Despite the victorious build-up and sixth-placed St. John's carved out the school's best regular season in 25 years, Rick Pitino claims his team can not only win anyone, but he'll lose to anyone.
The Big East regular season title hasn't changed his mind.
Johnny can go far in March, but they can also be chosen early, the Hall of Fame coach believes.
“We're kind of a basketball team. We're definitely going to lose in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and we're definitely going to the Final 4,” Pitino said on Monday, appearing on WFAN. “We both defeated Providence twice, but Providence hasn't set the league on fire. That's us. We're a rough, hardworking team. That's the second year. The second year should be. The start was the first year, you changed it to the second year and you made the tournament.
“We know who we are. If we don't just work all our possessions, we can get the beat because it's proven to be that way throughout the season.”
St. John's (26-4, 17-2) has not lost in perfect strength since the Big Vehicle Day, winning 15 of his last 16 games.
Johnny won the complete Big East Crown on Saturday, the first program since 1985, and ranked first in the Big East Tournament.
They spent a week off before visiting Marquette No. 20, then took a rest five more days before the conference tournament opening.
A few players dealing with injuries, from Cadalie Richmond (both gro caliber) to Aaron Scott (hamstrings), will have a good time.
“One thing people don't realize is we're seriously injured and we're not upset,” the St. John's coach said. “deivon [Smith] Has missed quite a few games, Kaddary missed quite a few practices, Aaron's missed time, RJ [Luis Jr.] Missed time and they still won. For me, it speaks volumes about what a player is. ”
Throughout this season, Pitino has been providing high praise to last year's team.
It continued during his interview with him on Monday.
Check out the latest Big East rankings and cents. John's statistics
His first team at St. John's struggled for most of the season, but he won six straight wins before the final National Champion Connecticut in the Big East Tournament semi-final loss, earning a late Stride.
He doesn't know which team is better at this point this year.
“If you win last year's team at this time against this team, I don't know who will win. I really don't,” Pitino said. “Now, 80% of the season, this team is far better. But at the end of last season they lost 95-90 in the Big East Tournament to Connecticut. [six] Last season's game.
“Dannis Jenkins and Jordan Dingle were playing great, so it would have been Helva's game. [Chris] Redrum was picking up it, Joel [Soriano] It was Joel. I was pretty good at the end of the year. It's just that he wasn't good at all at the beginning of this year. ”
