Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00Sunday, at high noon, Madison Square Garden.
00:08I think that is going to be an insane scene.
00:11This is Madison Square Garden, the sellout crowd with the Big East on the line.
00:19St. John's New York City, college basketball, big time.
00:25It doesn't get any better than that.
00:28They're dominating you inside, dominating you.
00:35I've done this for 50 fucking years, a lot better players than you all, a lot better,
00:44so start listening.
00:45Dominant, does it, the big upset.
00:46The Louisville Cardinals are champions.
00:47Rick Pitino, his biggest win without a question of a doubt.
00:49How about the St. John's Red Storm, 13-2 in the Big East, 22-4 on a year, they've got
01:16a top 10 team in the nation.
01:19They find ways to win.
01:21The St. John's team has that sort of New York grit.
01:25They defend like crazy, they're incredibly easy to root for, and I know their shortcomings.
01:32They're not a great shooting team.
01:34They can't hit a 20.
01:37We know that's their Achilles heel.
01:43Coach Pitino knows poor shooting can get in a player's head, which is exactly where he
01:48doesn't want it.
01:49You can't think about three-point shooting.
01:53Can't think about it.
01:54You've got to take it because you've got a coach that doesn't give a shit whether it goes in.
01:59If there's daylight, you take the shot.
02:01Don't overthink.
02:03The team's poor shooting from beyond the yard is also in reporters' heads.
02:14What do you make of three-point shooting?
02:16I think you're hurting the team by bringing it up all the time.
02:19So do me a favor, don't mention it anymore.
02:22I think when they hear it all the time, they can't shoot, they can't shoot, yeah, there's
02:25a little bit of a weight in the shoulders.
02:27But look, when you go one for 21 and you win the game, that speaks volumes of what you're
02:32all about.
02:33But we'll continue to work on it.
02:41Contributing to St. John's offensive struggles is the loss of Brady Dunlap, one of the team's
02:46best long-range shooters to injuries suffered earlier in the season.
02:50I tore up my abductus rectus or something like that.
02:54It connects to my pubic bone.
02:57Got the hip injection and broke my nose twice.
03:01Had blood spewing down.
03:02I don't know if you guys have that on tape.
03:05Tore my UCL, my thumb, and chipped a little piece of the bone off too.
03:11It's super tough given the fact that we're so good and damn near every other area of
03:16the game that I could kind of come in and hopefully maybe be the missing piece that
03:20the team kind of needed.
03:23I was in a pretty dark place then.
03:26I mean, it's just disappointing.
03:29They're still my boys.
03:31I'm trying to become just a selfless person.
03:33I'm here to be everybody else's biggest cheerleader.
03:36Brady is not alone in leading and supporting his teammates off the court.
03:40Deku minus 12.
03:42Why does Deku have so many?
03:44They're all back at the end of the game.
03:46They didn't count all of that.
03:48They didn't count all of that.
03:51Yeah!
03:53Junior forward Sadiku Abin Ayo is one of the bench players helping St. John's
03:58hold first place in the Big East.
04:01The best three players on every team are really good.
04:04Four through nine, I think, is where you win championships.
04:08He brings a lot of energy and spunk in practice.
04:11He goes as hard as he can.
04:12He's really strong, really athletic, a really good defender.
04:16But his true value is everywhere, really.
04:19Sadiku's a guy who is totally about teams,
04:22totally about the right things.
04:23He's totally about winning.
04:24He's great in the locker room.
04:26Those guys, they help you win.
04:28And a lot of the stuff he does will never show on the court.
04:31You talk to Qadari or you talk to Zubi,
04:33and you talk about who they're closest with, and it's Deku.
04:38Born in Ghana, Sadiku has emerged as something of a patino whisperer,
04:42a player not put off by his coach's intensity.
04:45Deku, you got to rotate, son.
04:47You're over there.
04:48You were the nearest guy.
04:51Playing with Coach Pitt is all enough for everybody.
04:54But he just wants you to be great.
04:58So, Deku, Deku, why didn't you send him out?
05:01Well, some people don't see that.
05:02They feel like he doesn't like you.
05:04They just did it three times and did it perfect.
05:07Run again.
05:08Sometimes he mostly come at me because he know I can take it.
05:11Deku, you can't give him a layup.
05:13You did nothing but stand there.
05:15Deku, that was your rebound.
05:17If you have the tunnel, go for it.
05:19Come on, Deku.
