Rick Pitino, who has introduced glory again to the St. John’s basketball program in simply his second season as coach, takes a timeout for some Q&A with Submit columnist Steve Serby.
Q: What adjectives would you employ to explain your staff?
A: Gritty … centered … relentless.
Q: On a scale of 1-10: Coronary heart.
A: Ten.
Q: Grit.
A: Ten.
Q: Poise.
A: Seven.
Q: Pleasure.
A: 9.
Q: Psychological toughness.
A: Eight.
Q: Killer intuition.
A: Eight.
Q: Are you proud of 8s for these final two?
A: Sure.
Q: Why?
A: Properly, 8 to me is sort of a A-minus.
Q: Why a 7 for poise?
A: As a result of they haven’t been collectively. 4 new starters, so that they’re not at all times essentially the most poised group.
Q: What else would they want, what high quality would they should get to a Closing 4?
A: The way in which I inform them this: Groups that take into consideration the Closing 4 get beat within the second spherical. What it’s important to do is what I did the opposite night time towards Marquette. I mentioned, “OK, this is the Sweet 16. There’s four minutes to go in the game. We win the first round. Now if you want to get to the Sweet 16, you gotta win the next four minutes. Let’s see what ya got.”
Q: Why do you assume you’re nonetheless “Passionate, Hungry and Driven”?
A: I believe due to adversity of not teaching … I discovered what life was like not teaching. Missed it terribly. So I’m not in any rush. … I recognize what I’ve, due to studying what I didn’t have.
Q: Are you continue to at that very same “PHD” degree you’ve at all times been?
A: I believe extra so at the moment than ever earlier than. As a result of St. John’s has made me extra ultra-focused.
Q: On the high of John Wood’s pyramid of success is “competitive greatness.” What’s your definition?
A: I believe that failure has to enter the equation of greatness. I believe that failure is usually a great factor. We failed within the Creighton recreation as a result of we didn’t do sure issues, and that kind of failure is fertilizer, that will help you win the following recreation. I fear extra about success than I do adversity. I believe robust individuals deal with adversity very properly, we’re robust. I fear about dealing with success and never embracing it and at all times trying to get higher. That’s the important half.
Q: Are you optimistic that this staff will not be embracing success?
A: I believe after they undergo my practices and preparation, I don’t assume they’ve time to embrace it. I believe they notice that there’s a lot work available, and I discuss to ’em about it. … We’ve gotta enhance our transition protection, we’ve to enhance our free-throw taking pictures in essential conditions, ’trigger that’s what it comes right down to. … [The] 3-point shot I’m not fearful about. I’m fearful in regards to the free-throw taking pictures.
Q: In your e book “Success Is a Choice: Ten Steps to Overachieving in Business and Life,” are you able to elaborate on being “ferociously persistent.”
A: Yeah, I believe persistence will not be sufficient. If you happen to actually wish to win, you’ve gotta be ferociously persistent. You possibly can’t take no for a solution. You possibly can’t say you’ll be able to’t do that, it’s important to do that. So being ferociously persistent, you say you’re gonna get it completed — even for those who don’t assume you are able to do it.
Q: One other step from the e book: “Master the art of communication.”
A: That’s the flexibility to hear 4 instances to the quantity you converse. So many individuals wish to get the following phrase in — even the president of our United States (chuckle) — at all times trying to get the following phrase in relatively than hear. Anyone mentioned, “How long will you coach?” I mentioned, “Well, it all depends on mentally and physically, but I’ll coach when I’m still listening and learning.” I’ll go so long as I can. I despatched all our coaches out to completely different universities this 12 months for the opening of practices. “I’ll handle the beginning of practice. You go out and come back with a different drill that you just witnessed; come back with a different offensive set that you just witnessed.” We wish to continue to grow and studying, and listening 4 instances to the quantity you converse. If I discover out, if I take heed to my gamers, I discover out precisely how one can inspire them. If I simply attempt to educate them with out listening, I don’t know how one can inspire them.
Q: How do you clarify your capacity to get gamers to purchase in?
A: I used to be a head coach at 24 [years old]. I’ve been a professional coach with the Knicks, Celtics, in Europe. And if you deal [with] professional gamers, you actually must hear. You actually have to concentrate to them as a result of their egos are so large. Not essentially the EuroLeague, however within the NBA.
Q: However you may have a knack for determining what makes every man tick.
