Rick Pitino argued that pressure is good.
It should be welcomed, not feared. Rather than being avoided, it is sought after.
“I really like it,” the St. John’s coach said. “I think this is the best word for any competitor. Take it or not. [tennis great] Billie Jean King analyzes pressure as a privilege or a minefield. For me, pressure is your ally and your best friend in life. This is the purpose of our lives, this moment. ”
Things have been good for St. John’s lately. Three weeks ago, it had its back firmly against the wall.
I couldn’t afford it. Their goals of winning the regular season or advancing to the NCAA Tournament were impossible without winning the Big East Tournament title.
Since then, the Johnnys have not lost, finishing the regular season with five straight wins and ending what appeared to be a lost year.
They will play in Thursday’s Big East Tournament quarterfinals, which will determine the fate of the tournament, according to nearly every bracketologist.
A win over local rival Seton Hall would send St. John’s to the Dance for the first time since 2019, but a loss would likely result in elimination from the NIT.
“The last three weeks, every game has been Russian roulette for us,” said Pitino, who won three Big East Tournament championships as Louisville’s coach.
It all comes down to 40 minutes of basketball.
It won’t be easy for St. John’s to advance to Friday night’s semifinals for the first time since 2000.
Seton Hall swept the season series, defeating St. John’s (19-12) in Newark, bouncing back from 19 losses at UBS Arena.
The Pirates (20-11) also need this game. There may be more paths to the tournament, but a loss will likely see them advance to the First Four in Dayton.
New Jersey schools should be similarly hopeless.
Pitino highlighted two key areas of improvement during the third meeting: the free-throw line and the glass.
In the first two games, Seton Hall attempted 67 free throws to St. John’s 27. He also won the rebound battle with a total of 23. Thursday should be different.
“Seton Hall has been a challenge for us all year long,” senior guard Jordan Dingle said. “Obviously we know there are a lot of things that need to change going into this game compared to the way we played the last few games and we are very focused on that. At this point , win or go home. We play for a living.”
Coach Pitino said, “Seton Hall is different than any opponent in the league because they play a really, really difficult style of play. They’re going to come after you, and we have to be ready for that.”
It was the second loss to Seton Hall that changed everything for St. John’s.
Pitino made national news with his expletives during the postgame press conference.
He had criticized several players, but apologized three days later. His team went on a five-game winning streak.
Dingle and Chris Ledlum are back to life. Glen Taylor Jr. and RJ Lewis took turns giving big performances. The Red Storm have risen well outside the tournament bubble to the right side of it.
“This team has the power to win.” [games in the Big East Tournament] And we can win the NCAA Tournament,” Pitino said. “Would I have said that three weeks ago? Probably not, but they’ve evolved to where I wanted them to evolve and it’s really great to see.”
It’s all about how we got here. A chance to return to the NCAA Tournament in Pitono’s first year. Just revenge for the two losses to Seton Hall. Back to the Big East tournament semifinals.
There couldn’t have been more pressure. It’s a win or maybe he’ll settle for the NIT. St. John’s believes it’s ready for that.
“We knew we needed to win the last five or six games. That’s nothing new really,” Dingle said. “I don’t think that’s a bad thing. That’s really where people come into this situation.”