05:20Come on, Deku.
05:21Deku, take it out.
05:22Deku, spot up.
05:23Deku.
05:24Deku.
05:25I understand what he says and the stuff he do towards the team on the court.
05:29He strive for perfection.
05:31It's Deku's fault.
05:32Run that again.
05:34Coach is funny sometimes.
05:35Good move.
05:36What's the worst thing I've seen all year?
05:38I heard him say a lot of crazy stuff.
05:40Stop celebrating!
05:42You ask for a kick when you're slow.
05:45And after that, you're ready.
05:49We just keep walking up and down.
05:52And he might be yelling at someone.
05:54Aje, where are you going?
05:55Where are you going on offense?
05:57So, I got to make sure I tell that person,
05:59Yo, you go. Just relax.
06:01Just go in there and just keep your mind straight.
06:04You got all the answers.
06:05How about listening?
06:09You got to understand.
06:11I was brought up like that.
06:13Like, you got to keep going.
06:21Ghana is very peaceful.
06:24My mom, she wasn't from Ghana.
06:27She came to Ghana to just hassle.
06:29Make a good living for her family.
06:32So, she taught me gratefulness.
06:36For whatever you have.
06:38Come on, Deku.
06:40I might not play a whole game,
06:42but I hate to see someone down.
06:46I always want to let them know, like,
06:48just appreciate the day.
06:49And just work the day.
06:50And just don't allow anything to take your happiness away.
07:02Okay, we now welcome on a very special guest.
07:04Recurring guest.
07:06It is head coach of St. John's basketball, Rick Pitino.
07:09Back in studio.
07:11Your team defense.
07:12The Connecticut game was a perfect example
07:14where you guys got punched in the mouth.
07:16But watching that game, you didn't get back in the game
07:18because you started hitting shots.
07:19You started making everything tough for UConn
07:21and then getting back in the game by shutting them down.
07:23Yeah, well, you pick up a stat sheet with us.
07:25Sometimes I am just marveled that we're winning the game.
07:29And what's been bothering me the whole year with my team
07:31is they count their misses.
07:33So, we're not the greatest three-point shooting team.
07:35But if my guys miss a couple of free throws, a couple of threes,
07:38they won't take them anymore.
07:40And it got to a point I said, you guys got to toughen up
07:42because March Madness is right around the corner.
07:44Right.
07:45And they were pumped up about it.
07:47Look at this.
07:48Look at this.
07:49Nice pass.
07:51This is the crew that sat in the blue seats.
07:54We all lived in Middle Village, Queens,
07:56and we all went to the games together.
07:58Now we sit a little bit closer.
08:01Last row to first row.
08:04Billionaire St. John's alum
08:06and primary donor to the school's NIL program, Mike Rapoli,
08:10has gathered with his friends in his Florida home
08:12to watch St. John's play DePaul.
08:15Rick Pitino is the greatest basketball coach in history.
08:19You're watching Picasso paint.
08:21You're watching Michelangelo sculpt.
08:24Like, you're watching greatness.
08:27Rick Pitino, the winningest active head coach,
08:30trying to help St. John's
08:32to its first Big East regular season title since 1992.
08:37Gun underneath.
08:39St. John's doing it without R.J. Lewis tonight.
08:44With R.J. out with a groin injury,
08:46Siddiqui Abinayo is a starter for the first time this season.
08:5120 points all season for Abinayo, the native of Ghana,
08:56coming into tonight.
08:59Miko for three, that's an air ball.
09:01Gun saves it, but to St. John's, Richmond,
09:04and to Abinayo, shoves high.
09:08Rick says something that I say in business.
09:11If you're not failing, you're not trying hard enough.
09:15Siddiqui Abinayo, too fancy.
09:19Nobody really knows their limitations
09:21until someone pushes you.
09:23You're going to sink or swim here,
09:25and people are shocked how deep in the water they can swim.
09:29Siddiqui Abinayo.
09:31Wow, look at that shot, Steve.
09:33You kind of knew that was coming, right?
09:35And this guy stepping up big time.
09:38Look at that defense.
09:40One on the shot clock.
09:42He's getting better.
09:46St. John's shooting under 30% on the season for three-point range,
09:51but no time like the present.
09:55Another one.
09:56Look at this.
09:59Smith on the wing.
10:01The sixth triple of the game for St. John's.
10:04Abinayo.
10:06Oh, man.
10:08On fire.