A: I believe that comes from speaking and listening. You’ve one man from a rural space who simply needs to make his city proud, one other one needs to deal with his grandmother and mom, one other one needs to make it as a result of his ego is somewhat bit. … I name [it] EGO: Edging Greatness Out. If it’s challenged in the appropriate course, since you need your loved ones to be proud, one thing like that’s OK. If you happen to’re simply trying to stand on the rostrum by your self, it’s not OK.
Q: One other step from the e book: “Survive your own success.”
A: I wrote a e book referred to as “One-Day Contract,” after we [Louisville] received the [NCAA] championship in ’13. Different books I’ve written for motivational functions, this one I wrote for myself, as a result of we simply got here off the second championship, and now what are you gonna do to make it higher? To interrupt it, and make it higher. And I got here up with every single day — from the time you go to mattress, to the time you fall asleep — that day was a one-day contract. Are you getting rehired with the individual within the mirror? And I consider in that wholeheartedly. What I received out of it essentially the most is the best way I deal with individuals. Calling up all people, simply taking pictures them a textual content earlier than I depart the home: “Who wants a Starbucks? Who wants a Dunkin Donuts? Who wants a bagel sandwich?”
Q: And people texts are despatched to who?
A: The entire employees.
Q: When did you begin doing that?
A: Once I wrote that e book, I did it with Louisville. Even with out asking them, I’d herald sandwiches, munchkins, no matter it might be. After we go on the street, getting them to my room, shopping for their favourite drink, and bringing them up for a drink. Simply extra you’re aware of your employees and the individuals round you than ever earlier than.
Q: Extra from the e book: “Learn from adversity.” Is that this staff the place you need it to be?
A: They’ve been riddled with accidents — riddled. And nothing has impeded our will to win, which I believe is kind of outstanding.
Q: “Build your self-esteem.” How did you do this if you first received right here?
A: Properly, I believe if you look down there on the court docket, you may have a makeshift weight room. We had no convention room, we had no refueling room. Take into consideration this: Movie work is so massive at the moment, the analytics are so massive. They wheeled a TV out on the court docket. You possibly can’t listen that manner. That they had a closet for a weight room. So, you needed to do many issues right here, that you just needed to increase the vanity of the gamers. And I advised them this the opposite day, I did, “Guys, been to seven Final Fours. We’ve won two national championships [Kentucky and Louisville]. We never got invited on Jimmy Fallon.” So I mentioned, “This is New York, guys. Understand Madison Square Garden and the significance of that, and understand the significance of winning in New York.”
Q: “Set demanding goals.” How did the targets you demanded change from Yr 1 to Yr 2?
A: I actually didn’t have demanding targets the primary 12 months, I simply wished to construct a tradition. This 12 months I wished to make the [NCAA] Event, and I wished to win the Large East. We mentioned that from Day 1.
Q: You received the Large East. What’s your subsequent demanding aim?
A: Properly, I converse quite a bit about championships. To start with of the 12 months, I’d have mentioned that’s not a demanding aim, that’s a pipe dream, as a result of it doesn’t occur that fast, it takes time in constructing a tradition and every thing else. And I’m undecided but the place we’re within the nice scheme of issues. You discover out an increasing number of. ’Trigger our accidents are so nice — I equate it to the Yankees proper now: It’s possible you’ll be with out their nice pitcher [Gerrit Cole], you could be with out their house run hitter [Giancarlo] Stanton … and now they go on, they usually’re in first place on the finish of the 12 months. Properly, that’s just about what we’re doing proper now, and I anticipate the Yankees to do this.
Q: “Always be positive.”
A: Yeah, that’s a tough one on this local weather. It’s tough. As a result of New York, being the best metropolis on the planet, you activate the information otherwise you converse to somebody: “Trains suck, this sucks, this thing (laugh).” … However one of many best issues that occurred to me this 12 months — anytime I see the homeless my coronary heart breaks, within the streets of New York, “How can we let these people suffer like this?” So I used to be strolling out of a restaurant, Avra, and I see a homeless individual, he didn’t have any cash, proper on Madison Avenue. I at all times give them one thing, and I didn’t have something on me however a bank card. So I walked somewhat faster and simply stored my eyes ahead, and he mentioned: “Coach P, Johnnies are doing great!.” And I rotated and mentioned: “Thank you, are you keeping up with us?” He mentioned, “Keep up with every game.” … So now I’m pondering to myself, “How is a homeless person keeping up with this?” And I simply mentioned, “Well, thanks so much for your support.” And I walked away with such an excellent feeling inside, {that a} homeless individual is following the Johnnies.
