Pitino: 1st year at St. John’s ‘most unenjoyable experience of my lifetime’

Rick Pitino is fed up.

After Sunday’s 68-62 loss to Big East foes Seton Hall, St. John’s veteran coach sounded off on his players and his experience in his first year with the school.

“We are so unathletic that we can’t guard anybody without fouling,” Pitino said postgame, according to reporter Jaden Daly. “For me, I’ve always enjoyed the first year, and I’m not gonna lie to you: This is the most unenjoyable experience of my lifetime. This has been so disappointing.”

The Red Storm entered the season with high expectations but are now 14-12. They’ve lost eight of their last 10 contests.

Pitino called out several players, including starters Chris Ledlum and Joel Soriano.

“Joel is slow laterally, he’s not fast on the court,” Pitino said. “Chris Ledlum is slow laterally, Sean Conway’s slow laterally. Brady (Dunlap) is physically weak, Drissa (Traore) is slow laterally.”

Pitino, who left Iona to take the St. John’s vacancy last March, said he “knew it was gonna be a difficult year” after spending the summer with the team.

“I’m hoping we could finish over .500 for the season,” he said.

“We kind of lost this season with the way we recruited,” the 71-year-old added. “We recruited the antithesis of the way I coach. It’s a good group, they try hard, but they’re just not very tough.”

The veteran coach also revealed he tried to keep freshman guard AJ Storr on the team. Storr transferred to Wisconsin and has blossomed into a key contributor for the Badgers, averaging 16.5 points per game.

St. John’s has five regular-season contests remaining. It plays Georgetown on Wednesday.

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