RJ Luis
- Thread starter KY Long Rifle
- Start date
Pope is not going take someone that his mentor didn’t make a priority to keep.
I really don't think that a kid that Coach Pitino basically ran off would be of interest to Coach Pope for OBVIOUS reasons. One of which is that Coach Pitino is basically Coach Pope's mentor on top of being his former coach.
Too much BAGGAGE also.
Too much BAGGAGE also.
Maybe Rick is throwing Pope a bone lol. He is the number 4 rated recruit and as fast as guards are disappearing we would be dumb not to take a shot at himself if he stays in college. At least Pope would get the real scoop on to take him or run away from Rick on this one. If we are offering Mgbako 1.2 million as is the rumor we damn better sure offer him something similar because he’s 5x’s the player IMHO.
I love what Pitino did this year.. but benching Luis with 5 minutes to go was a bad move and also a bad message. He's your leading scorer and he got you that far. Granted he was having an awful game, but you have to stick with your guys because you never know when they might come through and make the play. If Luis misses and you lose, so be it.
So Luis clearly wasn't going to stick around a coach he can trust to play him in the biggest moment, after the same coach relied on him all year. Can't blame Luis one bit for transferring.
I also highly doubt Pitino would care where he goes. It was clear by the end of the Arkansas game that those ties were going to be severed.
So Luis clearly wasn't going to stick around a coach he can trust to play him in the biggest moment, after the same coach relied on him all year. Can't blame Luis one bit for transferring.
I also highly doubt Pitino would care where he goes. It was clear by the end of the Arkansas game that those ties were going to be severed.
3-17 in the biggest game of his career doesn't excite me at all. And if he is a player that wants to do his own thing, we don't need that here.
And I in NO WAY want Coach Pope to take Mgbako!!!! Why he is even thinking about taking him is mind boggling!!!
I agree but he was awesome the whole season, it looked like he was pressing as was the entire team outside Zubey. Hard to diss a player on AA one game sample.
I thought it was odd how Pitino essentially rolled over in that game, and I've concocted a full-blown conspiracy theory to explain it. It goes like this:
Pitino didn't bench Luis because he couldn't make a shot or was playing poorly; he benched him because he was fed up with him and because he knew his team didn't have the shooting ability to make a deep run in the tournament. In essence, I think Pitino swallowed the loss because the team had already achieved what Pitino needed it to achieve. He walked away from a tournament he couldn't win and returned to the portal to rebuild for next year. Kind of a baller move from a coach who has been to the tournament so many times that he did not need this run to be special. And I say that as no great fan of Pitino.
Pitino really is a wild man. You are right, that’s the move of a coach thinking 5 years ahead. He’s 72 years old so everyone assumes he’s in “win now” or “win at all costs” mode and it made the Luis benching a very unexpected move in the eyes of most. I think he fully intends on coaching until he’s 80, and who knows he may decide in a couple years he’s satisfied with his St. John’s rebuild and maybe UNC finally goes outside hire and gives him a shot.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure
This player was Big East POY
Reminds me of Rod Rhodes situation
This player was Big East POY
Reminds me of Rod Rhodes situation
Imo Pitino main problem was, he lacked shooters to space the floor! You defend the drive and paint, and force jump shots it made it very difficult on St. Johns!
I can see where Luis would do well in this offense with our shooters spacing the floor! I really think he would thrive in that scenario!
He would bring defense and rebounding as well!
If you're trying to win a Tournament game and you've gone 3 for 17 from the field and are clearly letting your frustrations be shown, you don't need to be on the floor.
just don't think Pope would do anything to offend Pitino. He has too much admiration for him.
although he is a good player, not sure he fits Pope's style since he isn't a good shooter
Regardless of any drama that may or may not exist with Pitino, I’m just not sure Luis is much of a fit for us. Big East POTY year because he scored 18 per game on the team that won the conference, but he was actually fairly inefficient in scoring those points and his shooting splits aren’t very impressive for a guard/wing. He can guard and rebounded extremely well for his position, so he could possibly be valuable in more of a perimeter stopper role, but I have a hard time believing he’d be interested in not being the focal point of an offense after taking 15 shots per game this year.
I think it was Rick showing a huge ego flaw. He did the same thing in years past with Rhodes and another player that I can't recall the name right now. He folded. As much as some want to act as if he's a great coach, he has cost himself several times throughout his coaching career
Offend Pitino? Luis is the one that left St John's
How would it offend Pitino. It looks like a mutual parting of ways to me
Nice two way player, but Luis appears to be all about Luis. May be a bad "fit". I wish we would go hard after Ja'Kobi Gullespie, PG at Maryland. Kid is a stud with a capital S.
Conspiracy theory aside, Cal just once again whipped Pitino. To lose on purpose is a baller move? Whoa Nelly.
Luis was /is asking for more NIL. He will get it.
Not lost on purpose. Accepted a loss that he knew was coming soon anyway, and let his recalcitrant player ride the pine knowing that he and SJU would move on in the coming season. I just don’t believe Pitino benched his star player for poor shooting.
IMO, Pitino didn't bench Luis for going 3/17. I think it was the fact that he gave up and lost all confidence. The other SJU players were going up to Lewis and saying we need you, shake it off, just keep playing and he just moped with his head down. I don't question or blame Pitino for benching him.
