On January 10, St. John’s had a promising start to Big East play, boasting a 4-1 record for the first time since the 2000-01 season. With first-year head coach Rick Pitino at the helm, there was optimism that the Red Storm would not only secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament but also compete for a favorable seeding.
However, the team’s fortunes have drastically changed over the past five weeks. They have only managed to win 2 out of their last 10 games, with one victory coming against the struggling DePaul. The recent loss to Seton Hall epitomized their decline, pushing them out of NCAA Tournament contention and requiring a significant winning streak to even be considered.
St. John’s squandered a 38-19 lead against Seton Hall, allowing the Pirates to outscore them 39-21 in the second half. Despite strong performances from Al-Amir Dawes and Kadary Richmond, who combined for 37 points, the Red Storm fell 68-62. It was a devastating loss for St. John’s, as they were firmly in control of the game but struggled to score, managing only four points in the first 12 minutes of the second half.
In the aftermath, Pitino expressed his frustration in no uncertain terms, stating, “I’m not gonna lie to you: This is the most unenjoyable experience of my lifetime.” The 71-year-old, with 48 years of coaching experience, criticized the team’s lack of athleticism, saying, “We are so unathletic that we can’t guard anybody without fouling. If I said I was disappointed, that would be the understatement of the year.”
“Joel Soriano lacks lateral speed and isn’t fast on the court. Chris Ledlum, Sean Conway, and Drissa Traore also have slow lateral movement. Brady Dunlap is physically weak.”
Pitino and his staff revamped the roster in the offseason, losing impact players like Posh Alexander to Butler and AJ Storr to Wisconsin, where Storr currently leads the Badgers in scoring.
Facing the challenge of a new lineup, Pitino brought in 12 new players and made significant changes after the departure of Mike Anderson, who was fired following four years without a tournament appearance.
“We kind of lost this season with the way we recruited,” Pitino remarked. “We recruited the opposite of the style I coach. It’s a good group, they try hard, but they’re just not very tough.”
Pitino also criticized St. John’s facilities, describing them as “subpar” in his press conference.
Known for his candid nature, Pitino is an old-school coach unafraid to speak his mind. Despite his disappointment with the season, his recent comments have been particularly bold, pushing boundaries in 2024.
To salvage their season, St. John’s must win their upcoming game against Georgetown and then face a significant challenge against top-20 ranked Creighton at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
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