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Pitino, Beard Face Year 3 Slumps
6 Dec
Summary
- St. John's and Ole Miss are both struggling in their third seasons.
- Coaches Pitino and Beard express frustration with team performance.
- Both teams have shown defensive deficiencies and inconsistent effort.
Coaches Rick Pitino and Chris Beard are experiencing significant challenges in their third seasons with St. John's and Ole Miss, respectively. St. John's, ranked 23rd, recently blew an 11-point second-half lead against Auburn, contributing to a 1-2 record in Las Vegas. The team has struggled defensively, conceding at least 80 points to power-conference opponents.
Pitino expressed concern over the team's lack of defensive focus, stating, "This is a very average defensive team." Similarly, Ole Miss, after winning their first five games, has lost three straight, including a recent defeat to Miami. Coach Beard criticized his team's effort, admitting, "We're obviously not a well-coached team right now, period."
Both teams are grappling with inconsistent play and defensive lapses. St. John's struggles have led Pitino to question the team's commitment to defense, a hallmark of his successful coaching history. Beard is actively seeking solutions for Ole Miss, emphasizing the need for improved player effort and accountability as they prepare to face each other.