10:10To be a kid growing up in New York back in the early 80s,
10:12St. John's was New York City basketball.
10:15When we had the Final Four team with Chris Mullin,
10:17Walter Berry, Mark Jackson,
10:19it was just really, really special to be a 15-year-old kid.
10:23And there was this long stretch where, you know,
10:25unfortunately St. John's really wasn't as strong as they should have been.
10:30We haven't won a game in the NCAA tournament in 25 years.
10:33You know, I have nephews that are, like, in their mid-30s.
10:36They don't remember St. John's ever being good.
10:38Who's your favorite player in St. John's?
10:40Zuby and the Qadari guy.
10:42And the Qadari guy?
10:43Yeah.
10:44I love St. John's, and maybe I'm having an impact on the basketball side.
10:48It's almost like a privilege.
10:50It's almost an honor that I can do that with Rick Pitino as the head coach.
11:06They're such great kids,
11:07and the way they play with the passion and the energy,
11:09the toughness, the grit.
11:11Rivera off the shot fake.
11:12Look at Adin right now.
11:14Up 21 points, you would think that they're down 10.
11:17Look at his defense, smothering.
11:19Rivera has to let it go.
11:20Great defensive stance by the Red Storm that time.
11:23Looking forward to the Big East tournament, the NCAA tournament.
11:26The Final Four.
11:27The Final Four.
11:28The Finals.
11:29Do you think the parade is going to be Wednesday?
11:31I mean, because if they win it Monday night,
11:33do you think Wednesday or Thursday?
11:40No matter what happens,
11:42this year is a tremendous success.
11:46We got the passion back.
11:48We got the garden back.
11:49We got New York City back.
11:50St. John's is back.
11:51The fabulous year two for Coach Pitino continues for St. John's.
11:56In this game against DePaul, St. John's shoots 43% from three.
12:01It's the kind of performance they'll need to become the national champions
12:05their benefactor is predicting.
12:08He's still going out there at 72 years old,
12:12pushing these players to get to the next level and maybe a championship.
12:15Well, ladies and gentlemen,
12:16you may have seen one of the better teams in college basketball tonight
12:19and a team that I believe can advance very deep in the NCAA tournament.
12:27Did you go for dinner last night?
12:28Did you go out or not?
12:29No.
12:30You didn't go out?
12:31I'll get home a little later.
12:33Come on, Jeech.
12:35Ron is my neighbor,
12:36ex-tennis player, partner with Ivan Lendl.
12:39He's now one of my best friends in life.
12:41We do everything together,
12:42and that's about the great thing about moving back to New York.
12:44You meet new people as well as old friends.
12:47It's fantastic.
12:48Seen a lot of action this morning, huh?
12:50So Gigi right here is gaining a lot of weight,
12:53like my athletic director, like my staff, and like myself.
12:57Layla's in perfect shape, but Gigi needs to lose a few pounds.
13:02Since Eli Manning's last year,
13:04the Giants offensive line has not gotten better.
13:07Terrible.
13:09We walk just under three miles,
13:11and I do it after my morning workout,
13:14and we solve the world's problems,
13:16solve all the problems for the Knicks, the Yankees,
13:19and every other professional team during this walk.
13:22You know what?
13:23He's going to be a terrific European player professionally.
13:27You know, the EuroLeague, where I coach Panathinaikos,
13:30is a great league.
13:33♪♪
13:37Rick's decision to coach Ben Gries in 2018
13:40is his way back into a job he considered quitting forever.
13:45When Rick left Louisville,
13:49it really was the most down I'd ever seen him.
13:52He took it hard.
13:55He was embarrassed. He was angry.
13:57He felt aggrieved.
13:59He felt mistreated.
14:03And he was in despair.
14:07He came in and he sat in my studio,
14:09and he said, I'll never coach again.
14:13Listen, the truth came out in the end of what it was,
14:16but to see him go through that was like, man.
14:20John Madden told me years and years ago,
14:23unless they find something that feeds the same beast,
14:27you're coming back to coach.
14:29That's all there is to it.
14:31♪♪
14:34My wife said, you miss it.
14:36You're staying up all hours of the night,
14:38writing down plays.
14:39What you've got to do is pick yourself up,
14:41get between the lines,
14:42and if it means coaching at the lowest level,
14:44coach at the lowest level.
14:46Fortunately for me, I landed in Greece,
14:48and I got a chance to coach in the EuroLeague.
