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St. John’s basketball coach Rick Pitino changed his tune on his team following a win over Big East rival Georgetown on Wednesday. After completely eviscerating his roster in the midst of a three-game losing streak, he began walking back those harsh comments in his latest postgame presser.
Pitino was heard bashing his players following a loss to Seton Hall, calling them unathletic and incapable this past weekend. Those words quickly went viral, sparking a major reaction on social media.
He went as far as to call his debut season with the Red Storm “the most unenjoyable experience of his career,” throwing the team that he recruited under the bus while taking little blame for the 14-11 overall record.
He then doubled down on those comments, denying that he’d ripped into his team.
Pitino seemed to gain some clarity on the situation this week, however, walking back those remarks on Wednesday. Oh, what a win can do!
“I went to the team, and I told them, ‘I love you guys and I never want to embarrass you. It’s my bad. It’s my fault…’ I’m a veteran coach. I tell every young coach in the business, ‘Show class when you win, show class when you lose, and give the other team credit.’
“I’ve been really frustrated this year but understand one thing; I recruited [these guys]. My staff did not recruit them, it was all me…
“My family and my players, outside of breathing air, they’re the most important thing in my life. That’s why I’m still coaching today. They are the air that I breathe. I love them dearly. I would never want to embarrass them or hurt them.”
“My family and my players, outside of breathing air, they’re the most important thing in my life. That’s why I’m still coaching today. They are the air that I breathe. I love them dearly. I would never want to embarrass them or hurt them.”
—@StJohnsBBall head coach Rick Pitino pic.twitter.com/Ez4p0HluML
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) February 22, 2024
Pitino said the team responded in a major way after that press conference annihilation, having their best practice of the season the day before the win.
Coach speak? Maybe, though it certainly helps that they picked up a conference victory.
And even throughout the apology, there were a few odd moments of justification – most notably a comparison to Nikola Jokic where he called the big man the slowest lateral mover in the NBA.
Rick Pitino cleared the air with his players this week, easing the tension for the time being. We’ll see if it’s the last outburst from the Hall of Fame coach, or if frustration builds again over the final stretch of the season.