Q: However you by no means gave him any cash, although.
A: I had nothing on me!
Q: You would have given him your bank card!
A: It was a St. John’s bank card (giggle)!
Q: “Establish good habits.”
A: I arrange my day by hours. What I hope to perform each hour. We now have three people within the morning, 8 o’clock assembly, three people within the morning, lunchtime. … I labored out this morning at 5 o’clock. I arrange it from the time I stand up to the time I’m going to mattress. I’ll say I’m going to mattress sooner than I’ve ever gone to mattress.
Q: Is it tougher so that you can sleep after a troublesome loss than it was?
A: Properly, I made a dedication to not lose (smile). I’m a lot better at accepting shedding for what it’s: a manner of getting higher. I may by no means be that manner. I began in Greece and went to Iona and went right here, that I settle for shedding for what it’s: a method to get higher.
Q: What modified?
A: Simply that to beat myself up, it’s not gonna make us higher.
Q: “Learn from good role models.”
A: Most of my position fashions just about moved on. Vince Lombardi rising up was at all times a man that we at all times seemed as much as as Italian coaches. I at all times seemed as much as John Wood, I’ve an excellent image of us collectively. I at all times thought Dean Smith was a man who dealt with gamers the appropriate manner, handled ’em with nice dignity. I’ve at all times appreciated soccer coaches to a sure diploma.
Q: Invoice Belichick I do know you want.
A: Sure. I took him to the Kentucky Derby … seven years in the past, possibly.
Q: Did he choose your mind or did you choose his mind?
A: You already know, he’s a lot completely different than … nice man. I discovered what a automobile bomb was from him. It’s a glass of Guinness and you place a shot of Jameson with the glass into the beer. “You gotta drop with a shot glass into the beer.” I mentioned, “I’m gonna drink it like that?” That’s a automobile bomb (giggle).
Q: “Thrive on pressure.”
A: Are you a golfer in any respect?
Q: No.
A: I believe for those who exit and also you simply play for $2, you attempt to win, not for the $2, however clearly it’s a aggressive factor. So when there’s one thing on the road, when there’s one thing at stake, no matter what it’s, one thing so insignificant, a recreation of chess — the stress is the best present which you can have as a competitor. As a result of stress, whether or not you assume it’s a Billie Jean King, a privilege, I name it our ally, it makes you get to a sure degree. Stress is your enemy … however stress’s an excellent, good thing.
Q: When did this staff start to know “edging greatness out”?
A: So I gave them a speech in the beginning of the 12 months about getting on Broadway. I mentioned I met a man at a espresso store, and he mentioned, “Coach P, I’m glad you’re at St. John’s, big things are gonna occur.” And I mentioned, “Well, what are you doing?” He mentioned, “I’m a bartender right now, and doing a little bit waiting, anything to make money. I’m an aspiring actor trying to get on Broadway.” And I advised the story about how this man’s working, making an attempt to get on Broadway. “See guys, once you get on Broadway, you’ve arrived. Now, are you gonna stay there? Once you make the Tournament, are you gonna stay there, or is your show gonna be canceled?” I advised them in a speech that went on Vice, I mentioned, “If you play for the front of your jersey, all about the team, the back’s gonna prosper.” I mentioned, “If you don’t play for the front, you’re not gonna win, and the back will never prosper.”
Q: Are any of your gamers over 10 % physique fats?
A: No.
Q: Is {that a} threshold?
A: Yeah, we would like all people below 10. We would like our guards round 5-7, and we would like our bigs below 10.
CHECK OUT THE LATEST BIG EAST STANDINGS AND ST. JOHN’S STATS
Q: Is there any darkness of doubt on this staff now?
A: No. There was all through the season, yeah. Since you’ve received a man from Portugal, a man from Greece, a man from Ghana in addition to the Sudan, and you bought guys that hardly discuss. One of many keys to changing into a very good staff is to speak defensively and offensively. I received Ruben Prey, who speaks 5 languages fluently, however to get him to speak on the court docket could be very tough.
