Rick Pitino was not impressed with Zuby Ejiofor’s performance on Thursday afternoon as the St. John’s basketball team rolled through Providence in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament.
The Big East Player of the Year, playing in his first game since officially getting the distinction, went for 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. He was the first player in the history of the Big East Tournament with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in a game.
“He really didn't have a great game tonight,” Pitino said after the 85-72 victory. “His numbers showed, but he really didn't play great. He played very good.”
The lopsided score allowed him to sit for the final 4:41 ahead of Friday’s semifinal, something that was of major importance to the Red Storm.
“I thought Zuby made quite a few mistakes tonight in the game.”
“He didn't bless himself before the game, he didn't tuck his shirt in three times, he didn't say thank you when I gave him credit, so he didn't have a great night,” Pitino said with a smile.
Ejiofor wouldn’t push back on the Hall of Famer.
“I already seen that coming,” he joked when told that his head coach wasn’t overly complimentary of his play. “You know what? Whatever Coach Pitino says, I agree.”
Regardless of what Pitino says, it was a performance that St. John’s has come to expect from its superstar and one that it hopes it will get again in the semifinals. Last year, he set a St. John’s record for most points in a Big East Tournament game with 33 points in the semifinals.
The Red Storm will get its third matchup against Seton Hall after the Pirates defeated Creighton in its quarterfinal matchup.
Ejiofor went for 21 points last week in the regular season finale against Seton Hall as the Johnnies clinched the Big East regular season championship.