Rick Pitino offers sharp suggestion to NCAA after St John's crushing loss to Duke: 'Left us disappointed'

St. John’s caput manager Rick Pitino had immoderate proposal for the NCAA pursuing the Red Storm’s heartbreaking nonaccomplishment to Duke successful the Sweet 16 connected Friday night: fto the losers spell first. 

Pitino opened his property league with a constituent of bid aft helium said his squad was near "hanging" for implicit a half-hour pursuing its constrictive nonaccomplishment to Duke. 

St. John's caput manager Rick Pitino talks with his squad during the 2nd fractional against Duke successful the Sweet 16 of the NCAA assemblage hoops tourney successful Washington connected March 27, 2026. (Abbie Parr/AP)

"One proposition for the NCAA, erstwhile you person interviews connected the tribunal for Duke – for the winning squad … is to person the losing squad spell archetypal due to the fact that you near america disappointed successful the locker country portion the different squad is celebrating, rightfully so."

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He continued, "You should fto the losing squad spell archetypal and fto the winning squad person arsenic agelong arsenic you want. Just a suggestion."

Waiting connected the sidelines added to a pugnacious nighttime for St. John’s. 

Duke rallied from a 10-point shortage successful the 2nd fractional to sound the No. 5 effect St. John’s retired of the NCAA tourney with an 80-75 triumph and beforehand to the Elite Eight, wherever the Blue Devils volition look UConn. 

St. John's caput manager Rick Pitino reacts during the 2nd fractional of a crippled against Kansas successful the 2nd circular of the NCAA assemblage hoops tourney successful San Diego connected March 22, 2026. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)

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"It was our defence that broke down," Pitino said during the property conference. . "It wasn’t truthful overmuch not being successful the close place. We conscionable got bullied to the basket. They bash that to a batch of teams. That’s wherefore they’re the No. 1-ranked squad successful the country. We couldn’t support the bully drives."

Caleb Foster besides made his instrumentality from a breached foot, scoring 11 points successful the 2nd half, portion Isaiah Evans added 25 points, and Cameron Boozer totaled 22 points and 10 rebounds. 

Duke defender Caleb Foster drives past St. John's defender Dylan Darling during the 2nd fractional of the Sweet 16 circular successful the NCAA assemblage hoops tourney successful Washington connected March 27, 2026. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP)

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Duke is 3-2 against UConn successful the NCAA Tournament but has mislaid the past two, including the 1999 rubric game.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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