St. John's Loses NCAA Tournament Game, Pitino Defends Luis Benching

In a surprising turn during St. John's NCAA tournament loss to Arkansas, head coach Rick Pitino benched star guard RJ Luis Jr. for the final five minutes of the game, despite Luis being the team's leading scorer and the Big East Player of the Year. Luis, who had a disappointing performance shooting just 3-for-17, expressed regret, stating he felt he let his teammates down. Pitino defended his decision, emphasizing that he wanted to give other players a chance and noted the team's overall poor shooting and lack of assists contributed to the loss. Critics on social media questioned the decision, with some analysts calling it a 'wild move,' while others supported Pitino's choice given Luis's off-night. The decision to leave Luis on the bench during a crucial stretch has led to speculation about the future of both player and coach. This loss marked the end of St. John's season, raising questions about the team's strategy and performance.