St. John's faced a shocking defeat against Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament, with standout RJ Luis Jr. sitting out during critical moments. Despite having a season-low performance with only seven points, Coach Rick Pitino opted to bench him late in the game, which drew questions from reporters. PITINO initially cited fatigue but later avoided giving a straightforward rationale. This decision coincided with Arkansas outscoring St. John's to secure a 75-66 victory, further intensifying scrutiny on Pitino's coaching choices and leadership dynamics within the team.
When Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis Jr. hit two free throws with 4:56 remaining to pull St. John's within two points, coach Rick Pitino subbed him out of the game.
Initially, Pitino referenced Luis having played 30 minutes, stating 'that's a long time.' However, when pressed, he did not attribute the decision to fatigue.
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