Rick Pitino didn’t sugarcoat it.
Lower than three weeks after his storybook St. John’s season got here to a sudden finish, the Corridor of Fame coach acknowledged a shortcoming that’s helped drive his roster constructing this spring.
“We need shooting as much as anything,” Pitino stated.
St. John’s completed 31-5 and received the Large East’s common season and convention event championships, however the workforce’s taking pictures deficiencies proved pricey in an upset loss to Arkansas within the NCAA Event’s second spherical.
The second-seeded Pink Storm went simply 2-of-22 (9.1%) on 3-point makes an attempt in that 75-66 defeat to the Tenth-seeded Razorbacks.
It served as an excessive illustration of a St. John’s workforce that ranked final within the Large East — and 339th amongst Division I groups — by taking pictures 30.1% from 3-point vary final season.
“Houston and us, we were the two best defensive teams, but it’s the offensive teams that really go far in the [NCAA] Tournament,” Pitino stated final week at Citi Area, the place the Mets celebrated the Pink Storm’s resurgent season.
“You have to have a great offense, and we were not a great offensive basketball team this year.”
However St. John’s has made strides to improve its taking pictures.
First, Pitino landed wing Joson Sanon, a switch from Arizona State who shot 36.9% on 3-pointers as a freshman. That clip was higher than any St. John’s participant who appeared in additional than 10 video games or averaged greater than eight minutes per sport.
Then on Wednesday, Pitino added Oziyah Sellers, a switch from Stanford who shot 40.1% on 3-point makes an attempt as a junior.
It was the second season in a row wherein Sellers, a 6-5 guard, shot higher than 40% on 3-pointers, as he made 42.9% of his makes an attempt in 2023-24 with USC.
“Not only does he bring great experience and tremendous outside shooting but his workout on his visit was incredible,” Pitino stated in an announcement. “Oziyah has terrific size and an unbelievable attitude. He’s a great addition.”
Sellers additionally made 89.7% of his free-throw makes an attempt final season — a welcome sight for a St. John’s workforce that shot 69.1% from the road. Sanon made 71.4% of his free throws.
And St. John’s isn’t achieved but.
Ian Jackson, a former five-star recruit from the Bronx, has been linked to St. John’s after taking pictures 39.5% on 3-pointers as a freshman with UNC.
And Pitino nonetheless must fill out a backcourt that’s dropping senior level guards Kadary Richmond and Deivon Smith.
St. John’s relied closely final season on second-chance factors, as its 14.9 offensive rebounds per sport ranked second within the nation.
The Johnnies ought to preserve that a part of their id, with energy ahead Zuby Ejiofor returning after main the nation with 4.3 offensive boards per sport and Windfall switch Bryce Hopkins — a double-double machine — becoming a member of him within the entrance court docket.
However including shooters ought to make St. John’s extra well-rounded on offense.
RJ Luis Jr., reigning the Large East Participant of the 12 months, shot 33.6% on 3-pointers and won’t be again after declaring for the NBA Draft and getting into the switch portal.
Richmond shot 17.5% of 3-point makes an attempt. Aaron Scott, who can be out of NCAA eligibility, led St. John’s with 174 makes an attempt from behind the arc however made solely 29.3% of them.
St. John’s remains to be anticipated so as to add extra gamers. Final week, Pitino acknowledged of the gamers he’s recruiting, “I’d probably say they’re offensive-first.”
However Pitino additionally sees room for enchancment from returnees akin to guard Simeon Wilcher, who shot 29.7% on 3-pointers, and Ejiofor, who shot 22.2%.
“Zuby’s got to get better at, when the center plays drop coverage, hitting the 3 and not thinking about it,” Pitino stated, earlier than including, “Ruben [Prey has] got to get better with shooting the basketball. Sim is a terrific shooter but he’s got to get it off quicker.”
Extra can change between now and Tuesday, when the switch portal closes to new entries.
Count on Pitino to stay busy.