14:52But to me, there was a little trepidation about being there.
14:58I know very little about the EuroLeague.
15:00I know very little about the players.
15:02I don't know the team.
15:05I miss my family.
15:07I'm alone by myself.
15:09You know, the facilities aren't great.
15:12You go to Istanbul,
15:14and there's a police escort in front of you,
15:16and behind you is a van,
15:18and the people get in the van,
15:19you see they have six machine guns
15:22with their hands on the trigger,
15:25and I thought that was a little unusual.
15:29Even for Pitino,
15:30who coached on both sides of the intense rivalry
15:33called the Battle for the Bluegrass,
15:35nothing prepares him for the energy of the crowds
15:37when Panathinaikos plays its most dismal game.
15:41It's a chance to do the right thing,
15:42and to get the ball rolling.
15:43It's a chance to surprise the opposition.
15:45And then you're ready to go.
15:47The match is over.
15:48The game is over.
15:49And then you got to go.
15:50The game is over.
15:51And then you got to go.
15:52And then you got to go.
15:53And then you got to go.
15:54And then you got to go.
15:55crowds when Panets and Aikos plays its most despised opponent, Olympiacos.
16:03Panets and Aikos versus Olympiacos, Kentucky-Louisville would be considered a church league game compared
16:11to them.
16:12I'm not exaggerating.
16:17We had 30 policemen with shields.
16:19The hatred for the Olympiacos is so extreme, and vice versa.
16:26There's 20,000 people in the arena, and I feel like I'm going to die of lung cancer
16:35because 12,000 people are smoking.
16:36Lines on this side, in the lane.
16:37He's here, quick, ball fake here, to the left.
16:38You guys are crosses.
16:40And these people, they love it, it's their passion.
17:00And that helped me find my passion once again.
17:08The bottom line is I'm a coach, I'm a teacher, I'm a motivator, I'm a communicator, and I'm
17:13between the lines doing what I do best.
17:17They were sitting in 12th place, and top eight, you make the playoffs.
17:25The chances of making the playoffs were possible but not probable.
17:29Well, we got hot, we won four road games in a row, you go to Tel Aviv, and it's far different
17:37than anything you ever imagined.
17:40You go to Moscow, and you're in the Red Square, and it's totally different than anything that
17:48you would ever imagine.
17:50I turned it all around, wound up making the playoffs, and won the Greek League Championship.
18:08Celebrating a championship, and the way the Greek people do it, is quite special.
18:15The fact that I couldn't share it with my children, and my wife, and my family and friends,
18:22is the biggest difference in all of that.
18:25So it wasn't the same.
18:27But it was one of the unique, good experiences of my life.
18:33I'm not a champagne drinker, but I'm drinking Dom Perignon, because one of the best champagnes
18:39made, with some of the best guys I've ever coached in my life, top to bottom.
18:44I toast you guys.
18:49I think fate has played a big part in almost every decision I've made.
18:53New challenges, new obstacles to overcome, it's something that fascinates me.
19:03Lele, your stream is all gone.
19:06Rick's path to St. John's may have taken some unexpected turns, but one thing remains the same.
19:12He and his players will move forward through hard work and drive.
19:17Our practices are very intense.
19:19They go for about two hours and ten minutes.
19:21Remember, they went for 37 minutes in the morning, getting up about 300, 400 different offensive moves.
19:28And then they wait, train in the middle of it, and they have academics, so it's a long day for them.
19:43For R.J. Lewis and his teammates, the NIL pay-for-play era may have turned them into professional basketball players.
19:50But the old rules on academic eligibility are still in effect.
19:55Hello. Can I get a teriyaki bowl, please?
19:58They are still students, and they're obligated to meet their requirements going to class,
20:03maintaining a certain GPA to stay eligible.
20:06Even though there's this freedom of movement with transfers, getting your degree is still incredibly important.
20:11How's it going?
20:12How's it going for you?
20:13Doing good.
20:14Yeah? Better?
20:15They have a vocation.
20:17Just like you would bring a music prodigy in here, you would want them to go out and play.
20:21Just like you would bring a music prodigy in here, you would want them to go out and work on their craft.
20:26But you know what? There's a lot of kids who didn't make it in the pros,
20:30who wound up getting a good job and having a good life because they went to that school.
20:35First key takeaway is time management is very important.
20:41The second key takeaway I took was mental health is a real problem.
