Rick Pitino knows what it takes to win in the NCAA Tournament, and he is already preparing the St. John’s basketball team for what is to come later in the month.
The No. 6 Johnnies stunned No. 20 Marquette (22-9, 13-7 Big East) at the buzzer in overtime on Saturday afternoon in Milwaukee and while the game appear to have a lot of significance for the Red Storm with the No. 1 seed in the Big East Tournament wrapped up entering the matchup, its head coach took a different tune.
“We played this game like I told them,” Pitino explained. “You’re one and done. You lose this game and the season is over.”
St. John’s (27-4, 18-2 Big East) played with an intensity and precision like it was a do-or-die game, making clutch baskets when it needed it most and withstanding Marquette’s best punches and counterpunches.
“That’s the way you got to play it to prepare for March Madness,” Pitino continued. “You don’t just show up in March…you prepare for it now; you prepare for it at the Big East Tournament, and they did a fabulous job.”
“Just a tough ass team. Toughness like you can’t believe.”
St. John’s got its victory with contributions from its entire roster, including rarely used freshmen Lefteris Liotopoulos and Ruben Prey who combined for 26 minutes and eight points with Deivon Smith (shoulder) remaining sidelined.
The potential path for the Red Storm in the NCAA Tournament is not lost on Pitino, either. If the Johnnies win the Big East Tournament it could mean a No. 2 seed in the East Regional – which plays the second weekend in Newark, New Jersey and its opening weekend in Providence.
“We’d like to be in Providence, certainly, for our fans, but we’ll go wherever.”
A trip back to Friartown for St. John’s would likely also mean more support from the Rhode Island natives who adore Rick Pitino for his time at Providence College and have greeted him with applause each time he has been introduced the last two seasons.
“We’re very happy just playing basketball with our record right now is amazing, and we’ll just get on with the next practice.”
The Big East Tournament waits for St. John’s on Thursday afternoon (12:00 p.m. ET, Peacock) against either Butler or Providence.