No stranger to postseason basketball, Hall of Fame head coach Rick Pitino knows an NCAA Tournament team when he sees one.
Earning his 889th career win after St. John’s (STJ) defeated Seton Hall men’s basketball on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, Pitino said the Pirates can be just that—if they get their offense to be more consistent.
“We struggled last year [in] the same way,” Pitino said, whose team fell to Arkansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after winning both the BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles last season. “Without question they can [be an NCAA Tournament team].”
Through 19 total games and eight conference games, SHU boasts one of the most consistent defenses in the nation—but also one of the most inconsistent offenses. This was on full display Tuesday night: after a 9-0 run gave them a comfortable 15-point lead just four minutes into the second half, the Pirates were then outscored 33-13 in the final 15 minutes of play, which included an eight-minute stretch without a made field-goal from them, as they fell 65-60 to Pitino and The Red Storm.
For Pitino, SHU’s struggles are not for a lack of offensive weapons. He praised junior guards Tajuan Simpkins and Mike Williams for their shooting ability from distance, before saving his most praise for freshman forward Najai Hines.
“[Tajuan] Simpkins is a great shooter, [Mike] Williams can shoot the basketball,” Pitino said. "Hines may be one of the best backup centers in the BIG EAST—if not basketball. He’s a great player with great hands.”
Although he didn’t score against The Red Storm, recording three rebounds, two assists, and a block instead, Hines has been one of the more consistent players for the Pirates this season. The Plainfield native averages 6.9 points per game in 17.7 minutes of play, while having the second-best field goal percentage on the team (57%) behind starting forward Stephon Payne. Before The Hall crossed state lines to face STJ, Hines had one of his best games of the season in their home loss to Butler on Jan. 17, recording an 11-point, 16-point double-double on 56% (5-for-9) shooting.
But where Hines really shines is on defense: the six-foot-10 forward averages 2.41 blocks per game and has 41 blocks on the season, both good for the second-most in the conference, and 16th and 20th best in the nation, respectively. Pitino gave credit to Holloway for the strong play of Hines, as well as his other players.
“[Holloway] is maximizing their potential, getting the most out of every player,” Pitino added. “So, without question, yes [they can be an NCAA Tournament team].”
While SHU’s offense was inconsistent against The Red Storm, their defense was consistently strong, especially on STJ senior forward Zuby Ejiofor. The Pirates held the BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year to just six points in the first half, and nine total points in the game after he averaged 19.5 points the week prior.
“Tonight was a night when [our] best player didn’t have it, and credit that to Seton Hall,” Pitino said. “They’re the only team this year that has been able to stop him, and it’s a big credit to them.”
“Seton Hall is a tough-ass team to play against,” Pitino added. “We had to pull a ‘Seton Hall’ to win this game.”
During their eight-minute field-goal drought, SHU also missed a number of free throws, opening the door for STJ to steal a game the Pirates controlled for 30 minutes of play.
“They got to shoot free throws better, as we do down the stretch,” Pitino said. “[Because] that sometimes will lose you games that you should win.”
The Pirates should take heed of the Hall of Famer’s advice on Jan. 24, when they travel to Chicago to face the DePaul Blue Demons (11-8, 3-5 BIG EAST).
Zachary Mawby is the head editor of The Setonian’s Sports section. He can be reached at zachary.mawby@student.shu.edu.