20:48Even if the ball stops bouncing, Coach Machino ensured me that my scholarship is still educational,
20:54it's still there, so I can come back and finish my classes and stuff like that, which is important.
20:58I mean, for me, I feel like the most stress I get is from playing basketball,
21:02even though it should be if I get a bad grade, but I think I do a solid job in the classroom.
21:09So I think most of my stress comes from basketball.
21:14And trying to come back from an injury in time for the rematch with two-time reigning national champions Connecticut
21:19only adds to RJ's and some of his teammates' stress.
21:23The team knows the Huskies are coming to a sold-out Madison Square Garden hungry for revenge.
21:35As the team enters the home stretch, the wear and tear of the season is taking its toll,
21:40with most of the starters having physical issues that threaten to sideline them for the crucial final games.
21:50He does have a little bit of hip tightness that goes along with the strain.
21:55But a lot of his work is going to have to be a lot of stretching, a lot of mobility work.
22:03Definitely as the season continues, guys get more banged up.
22:08I mean, that just requires a little bit more work and a little bit more time and effort with these kids.
22:12So that's what I'm here for.
22:16He hasn't done a single thing, and you won't know until he tries it tomorrow.
22:20So if he's 100 percent, we're playing him. If he's not, we're not playing him.
22:25Qadari's not practicing either. We have eight people.
22:31You can't control injuries.
22:33I don't focus on who's available. I just focus on winning the game with what you have.
22:41That's excellent. See, when you do that, you've got your teammate a wide-open three.
22:47This happens all the time. Teams get banged up.
22:49And with the guys who are logging heavy minutes, sometimes it's just some wear and tear.
22:54So we just have to be ready.
22:57I feel like we have a group of great guys who can step up when our brother is down.
23:03And you can see from the DePaul game that everybody stepped up.
23:06My guy Deku having his career high. Shout out to Deku.
23:13When the game's about to start, because the game comes to you, you do this and practice every day.
23:18So take the shots that you practice and practice, and that's why I do it.
23:29I've been working my whole life for moments like that.
23:32So when it happened, I was like, this is probably my time.
23:41I'm always there for them.
23:44So there's a saying that if you're always happy for someone, when your turn comes, they'll be happy for you.
23:50So they were happy for me too, so it was a special moment.
23:57Deku, can't be a one-hit wonder.
24:00Get a drink.
24:06Their coach is going to make this very personal.
24:09He's going to say, they're taking what we have, we can beat them, he's going to make it real personal.
24:15That type of motivation just gets them fired up.
24:19They're going to have about 8,000 fans here.
24:21So it's going to be awesome atmosphere, best atmosphere of the season.
24:29It's a really big game and we're heading down the stretch.
24:32And it's always been at the back of our minds of, you know, we could put ourselves in a position to win the Big East title.
24:40They lead the Big East and they have one last chance in the regular season
24:45to go and stick it to a team that has owned the Big East the last two years.
24:51Sunday at high noon at Madison Square Garden, St. John's has a chance to say,
24:56or turf, or conference, or league.
25:00I mean, I grew up when the Big East was bananas.
25:03So that's going way back.
25:06St. John's New York City, college basketball, big time, big time.
25:13You got to box out, then limit them to one shot.
25:17Stay connected on every defensive play, stay connected.
25:20Take your shots, keep on moving until you get the shot you want, you'll make them.
25:26And understand something, guys.
25:30This is Madison Square Garden, a sellout crowd.
25:34It doesn't get any better than that.
25:39You're going to have everybody in the house that loves basketball right now.
25:43Who's this sweatshirt for? Spike Lee.
25:46Who's this sweatshirt for? Spike Lee.
25:49You're always going to remember these names.
25:53Welcome to the Garden, folks. We're getting ready to run it back.
26:04You can hear the sigh of relief from St. John's fans seeing R.J. Lewis back in the starting line-up.
26:10He's been nursing at Timbers Ward, but he's out there right now ready to go.
26:17On the front court, baseline, R.J. Lewis.
26:24Loose ball inside, Aaron Scott, the kick, Smith.
26:34Age issue.
26:36Ball, a three, Peele.
26:38Peele.
26:52This is the state we fought back for in soccer.
26:56And good.
27:03Ahmad Noel has come in, and UConn turns it over.
27:08Oh!
27:13Andrew Peele.
27:15Cross, cross the lane, tries to pivot, cut off, stolen away, solo ball.
27:21Caravan hadn't gotten a shot off. Here's Reed.
