Pitino Warns St. John's With Harsh Words

St. John's head coach Rick Pitino openly said after the game against Rutgers that he felt the team had played far from its collective spirit. According to Pitino, he had been very tough on his players for four or five days, and he said the team was not acting as a unit, either as individuals or as a whole.

Pitino said that Quinn Ellis was the only player in the group who truly grasped what it means to be a team. He stated that the other players only wanted to score and did not understand what team play was at all. The coach's remarks quickly drew wide attention within the roster.

The team's response came fast. After the match, Pitino said he received a message stating that the play was far more selfless and that the ball was moved well. In the warm-up game against Texas, which the team won 101-73, Quinn Ellis made four three-pointers and played an important role in the victory.

Having completed its preseason games, St. John's sent the message with this result that team discipline has settled back in. How Pitino's harsh style will affect the team during the season remains a matter of interest.