Rick Pitino criticizes fraudulent March Madness metrics with St. Johns not as close as believed – The Daily Guardia
St. John’s Basketball Team Left Out of NCAA Tournament Despite Strong Season
In a surprising turn of events, the St. John’s basketball team was left out of the NCAA Tournament this year. The team, with a NET ranking of No. 32, was not even among the first four left out, causing disappointment for both the players and coach Rick Pitino.
Pitino expressed his frustration with the selection process, particularly criticizing the NET ranking system. The team was bumped off the bubble completely due to automatic bids, with the last four teams in being Virginia, Colorado State, Boise State, and Colorado.
Despite a hot streak towards the end of the season, St. John’s failed to make the tournament, leaving Pitino aiming to become the first coach to bring six different schools to the tournament. The team’s hopes were dashed after a victory against Seton Hall, as several upsets in conference tournaments impacted the bracket.
In light of the snub, St. John’s has declined a bid to the NIT and will instead focus on recruiting new players for the upcoming season. Pitino emphasized that bitterness does not help in this situation and that the team must move forward positively.
The disappointment lingers for St. John’s, but they are determined to bounce back stronger next season. Stay tuned for updates on The Daily Guardian as the team looks ahead to what lies ahead.
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