Rick Pitino Walks Back Criticism of St. John’s Players After Win Over Georgetown

Days after calling his team “weak” and dubbing this season of coaching “the most unenjoyable experience of my lifetime,” St. John’s coach Rick Pitino walked back his harsh criticism following Wednesday night’s win over Georgetown.

“These guys have never failed me,” Pitino said. “I have failed them with the fundamentals.”

Pitino squarely put the blame on himself for his team’s up-and-down performances, and looked at himself in the mirror after his critical comments over the weekend. Members of the St. John’s staff told the Hall of Fame coach that his words with the media this weekend bothered some of the players.

“I immediately went in to the team and told them, ‘I absolutely love you guys. I would never ever want to embarrass you. It’s my bad. I’m at fault.’ I should have never mentioned anybody by name. I didn’t mean it. I was trying to talk typical clinic talk like I do.”

"My family and my players, outside of breathing air, they're the most important thing in my life. That's why I'm still coaching today. They are the air that I breathe. I love them dearly. I would never want to embarrass them or hurt them."

—@StJohnsBBall head coach Rick Pitino pic.twitter.com/Ez4p0HluML

— CBS Sports College Basketball ???? (@CBSSportsCBB) February 22, 2024

Pitino showed regret for calling out players by name over the weekend, as he criticized individual weaknesses of his players.

 “I should have never, ever mentioned a name. I’m a veteran coach. I tell every young coach in the business, ‘Show class when you win. Show class when you lose. Give the other team credit.’ … I’m really, really proud to have them. But I totally apologize to them for doing that.”

St. John’s likely needs a strong finish to the regular season, at minimum, and then a good showing in the Big East tournament to play their way back onto the NCAA tournament bubble. After Wednesday’s 90–85 win over the Hoyas, the Red Storm sit at 15–12 overall and 7–9 in conference play. 

St. John’s hosts Creighton, who is fresh off an upset of No. 1 UConn, on Sunday.