Rick Pitino’s first game back at Madison Square Garden did not go in his favor. St. John’s got blown out by Michigan during its second game of the 2023 college basketball season.
The 71-year-old head coach did not hold back after the loss. A lot of blame was placed on his players, some of the blame was placed on his roster. Very little of the blame was placed on himself.
Pitino, who was hired by the Red Storm in March, turned over the majority of his roster upon arrival. Most of his team was built through the transfer portal during the offseason.
To him, that was a big reason as to why the Wolverines left Manhattan with a 89-73 victory.
This is going to happen when you take guys through the portal.
— Rick Pitino
Although Rick Pitino isn’t wrong, because a team of all new players will take time to mesh, his comments are confusing because he chose to take guys through the portal. It was/is his job to get them ready.
He proceeded to say that the St. John’s staff did a poor job of acquiring depth at one position.
We did a good job putting this team together but our frontcourt depth is terrible.
— Rick Pitino
Pitino then turned focus to his players and blamed them for trying to play like the pros.
The two-time* national champion coach continued to roast the Red Storm.
They played intelligent basketball and we did not.
— Rick Pitino
Although all of the things to which Pitino pointed were valid, four fingers pointed back at him. And yet, there was never once any accountability placed on himself or the coaches. Players were the problem.
Pitino also ripped into his team during a timeout while still on the court. He just failed to recognize any of his own failures or fallings short after his coaching fell short.
St. John’s, at 1-1, will hit the road later this week and face North Texas and Dayton or LSU in the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic. It will be a chance to get back to winning ways against some quality programs without the pressure of playing at MSG.