching style, reaffirming his earlier statement that some players may not be a good fit for the team.
While Pitino has a track record of turning struggling teams around, the current season has proved to be a challenge for the Hall of Fame coach. With St. John’s standing at 14-12 and ninth in the Big East conference, Pitino acknowledged the upcoming game against Georgetown, expressing concern about the team’s ability to secure a win.