After a disappointing 78-66 defeat to Kentucky at the CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta, Rick Pitino, head coach of St. John”s, openly acknowledged significant issues in his recruiting strategy. This acknowledgment came in the wake of his team”s struggles on the court, particularly in the critical second half.
Pitino had initially intended for Jackson, a former McDonald”s All-American from Cardinal Hayes in The Bronx, to take the lead as point guard after his transfer. However, after recent performances, Pitino decided to return Jackson to the point for the time being, with Darling shifting to a bench role. This decision followed comments from former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl, who stated on air that “Rick Pitino does not have a point guard,” highlighting the ongoing challenges in the team”s playmaking.
During the game, St. John”s faced difficulties rebounding, with their frontcourt being out-rebounded 39-28. Notably, 6-foot-10 sophomore transfer Jayden Quaintance contributed significantly in his season debut, scoring 10 points and pulling down 8 rebounds, yet it was not enough to secure a victory.
Pitino, who now holds an 18-5 record against his former players turned coaches, faced the end of a nine-game winning streak in Atlanta. Following the game, he shared a brief handshake with Mark Pope, the head coach of Kentucky and a former player under Pitino during the 1996 NCAA championship team.
“I”m disappointed in any loss, but it”s not my job to be disappointed,” Pitino stated. “My job is to make the team better.” This sentiment underscores his commitment to improving the program amidst challenges.
As the season progresses, the focus will be on how St. John”s can address these recruiting flaws and enhance their performance as they look to rebound from this setback.