27:25Good two.
27:26Reed.
27:33My love, you're wasting the ball on the floor.
27:36You're setting a back screen, set the fucking screen.
27:40Guys, you've got to get open when you throw the ball inside.
27:45Get moving.
27:46What's up, man?
27:53Pull-up, gentlemen, on top. Oh, beautiful serve.
27:58Pick and roll with edge of four. Pull-up three.
28:01Wow.
28:02Largest lead of the game.
28:03St. John's on a 14-2 run.
28:05Shot clock at 14, baseline, Lewis.
28:09Safe, loose.
28:12McNeely forced it up in the corner.
28:14Caravan.
28:17Listen to this crowd.
28:19They've been waiting for years to have this kind of team.
28:24You're taking all great shots.
28:27That's what I told you earlier, you're a very good shooting team.
28:31You've got to play this 0-0.
28:33Play it 0-0, we have an awesome win.
28:40Caravan pulls up.
28:44St. John's.
28:48Ball takes a three.
28:54UConn has come alive.
28:56The kick in the corner, Caravan.
29:00Here come the national champions.
29:02After going to the locker room with an 18-point lead,
29:05St. John's quickly sees a cut to nine early in the second half.
29:09Coach Pitino and his team must now find a way to stop an energized UConn.
29:15Leading by 18 at the half,
29:18the Johnnies have let Dan Hurley's Huskies cut it to nine.
29:24After blowing a halftime lead at home to Connecticut last season,
29:28Rick Pitino is determined to out-coach Hurley this time.
29:32Guys, here's what you're not doing.
29:34You're trying to find the man,
29:36but you're not paying attention to the ball.
29:38Look at me, they're going to foul you.
29:40You've got to be strong.
29:45Caravan.
29:48And a rebound to Lewis as he goes on to Stewart.
29:52Here comes Sweet and Little Gallop again at the front court.
29:54Goes down the lane.
29:56Right on top of the arc.
29:58Top of the arc.
30:00Wilshire, he's their best shooter.
30:02That's one.
30:07Caravan.
30:09Press.
30:11Caravan.
30:12Caravan.
30:14That's a shot clock violation.
30:17They rise to their feet at the world's most famous arena.
30:21The St. John's Red Storm approved to 24-4.
30:25For the second game in a row,
30:28St. John's hot shooting continued
30:30as they shot 42% from three-point range.
30:35I'm glad nobody mentions us.
30:38They started saying they can't shoot,
30:40and I said to the lady before,
30:42you can't shoot.
30:44And tonight was a brilliant display that you can shoot.
30:47I say it all the time, how proud I am of you.
30:49You're three games away from a Big E's crown.
30:51Three games.
30:57Hey, family on three.
30:59One, two, three, family.
31:10Good pressure so he can't go back door.
31:12With players now transferring between programs,
31:15You're running Iona.
31:17It's not Iona, it's St. John's.
31:19the coaches tend to build stronger connections
31:21to the ones they worked with for a few seasons.
31:25Sadiq was my favorite player in the team.
31:27Why? Because he was with me at Iona.
31:29I've gotten to know him, he's gotten to know me.
31:31You build a strong relationship.
31:34Come on, just drop the ball and play defense.
31:37In 2020, Rick's success in Greece
31:39opens a door back to the NCAA
31:42and Iona, a mid-major college in upstate New York,
31:45hires him as their head coach.
31:47I knew that he might have had an interest
31:49in coming back into the college game.
31:51I thought Iona would be good for him
31:53and I thought he would be good for Iona.
31:55And I think that was true.
31:57Baseline cut and a flush.
32:00Nowadays, with the transfer portal,
32:02you can get good players like that.
32:04So a coach at his level, being at Iona,
32:07there's no way that's not going to work.
32:10He outworks everybody.
32:12His work ethic is unmatched
32:14and he's relentless about winning.
32:16And to have a focus like that,
32:19to me, is part of what makes him so successful.
32:22It was this same drive
32:24that brought Sadiqu to Iona and Coach Pitino.
32:27God just put something in me
32:29just to strive and chase my dreams.
32:32When I went to visit Coach P at Iona,
32:36I felt like this is the place I belong.
32:37He loves basketball.
32:39He loves the grind.
32:41He's someone that has dreams too.
32:43The passion that he has, the fire,
32:46is second to none.
32:48And I was like,
32:50I want to learn from this person.