Q: A Wood quote: “Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”
A: I believe that’s so to the purpose. Each single participant at the moment, due to social media, cares an excessive amount of what different individuals assume. You simply must look within the mirror and say, “Was I a good person today? Did I get the most out of my potential today? That’s enough, I don’t need any more gratification.”
Q: An Adolph Rupp quote: “Your defense will save you on the nights that your offense isn’t working.”
A: Properly, we [Louisville] needed to beat Wichita State to get to Michigan, and Wichita State was the perfect defensive staff within the nation, and I advised me staff in a pregame speech, “If you’re not better than them defensively, we’ll never get to the championship game.” And we have been higher that night time.
Q: A Rick Pitino quote: “Failure is fertilizer. … I’ve learned from making mistakes.” What’s the largest mistake you’ve discovered from?
A: All of us make errors, and I suppose what I discovered essentially the most was: Cease making an attempt to persuade individuals that you just’re harmless. Cease making an attempt that. As a result of those that love you’ll consider you, those that received’t won’t ever consider you. So cease saying to the media, “I had no knowledge of that at all.” I don’t consider in that. Cease doing that. It’s irrelevant. If you happen to take the smallest grain of sand on the largest seaside on the planet, you’re lower than that. So cease making an attempt to assume you’re greater than that. No one actually cares whether or not you’re harmless, responsible or not. No one cares. So recover from your self, and transfer on.
Q: Is recruiting nonetheless enjoyable?
A: I don’t thoughts the tedious components of the job. It’s completely different. It’s now negotiating, they’re free brokers. It’s simply completely different.
Q: Have you ever proven them clips of well-known athletes?
A: In the course of the night time, 3 within the morning, I ship them Instagram Reels. I’ll ship them every thing that he says and does, M.J., ship them on a regular basis. However I ship them Instagrams a minimum of 10 per week.
Q: To every man?
A: I’m on a thread with the staff. I ship it at that time ’trigger I can’t sleep.
Q: What number of hours of sleep do you get?
A: I’m hopeful I get 5, however I in all probability common 4.
Q: A fast scouting report in your assistant coaches: Steve Masiello.
A: He’s a basketball junkie ever since he was somewhat child. All the time desperate to study and get higher. Was a terrific coach at Manhattan, in a really, very tough job.
Q: Ricky Johns.
A: Ricky Johns performs quite a bit with our gamers though he’s older. We’ve been riddled with accidents this 12 months and he has performed extra, and the good factor, he’s gotten higher (smile).
Q: Bob Walsh.
A: Bob Walsh is extraordinarily analytical. An excellent thoughts for the sport. Superb with the gamers one-on-one.
Q: Van Macon.
A: Van had coronary heart surgical procedure, missed somewhat little bit of time. However Van could be very properly appreciated by our employees and gamers. He’s again to regular now.
Q: Taliek Brown.
A: Taliek could be very properly revered, he received the nationwide championship at Connecticut as some extent guard, so he’s very properly revered, due to his résumé, by the gamers.
Q: Looie Carnesecca was the Godfather. However individuals name you the Godfather. What are your ideas on that?
A: I’m gettin’ previous (giggle).
Q: If Kentucky was the Camelot of school basketball, what is that this?
A: Dwelling! (Smile).
Q: Is that pretty much as good as Camelot?
A: Properly, I believe New York Metropolis’s the best metropolis on the planet, so it’s house.
Q: How does your spouse Joanne get pleasure from it?
A: She enjoys it greater than me. … She’s a New York gal.
Q: Properly, you’re a New York man.
A: Yeah, however she thought New York was higher than … and for those who mentioned to her Paris, or Rome, or wherever, exterior of heaven, she thinks New York is the best place on earth.
Q: Any goose bump moments this season?
A: Each time I stroll out at Madison Sq. Backyard I get goose bumps. … I do know a lot of the ushers. Inside is simply euphoria for me, personally.
Q: You’d be a terrific late-night discuss present host. Who’s your favourite comic?
A: You already know, I believe after assembly Jimmy Fallon, I’d say it’s him. I used to be watching him, learning him, even the folks that simply traveled with the staff taking photos, and the assist employees, he handled them as in the event that they have been kings and queens. And he met the cameraman, he mentioned, “Put down your camera, I want to see your face and meet you.” And he’s received all these different individuals, he goes from room to room greeting individuals, and he’s gotta do that each night time. And I mentioned, “What a great gift. What a great gift.”
