Rick Pitino loves his new team. He loves their attitude. He loves their work ethic. He loves their personalities. But Pitino also cautions none of that means much in terms of winning and losing this season.
I don’t know what I have with this group,” Pitino said recently on 93.9. “I just know every coach comes to work with a smile on their face, leaves with a smile on his face and we all say the same thing — Can you believe this group? It’s the likes of nothing I’ve seen before as a coach. The closest thing would be my ’87 Providence team.”
Pitino said fifth-year transfers Trey Lewis and Damion Lee are providing veteran leadership for a young team comprised mostly of sophomore and freshmen talent. Pitino also is signing the praises of freshman guard Donovan Mitchell, as well as Deng Adel, Raymond Spalding and Ryan McMahon.
“Donovan Mitchell is an amazing young man,” Pitino said. “He’s just incredible. And Deng Adel is one of the most polite people you’ll meet.”
Last years team didn’t exactly possess great leadership or team chemistry but nearly reached the Final Four for the third time in four years.
“It’s the best attitude of any team I’ve coached but that doesn’t mean you have a good or great team,” Pitino said. “The enthusiasm and willing to work is incredible. In terms of that I couldn’t be any happier.”
After the first week of practice for the upcoming trip to Puerto Rico, Pitino said Lewis and Lee have been the team’s best performers.
“They’re definite starters,” Pitino said. “I couldn’t give you a definite starter outside those two. I’m playing different combinations every day in practice to see the best defensive unit because they all look very good on offense.”
Pitino also has seen improvement from sophomore frontcourt players Chinanu Onuaku, Anas Mahmoud and Jaylen Johnson.
“He’s getting better,” Pitino said of Onuaku, who recently helped Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Championship. “His biggest issue is playing everything possession hard. When he gets fatigued he shuts down instead of fighting through it. He’s much better than last year but nowhere near where I want him. But he has definitely improved his game.”
Pitino also sang the praise of his freshmen, including forward Raymond Spalding, who will see a lot of playing time on the ‘b’ team in Puerto Rico.
“I can see why Duke went after him very hard at the end,” Pitino said. “He has a lot to learn but when he’s through you’re going to have something really special because he runs great, he blocks shots with both hands, 6’10. He does a lot of great things.”
