St. John’s Coach Rick Pitino Slams NCAA Ranking System After Team Misses Tournament
St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino has lashed out at the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings after his team was snubbed from this year’s NCAA Tournament. Despite finishing the season with six consecutive wins, St. John’s failed to secure a spot in the tournament, ending with a NET ranking of No. 32.
Pitino described the NET rankings as “fraudulent” and questioned the decision-making process of the selection committee. He stated that the team will not be accepting a bid to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and will instead focus on regrouping for the next season.
The Big East conference will be represented by three teams in the NCAA Tournament: UConn, Marquette, and Creighton. Pitino expressed disappointment over St. John’s exclusion but emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and not dwelling on feelings of being cheated.
Pitino, who joined St. John’s last year after coaching at Iona and achieving success at Kentucky and Louisville, is determined to use this setback as motivation for the team to come back stronger next season. Despite the disappointment, Pitino remains optimistic about the future of the program and is eager to continue working towards success.
As St. John’s looks ahead to the offseason, Pitino’s leadership and determination will be key in guiding the team through this challenging time and preparing them for a brighter future in the competitive world of college basketball.