Adjusting to the college level can be hard, specifically in a Rick Pitino program, but the head coach is urging patience freshman Jaiden Glover who has yet to make a significant impact on the first two games of the St. John's basketball season.
"I think Jaiden needs to learn what Brady and Sim learned," Pitino said Saturday after the Johnnies toppled Quinnipiac.
"This is a year to learn the game, no different than Donovan Mitchell or Terry Rozier. This is your year to learn the game."
Glover entered Queens with high expectations as a 4-star recruit from The Patrick School (NJ). The same can be said for Portuguese prospect Ruben Prey, who is expected to be professional player later in his career.
The two have combined to average 14.5 minutes per game but a matchup against Wagner on Wednesday night (6:30 p.m. ET, FS2) could be a springboard to grow their confidence.
Pitino highlighted the highs and lows of Dunlap and Wilcher last season and how that made them into better players this year and key contributors for the Red Storm.
"All Brady did last year was hunt 3-pointers. Now, he moved without the basketball and he was the catalyst that turned around the game," Pitino added. "He's a veteran now. He knows how to play the game."
The St. John's sophomore duo posted 21.6 minutes per contest and 6.0 points as rookies. It was a learning curve that all players under Pitino go through.
"With each game, I'm going have to fill out a different role," Dunlap said after having a career-high 20 point game against the Bobcats. "Each and every game, I just have to understand what that is, and space the floor, and knock down shots when they come to me and when they don't just be content with spacing the floor and let these guys rock."
"I'm just trying to fill that role for these guys and for the betterment of the team. Just do as much as I can for the team."