Q: Give me your All-Pitino restaurant beginning 5.
A: My favourite restaurant by far, in Greece, it’s referred to as Ithaki. It’s on the ocean in Athens. I like Avra quite a bit, I take all of the recruits there, it’s in strolling distance from my residence. The individuals know me there. It’s a Greek restaurant. That’s my go-to restaurant in New York Metropolis. Il Mulino, the previous one, was at all times my favourite. I like Smith & Wollensky. I just like the individuals, I just like the enjoyable, I just like the bar. And possibly No. 2 on the checklist, and I’ve solely eaten there twice, is The Polo Bar. It’s robust to get into. I had a buddy in Chicago get me into The Polo Bar. Who knew the proprietor (giggle).
Q: How would you describe your vogue type?
A: Properly, for years — after I was the Knick coach, after which on to Kentucky — I had a cope with Brioni. Umberto Angeloni, who was a CEO at Brioni on the time, learn a e book earlier than that after which learn “Success is a Choice.” I had a Brioni contract for like 12, 15 years, and I canceled it, as a result of I used to be doing nothing for them. I had at all times admired the best way Pat Riley seemed on the sidelines. I at all times thought he was impeccably dressed. Pat and I had the identical motivational audio system bureau, this man Mark Reed, and I received all of Pat’s rejects. Pat didn’t wish to do it, he got here to me.
Q: Would The Submit’s Zach Braziller have the ability to pull off sporting a white go well with?
A: Zach can pull off quite a bit — that he couldn’t.
Q: What do you assume your late brother-in-law Billy Minardi would consider this staff?
A: Billy was an enormous social gathering man. He has quite a lot of Invoice Raftery in him. When the bartender says “Last call,” he says, “Let’s find another bar (laugh).” He had a good time after I was with the Knicks. He would have a greater time with St. John’s as a result of he beloved faculty basketball.
Q: You concentrate on him every single day?
A: I’ve so many photos in my home of him, it’s not possible not to think about him every single day.
Q: What adjectives would you employ to explain you as a coach?
A: I don’t know. … I don’t actually give it some thought an excessive amount of. I don’t know what I’d say about myself. I must let different individuals describe me. I don’t know.
Q: How about Rick Pitino the person? What adjectives would you hope individuals say about you?
A: I believe I’m an excellent household man. Every part is household first. I believe I’m an excellent buddy to individuals. Not solely in want, however in assist. There’s not a participant alive at the moment, that if he’s in a jam, received’t name me. So I’m a buddy to all people I’ve encountered in my life, and that friendship by no means leaves. … I had a younger man who had a flood in japanese Kentucky, and mentioned, “Can you help me?” It by no means leaves. … Recommendation … friendship by no means leaves. So associates are actually essential to me, household and associates. And all I would like in my life is for these individuals to admire me. I don’t care if anyone else does.
Q: Have been you extra like your mom or your father?
A: Mixture of each. They have been arduous employees. My dad and I had an excellent story. I used to be in faculty. Ingesting age was 18 again then. After work within the summertime I’d run an elevator up and down in New York, giving clothes up and down an industrial constructing. And on the finish, he would take me to the American Legion, and mentioned, “Let’s grab a beer before we pick up your mom,” who was working at Bellevue. So we’ve a beer on the Legion, he would have a scotch. We had two or three beers. After which we had a small automobile, we needed to choose my mom up. I don’t wish to drive, I’m sitting within the small again of the Karmann Ghia. He’d open the door: “Sal, I can smell alcohol on your breath. Ricky, you’re driving.” (giggle) “I can’t drive mom.” And she or he would wind up driving. (giggle) “You let your son drink, Sal?” (giggle).
Q: What do you hope your legacy is?
A: That I constructed a bridge for all my gamers to cross over, they usually discovered self-discipline, they discovered arduous work, focus and all of the issues that make an individual profitable, they discovered. And so they cross that bridge they usually turn out to be nice members of the family themselves.
Q: Your message to the fan base heading into March Insanity?
A: I simply assume the enjoyable is simply starting for this system. It’s not simply this 12 months. That the enjoyable is simply starting. It’s gonna be a heckuva trip, as a result of we consider we’ve the blueprint, we consider we’ve town, we consider we’ve the Backyard, we’ve the cash without spending a dime company. … So it’s gonna be a helluva trip for everyone concerned.
