Simeon Wilcher may be finding his way into Rick Pitino’s doghouse.
The St. John’s coach was furious with his sophomore guard for attempting a windmill dunk in the final seconds when the result was in hand.
In these scenarios, St. John’s players typically dribble out the clock.
Pitino started his postgame press conference by apologizing to Butler after the Johnnies’ 70-62 victory at Carnesecca Arena.
“I wasn’t pleased tonight with the end of the game at all,” Pitino said. “I don’t understand it. If he would’ve made it and it went in, he would’ve been nationally ridiculed, so why would somebody want to be nationally ridiculed? It lacks common sense to me.”
CHECK OUT THE LATEST BIG EAST STANDINGS AND ST. JOHN’S STATS
Wilcher, meanwhile, continues to struggle.
He was held to four points on 1-of-8 shooting in 18 minutes.
In his last three league games, he is 5-for-29 from the field.
Afterward, Pitino was disappointed with his players’ inability to follow the scouting report.
He has begun to harp on this more of late.
He brought it up unprompted to start his media session after the victory.
He made similar comments following the loss to Creighton on New Year’s Eve.
“Young people today are different. I’m struggling with it. I’m not quitting. like some coaches, but I really am struggling right now with a lot of things,” Pitino said. “The work ethic is great, the listening is really bothering me. I gave up drinking for New Year’s, but I think I’m going to have the shortest resolution in the history of mankind and I’m going to jump right back in.”
Freshman Jaiden Glover (wrist/thumb) only played the final seconds of the first half.
Pitino said he is having trouble shooting the ball, which is why junior Sadiku Ibine Ayo logged minutes over him.
He expects Glover to be OK for Tuesday’s game at Xavier.