For St. John’s, the NCAA Match began 4 video games in the past.
Positive, the Pink Storm had already clinched the outright Massive East championship once they took the courtroom in opposition to Marquette within the March 8 regular-season finale, however head coach Rick Pitino noticed a chance for a educating second.
“We played that as if it was an NCAA game,” Pitino mentioned. “With four minutes left to go in the Marquette game, I said, ‘Alright, you’re in the first round of the NCAA. It’s survive and advance in these last four minutes.’ I felt that was necessary with their lack of playoff experience.”
St. John’s handed that check with an 86-84 extra time victory in Milwaukee, then aced three extra by blowing out Butler, Marquette and Creighton final week to win the Massive East Match at Madison Sq. Backyard.
That was all in preparation for what comes subsequent.
St. John’s (30-4) is the No. 2 seed within the NCAA Match’s wild, wild West Area and can face No. 15 Omaha (22-12) on Thursday night time in Windfall, R.I.
That Spherical of 64 matchup at Amica Mutual Pavilion marks the NCAA Match debuts of starters RJ Luis Jr., Aaron Scott and Simeon Wilcher. It’s the primary style of March Insanity for key reserve Deivon Smith, too.
Zuby Ejiofor, the Pink Storm’s high rebounder and second-leading scorer, totaled solely 10 minutes over two NCAA Match video games as a freshman with Kansas in 2023.
Kadary Richmond performed within the Massive Dance as a freshman with Syracuse in 2021 and as a sophomore with Seton Corridor in 2022 however didn’t make it again the final two years.
“[We’re] just listening to Coach P. and the coaching staff, because obviously they have more experience than all of us put together,” mentioned Luis, a junior guard who was named Massive East Participant of the 12 months and the convention event’s Most Excellent Participant.
“Trying to be a sponge and keep working on what we’re good at, which is our defensive principles, and keep on playing together.”
That is the twenty fourth journey to the NCAA Match for Pitino, who has superior to the Ultimate 4 seven occasions and led Kentucky (1996) and Louisville (2013) to nationwide championships.
On Sunday, St. John’s grew to become the sixth faculty Pitino has taken to the Massive Dance — probably the most ever for a Division I coach.
“When you have a lot of experience, you learn what not to do as much as what to do,” mentioned Pitino, 72, who’s in his second season at St. John’s.
“You have to stay focused. This is a time of year where everybody is filling out brackets, everybody’s talking about it, and you have to understand the focus of every little thing that goes into an NCAA game.”
Junior ahead Sadiku Ibine Ayo, who performed within the 2023 NCAA Match below Pitino at Iona, mentioned the coach hones in on profitable much more in the course of the postseason.
Luis has observed an uptick in Pitino’s depth, too, saying, “He’s like a different monster.”
That was evident to Luis in the course of the Johnnies’ Choice Sunday watch occasion, the place affiliate head coach Steve Masiello handed a packet of Omaha’s statistics to Pitino instantly after they realized their draw for the opener.
“Coach P. was already looking over the statistics to see what he could come up with,” Luis mentioned. “He’s a master of his craft, and he’s gonna do the best that he can with his abilities to put us in the best position to be successful.”
That heightened focus is already rubbing off on the gamers.
“There’s no room for slackers,” mentioned Smith, a fifth-year senior set to lastly seem within the event together with his fourth faculty.
“I’m not gonna lie, we have a lot of fun in practice. Like, laughing, joking and playing all day long. Some of that might have to cut out a little bit right now. It’s time to dial it all in, lock in. It’s win or go home.”
St. John’s is one among a number of heavyweights in a West Area that options three Corridor of Fame coaches in Pitino, Kansas’ Invoice Self and Arkansas’ John Calipari.
No. 7 Kansas is about to face No. 10 Arkansas on Thursday in Windfall. St. John’s would play the winner on Saturday ought to it advance previous Omaha, which gained the Summit League championship and its convention event.
The West additionally contains No. 8 UConn, the two-time defending NCAA champions led by Dan Hurley, in addition to No. 1 Florida, which simply emerged victorious within the gauntlet that was the SEC Match.
“I’m just gonna focus on Omaha,” Pitino mentioned. “I’ve lost in the first round before, so we’re just gonna focus on that.”
