St. John’s Upset: Pitino Defends Benching Star Player in March Madness Loss
Following St. John’s Big East Championship victory, head coach Rick Pitino declared, ‘There’s no panic in this stock market.’ However, after a first-round exit in March Madness, the metaphor may ring hollow.
Entering the NCAA Tournament as a 2-seed with heightened expectations after their conference title, St. John’s Red Storm suffered a significant setback, falling to 10-seed Arkansas 75-66 in a first-round upset.
Key Factors in St. John’s Early Tournament Exit
Several elements contributed to St. John’s disappointing defeat. Among the most debated was Coach Pitino’s decision to bench standout forward RJ Luis Jr. during a critical juncture of the contest.
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Luis, recognized as Big East Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player of the Big East Tournament, was removed from the game with 4:56 remaining. He did not return, despite the score difference being a mere two points at the time.
St. John’s coach Rick Pitino responded to inquiries regarding his decision to bench a key player.
RJ Luis Jr. (12), Big East Player of the Year, was benched by Pitino for the final minutes of the Arkansas loss.
Luis experienced a subpar shooting performance during the game.
Pitino’s Rationale for Benching Luis
When questioned by Newsday reporter Roger Rubin about the extended benching of Luis, Pitino stated, ‘[He] played 30 minutes. That’s a long time.’
Rubin followed up by asking if fatigue was a factor. Pitino retorted, ‘No. Played 30 minutes and I went with other people. You already know the answers, Roger. You’re asking leading questions. You already know it.’
This response is notable considering Luis’ season average of approximately 32 minutes per game.
Performance Issues Cited
Pressed further on the reasons behind the decision, Pitino alluded to Luis’ ineffective play on the court as justification.
‘You know he was 3-for-17 (FG); you know he was 0-for-3 (3s). So, you’re answering your own… I’m not gonna knock one of my players,’ Pitino remarked.
Indeed, it was statistically one of Luis’ least productive outings for St. John’s, culminating in nine points and seven rebounds.
Team Performance Struggles Beyond Luis
The Red Storm’s struggles were not limited to Luis. Guard Kadary Richmond fouled out with only five points and around six and a half minutes remaining. Aaron Scott struggled significantly, shooting 1-for-10. Simeon Wilcher also encountered foul trouble and scored only two points.
Zuby Ejiofor was a bright spot, leading St. John’s with a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds. Deivon Smith, a backup guard, contributed 13 points and six rebounds.
However, collectively, St. John’s offense faltered, shooting a mere 28 percent from the field overall.
Arkansas displayed superior shooting accuracy, led by Billy Richmond III (24, red).
Pitino (L) faced defeat against John Calipari (R), a longtime coaching rival.
Late Game Frustration and Poor Shooting
In the final three and a half minutes, St. John’s shooting woes intensified, hitting only 1-for-9. Remarkably, despite ranking 329th nationally in 3-point shooting percentage, the Red Storm attempted five consecutive three-pointers in the last two minutes, missing all of them.
Ultimately, poor 3-point shooting plagued St. John’s, as they connected on just 2-of-22 attempts (9.1 percent) from beyond the arc.
Arkansas’ 3-point shooting was also inefficient (10.5 percent on 2-of-19), but they fared considerably better from the field overall, shooting 42.9 percent.
Arkansas Advances, Defeat for Pitino
Billy Richmond III spearheaded Arkansas with 16 points (6-10 shooting) and nine rebounds. Kartner Knox added 15 points, and Johnell Davis contributed 13 points.
Adding to Pitino’s disappointment, the loss came against a Razorbacks team coached by John Calipari, a longtime rival.
Calipari’s Arkansas team now progresses to the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years, awaiting the winner of the Texas Tech-Drake matchup.