"I was just trying to get out of there. When you go through a loss like that you say the wrong things in anger. It's all on me. Rick Pitino told a small group of reporters in a hallway outside the locker room, explaining his decision to skip the postgame press conference following the historic 72-40 defeat to UConn."
"Rick Pitino says Saturday is the biggest St John's game since his arrival here. The Red Storm coach is looking to bounce back quickly after the worst offensive performance in program history, with the upcoming Villanova matchup representing a critical opportunity for the team to recover momentum."
Rick Pitino avoided the standard postgame press conference following St. John's devastating 72-40 loss to UConn, citing a need for self-preservation to prevent saying "the wrong things in anger." The Red Storm's offensive performance was historically poor, missing 24 consecutive field-goal attempts and failing to score for over 17 minutes. Pitino's absence from the main press room drew criticism from national media, including USBWA President Matt Norlander, for breaching protocol. Despite the setback, Pitino is focused on recovery, describing Saturday's matchup against Villanova as the biggest game for St. John's since his arrival in spring 2023.
Read at Athlon Sports
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