RJ Luis

“So here are two stars, very underpaid. I’m sure they’ll be at [general manager] Matt [Abdelmassih’s] window as soon as the season ends, but they’re not going anywhere.”

That was Pitino two weeks ago talking about RJ and Zuby. You don’t think Pitino had a clear idea at that point of what $$ either one of them would command in the portal and what it would take to keep them? Of course he did! And yet he was definitive that they were both staying here.

So what changed, then, since that comment was made two weeks ago?

Hmmmmmm….
 
carmineabbatiello said:
RJ was not given the opportunity to return to St. Johns. Sadly, that and the chance to lead us to the sweet 16 were snatched away with 4:56 remaining in Rhode Island. I wish I knew what really happened. When Rick said; 'You already know why Roger. Don't ask leading questions'". He should have replied; "No, I don't know why Rick. Why don't you tell us?"

He was a joy to watch. Thank you for all you've done for us RJ!
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What source do you have that he was not given the opportunity to return?
 
lawmanfan said:
I'm just going to point out that there are 16 teams that don't have RJ that made it farther than we did. Most of them don't have as good a coach as we do. And our resources are competitive.

As others noted Pitino did not expect RJ back and is perfectly capable of assembling a winning team without him.

I would rather have him back since I like continuity, enjoy watching players grow and would love to see RJ add more tools to his toolkit. But if he chooses to depart we will be just fine and may even be a better team and more enjoyable watch.

Let it play out.
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This right here.
 
Reminder to all the snowflakes on the board who continue to mope around and are embarrassingly filled with self pity.

Put your big boy pants on.

To paraphrase Job (at least I hope it was Job), the portal giveth and the portal taketh away. The staff has a dozen contingency plans set. Losing RJ, either by the NBA or another school always hovered.

Sure we all want RJ back. Foolish not to. But I think the team will be better next year. This is not a case where we lose a great player and then doomsday. The program is now in a place where they will replace one great player with another of equal or greater talent.

Pitino, (who thankfully has a massive ego), wants to win so badly here to give one last, big middle finger to all those who said his career was done while exiled in Greece.

Now, go resume pee standing up.
 
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JohnnyFan said:
No guarantee RJ will make the NBA, so why not seize the moment. I would love to see him return but, if he were my kid, I would say something like......"for the rest of your life, you may never have this kind of earning leverage. Use it and don't look back".

We don't like it, but it makes sense for the players.
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Valid thought process, but as a parent I would also ask them to consider the non-monetary benefits from having someone like CRP mentoring you. Especially in developing life skills and how you approach life.
 
Notanalum said:
His family sat baseline on the SJU side during the tournament. They are so appreciative of what his 2 years here did for him. They’ll be plenty of shitty posts from no name Twitter accounts calling him a sellout for leaving but everyone would make the same decision.

He gave us the best year from a player since the 80’s. He’s a SJU legend and I hope we treat him as one
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No, he isn't a SJU legend
 
mkras99 said:
Don’t think the benching has anything to do with it. Also think we will replace him and be just fine. Maybe even better. Yes, I’m crazy.
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I agree. Pitino knew exactly who we were playing. A very athletic and aggressively long defensive team. The likes we haven’t played in the Big East. I’m certain he drilled into their heads. Some listened and some didn’t. Make your references to what I said but Pitino’s moves were justified in my opinion.
 
The RJ thing is very difficult but I think(sorry if Im mistaken) that I posted right after the season that Sam and ROC were going to have RJ test the NBA and bid himself out to other school no matter how the season ended,. Like ALL players they have been gauging his price all season ..it's literally what they are paid to do. I know he/they haven't closed the door on a return but I have NO idea where SJ falls financially with him especially as they continue to spend building a roster. This is the world we are in. I won't get into speculation as to what happened v Ark and his relationship with Rick( partially bc I really don't know) but Id hope everyone would wish a GREAT kid success and from the names im hearing SJ will have a really good roster next season.
 
Love RJ…based on some of comments from SJU79, NBA was going to be #1 priority which could obviously create unwanted pressure to deliver

He was always intending to test the waters and come back to college if draft projection was not at the level needed. . .entering portal is logical way to cover bases and maximize $ potential. IMO If RP feels the price is right, we’ll try to lure him back. . .if not, it’ll be a sincere best wishes. . .with the level of talent that RP will be bringing in, need to make the most of NIL and cant have 1 player so far above the rest especially if the talent difference is not that great

Hate to see him go and hope that the underlying reasons are not related to some behind the scenes drama
 
Beasts of the East said:
There is a lot of speculation about what this means, and a lot with good reason.

To me, the reality of free agency in pro sports is that before a player is eligible for free agency and is still bound to his team, his earnings are limited. Once subject to competitive market conditions, earnings can rise dramatically and often do. Declaring for the portal makes Luis a free agent, and raises his earnings potential. Good for him.

The harsh reality is that unless RJ makes the NBA, which is not a given, his 2025-26 NIL earnings likely will be the highest compensation he will earn. Going into the portal assures that he will maximize his earnings.

Throw in the drama of his bad game vs Arkansas compounded by the embarrassment of his benching, and speculation as to where this goes and why is all reasonable.

Bottom line: Repole has chirped that there are no limits to what he will do to produce the best team possible. If some school and NIL collective or donor backs up the brink truck, Rick has a backer who can match it if Rick thinks RJ is worth it.

The X factor is how much RJ wants to come back. The Y variable is how much Rick wants RJ back and at what price.

At the very top of the basketball pyramid are players who can take over games seemingly regardless of conditions. Jordan, Bird, Magic, Lebron, even Curry and others occupy that space. Rarely did those guys try to do more than they were capable of. RJ did just that in his biggest moment, try to do more than he was capable of, and ended up with a black eye.

However you read it, his benching, right or wrong, and his off game vs Arkansas is a subtext here. If RJ scored 25 in the loss and played well, it's a different story. But he didn't and the stark reality is he disabled his social media account after being showered with hate.

Ralph Branca threw a pitch to Bobby Thompson before I was born, but was still booed loudly at Old timers games 20 years later.

Oh, the realities of 2025 high level athletics.

Here are more skills Rick needs in his HOF wheelhouse - deciding what price Luis is worth, if he wants him back, and if so, making Luis feel wanted.

This is so delicate I can't even ask the questions I want to ask from the people I know who have a better handle on it.

I want RJ back. It's a loyalty thing, and a need for redemption thing. I want him to come back, prove just how good he is, and leave here on top, whatever that means.

God, I hate this stuff. What happened to rah rah cis boom bah?
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Beast and Carmine’s comments are ones I support 100 percent .

Pitino decided to lose the game at 4:56 remaining in a 2 point game .

The team he put on the floor at that time , Zuby , Scott , Smith , Lefty and Prey gave us no chance to win .
And , that is totally on him .

No matter how poorly RJ played up to then . In the last 5 minutes , he and Zuby might have mounted a run to win the game late .
As we had done in so many other close games all year .
 
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