"He's been 'good' and 'solid' the entire summer and now, I'm not after 'good' and I'm not after 'solid.' I'm after great and passionate. Once he reaches that 'Mamba mentality' that we're trying to put forth in every player and as a team, I think you're going to see one of the best players in the country."
"I guess I have to sit with him and ask him what he wants for me to do more of. Whatever that may be, I'm willing to do it."
Rick Pitino reshaped St. John's identity around rebounding and defense to win the Big East Tournament and finish 31-5. The program added a top-rated transfer class and enters the season ranked No. 5 with Final Four expectations. Pitino moved Dillon Mitchell into the starting lineup, replacing Bryce Hopkins, and indicated the starting five will change frequently. Pitino is seeking greater intensity and a 'Mamba mentality' from players to unlock higher performance. Bryce Hopkins accepted the benching, expressed willingness to adjust his game, and believes the game has slowed for him and he will improve.
Read at Newsday
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]