Rick Pitino did not find any joy in a one-point loss to Creighton on Saturday afternoon. St. John’s played tough against a top-25 team on the road and could be encouraged by the performance.
The Red Storm’s legendary head coach is not.
In Pitino’s eyes, there are no moral victories. It does not matter to who or by how much.
A loss is a loss is a loss.
He made his frustration abundantly clear during his postgame press conference. Pitino went on an all-time rant after St. John’s final possession fell just short. Two opportunities for the win did not go in.
A reporter in the room opined after the game that “we’re all picturing that you’re feeling pretty good about the way you—” when Pitino cut him off to unleash his fury. The 71-year-old didn’t and doesn’t feel good. At all.
No, I don’t feel good. When we lose, I f—— hate the world.
Just so you understand that. No, I don’t feel good. I’ve never felt good with a loss.
— Rick Pitino
Pitino cracked a smile to let the room know that he was not angry with them and apologized for his language. And then he continued.
I don’t believe in those… “valiant efforts” on the road.
I feel like I want I want to kill myself jumping in the cold and die of frostbite.
— Rick Pitino
His comments escalated… quickly!
Although Rick Pitino wasn’t frustrated with the media at first, his tune quickly changed. They asked multiple questions about a lack of foul call on the final play of the game. A foul easily could have been called on the shot, which would have sent the Red Storm to the line with a chance to win.
Pitino was not interested in discussing hypotheticals. He can’t control the officiating. He can only focus on the things that his team did not do to get the job done.
It was a great message of accountability and self-ownership!
THIS is what taking ownership sounds like: after being badgered numerous times by a pair of St. John's reporters about no foul being called on the final possession, Rick Pitino sets them straight regarding refs (language warning). #Creighton #GoJays pic.twitter.com/j6S1NpHlrP
— Adam Krueger (@AdamKruegerTV) January 13, 2024
Pitino could have considered Saturday’s one-point loss to the Blue Jays to be a positive. Creighton is a great college basketball team with legitimate Big East title hopes. He simply was not interested.