32:52With Sadiqu's family still in Ghana,
32:55Coach Pitino steps up to become more
32:57than just a young man's basketball coach.
33:00Sadiqu doesn't have a family that's heavily involved,
33:03so you spend more time off the court
33:05with players like that.
33:08With Coach P,
33:10we have connection more than basketball.
33:12I mean, that is literally like Coach's adopted son.
33:16We have a very close bond,
33:18and certainly there's nothing in this world
33:20I wouldn't do for him.
33:23The family aspect, the friendship, the love,
33:26is just someone that I hold dear to my heart.
33:31In March 2023,
33:33Coach Pitino left Iona
33:34and accepted the job to rebuild St. John's.
33:37It was very sad news that he'd taken the job.
33:40And then,
33:42he invited me to his house.
33:44And he said,
33:46I don't care if I'm going to the NBA,
33:48wherever I am, I'm going to take you.
33:50I said, OK, Coach, I'm going to follow you.
33:55Early this season at St. John's,
33:58Rick named Sadiqu one of the team's captains.
34:01I was confused, like,
34:02what happened?
34:04Why he named me one of the captains?
34:06But I think Coach put me in that role for a reason.
34:13I understand what he does.
34:16I can endure it,
34:18and I can preach it differently to the team.
34:22Unlike fellow captains Qadari Richmond and Zubi Ejiofor,
34:26who are both starters,
34:28Sadiqu must assert himself as a leader
34:29without knowing if he will be seeing significant time on the court.
34:33We got to keep going,
34:35because we get to the Final Four.
34:37Even if I'm not playing, we're in the Final Four.
34:39I'm on the team.
34:41So I always keep that mindset
34:43and try to keep everything together
34:45and make sure that we're on the right path.
34:47Here we go.
34:49All right. Four men. Four men.
34:51Here we go.
34:56Johnny Nation.
34:57Johnny Nation.
34:59St. John's has a chance
35:01to secure their first Big East Championship outright
35:05on Saturday against Seton Hall, 215, Madison Square Garden.
35:09History on the line.
35:12It's funny with this basketball team.
35:14We come off the best offensive and defensive performance of the season
35:17with Connecticut,
35:19and we come back to one of the poorest performances of the season
35:23with Butler.
35:25Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up.
35:28Get up.
35:30Get up.
35:32Get up.
35:34Despite surviving with a six-point win
35:36over a middle-of-the-conference Butler team,
35:38St. John's' usually reliable, strong defense
35:41was disconnected and ineffective.
35:43Guys, you got to play better defense than this.
35:46We're a defensive team.
35:48You can't make plays like that.
35:53We got to get back to being defensively connected at all times.
35:57So if it's a pick and roll,
35:59it's five guys being connected
36:01to stop the pick and roll.
36:03You stop the penetration.
36:05That's what connected means.
36:07With so much at stake,
36:09you got to remain focused on the fundamentals of the game
36:11that are going to allow you to win.
36:13You think this is going to be easy tomorrow.
36:15You're mistaken.
36:17These guys are coming into Madison Square Garden,
36:19and they don't want you celebrating on their game.
36:21Wake up.
36:23St. John's wins Saturday against Seton Hall.
36:26Outright Big East title.
36:28Something they have not done in a long, long time.
36:32Get ready for the spectacle that will beat Patino
36:35and St. John's at Madison Square Garden.
36:41We said it from day one.
36:43We want to win the Big East.
36:45You have a chance to fulfill it tonight.
36:48But we got to finish it.
36:51There is no doubt about it.
36:54St. John's has taken this city by storm.
36:57They've galvanized New York.
37:00In celebration of the moment,
37:02Rick dons his all-white suit,
37:04which he has worn only on special occasions
37:06throughout his career.
37:13We're underway.
37:15We're underway.
37:23So quick.
37:25Smith couldn't finish it.
37:27There's a little left.
37:29Edge of floor can't get it to go.
37:32I don't know if he recovers this time,
37:34but now they slip on a big guy.
37:36Out.
37:39Two minutes into the game,
37:41Rick notices that starting guards
37:42Aaron Scott is laboring
37:44due to a knee injury
37:46and calls on Sadiku to take his place.
37:50Ayo checks in the junior.
37:55Smith off the double-team.
37:57Kick it.
37:59Corner.
38:01Sadiku E.B. Ayo.
38:03Rick Patino really trusts him.
38:07One dribble and a J.
38:09Look at Lewis.
38:10Straightaway tray.
38:14Lewis has a bounce to his game.
38:16The transfer hits.
38:18The set-up!
38:20Edge of floor nearly brings down the rim.
38:23Corner.
38:25Corner for the throw-down.
38:28Nice cross.
38:30Kick.
38:32Duval thought about it.
38:34Ade Uso will fire and connect for three.
38:36And they fell asleep the first time.
38:40Play.
38:42It's a one-point game.
38:44Dribble drives.
38:46Knock away.
38:48Steal.
38:50Duval ahead.
38:52Coleman will streak in.
38:54Fantastic finish.
39:01You've given up 18 points in the paint.
39:04Eighteen.
39:07So if I say something to Cooks,
39:08he should immediately say,
39:10I got it, next play.
39:12No, he's going to try to make an excuse.
39:14Zuby's going to try to make an excuse.
39:16Davon's going to try to make an excuse.
39:18So that's what you're all about now.
39:20Well, I'm coaching 50 fucking years,
39:22including the Knicks, the Celtics, and overseas.
39:25A lot better players than you all.
39:27A lot better.
39:29So start listening.
39:31Congratulations, you're scoring.
39:33They're dominating you inside.
39:35How about playing some defense also?
39:39Loop it inside.
39:41Catch.
39:43Fake.
39:45Lay in.
39:47Airy, airy now.
39:49It's a two-point game.
39:51Turnover.
39:53Get it ahead.
39:55Coleman takes it in.
39:57Get back!
40:09Come on!
40:11Come on!
40:13Richmond gives up his dribble.
40:15Ayo penetrates.
40:17Ayo, the sweeping move with the touch.
40:20Not bad, Dave.
40:25Ayo, all the way for two.
40:34Rebound, Ayo.
40:36He's the first one down.
40:38Energy.
40:40Ahead for Smith.
40:42Hard drive, flips it in.
40:44Tough angle.
40:46St. John's can sort of taste it right now.
40:53Coleman, swing it.
40:55Adewusu, little bump.
40:57He gives it away.
40:59Lewis on a race to the rim.
41:01Lewis, the quake!
41:03Going hard to the home.
41:05Engine four makes his move.
41:06Silky smooth.
41:08Proud on its feet.
41:10For the first time in 40 years, St. John's clinches Big East regular season title outright.
41:20A lot of people share in this dream of ours from the beginning of the year.
41:25Looking behind the basket and seeing the students out in full force is very rewarding for me personally.
41:36The manifestation is happening.
41:38I have a great feeling it will go far.
41:41This is my guy right here.
41:43You deserve it.
41:45You want everybody to have the attitude of Sadiku and Zuby.
41:47Always being positive, always working hard.
41:49It's a great gift to have.
41:54I want to win a championship.
41:56That's right, man.
41:58One down, two more to go.
42:00Couldn't do nothing but smile.
42:02You couldn't hold it in.
42:03If you did, then it's like something's wrong with you.
42:07The last two games, we haven't played great.
42:11Come on, sit down.
42:13I'm just about to kill the two of you.
42:17So, we've got to get better now.
42:20We've got to get back to playing great defense.
42:22They say when a coach stops yelling at you, that's when you need to start worrying.
42:26So, thanks for screaming at me.
42:28I'll try to continue.
42:34With the Big East title secured, there is still one final test before season's end at No. 20 Marquette,
42:42a team they might face in under a week at the Big East tournament.
42:46We're on a great run, but we can't let it stop.
42:49Every single possession, you must get after it.
42:52In Milwaukee, Rick makes it clear that this is no time to let up.
42:56When you get to this point of the season,
42:57the little things in your conditioning get you to beat your opponent.
43:03So, it's a matter of will tonight.
43:05Everybody who goes in has got to play hard.
43:08Go out there and kick their ass on every single possession.
43:11Win every transition defense by talking.
43:14Win every possession.
43:20Gentlemen, coming up next time.
43:22Well, I don't think my Kentucky Louisville team's ever got this attention.
43:24The Red Storm take over New York City.
43:27Are you kidding me?
43:29This is unbelievable.
43:33When you're New York's team, you have the potential of getting more publicity than any team in America.
43:39Great chemistry is when love and discipline come together in a crash.
43:43You want the name on the back to prosper.
43:46The name on the front's got to kill it tonight.
43:48Let's get it.
43:50Let's go!
43:54Let's go!