WVU's Slazinski shares Rick Pitino story in midst of controversy: "He said he will chop me up in seven pieces."

The relationship between a player and their coach can be a special one, almost familial at times. But just like any family, there can be moments of tough love.

This week, St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino is in the spotlight. The first-year head coach and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall-of-Famer lambasted his team and voiced his extreme dissatisfaction this season.

“This is the most unenjoyable experience of my lifetime,” Pitino said. “This has been so disappointing.”

Pitino also spoke on he and his staff’s attempts at re-building the roster after his takeover at St. John’s, and how he felt it set the program back.

“We kind of lost this season with the way we recruited,” he added. “We recruited the antithesis of the way I coach. It’s a good group, they try hard, but they’re just not very tough.”

Pitino’s comments have been met with mixed reactions, generating much controversy and criticism from those who felt he was out of line making such public comments.

WVU forward Quinn Slazinski played for Pitino at Iona, which was the last stop for both before landing in their current spots. Slazinski was asked about Pitino’s comments following Saturday night’s win against UCF, and while at first hesitant, he did not hold back.

“It’s so funny…that’s one of the nicest I’ve ever seen [from] him, quite frankly,” Slazinski said.

He added that he was “not at all” surprised by Pitino’s recent round of headline-grabbing quotes. He does, however, believe that some may misinterpret the true meaning behind Pitino’s abrasive attitude. For Slazinski, he felt like Pitino ultimately had good intentions.

"I’ve heard him tell me, like, some of the craziest things that I’ve ever heard come out of someone’s mouth."

- Quinn Slazinski

“One thing about him is he knows who he is, and you can’t bat a guy down for that. The guy hates losing,” Slazinski said.

“I’ve heard him tell me, like, some of the craziest things that I’ve ever heard come out of someone’s mouth," he said. “And you have to understand why he’s doing it.”

When probed by reporters for a further question, Slazinski discusses a specific interaction he had with Pitino during a casual practice.

"Out of love, he said he will chop me up in seven pieces and send me back to Detroit or Houston or wherever the bleep I’m from.”
"

- Quinn Slazinski

“I don’t know if I’m allowed to say this -- it was kind of out of love, I didn’t box out, and this was in practice, and he goes, he looks at me, I don’t know if I can say this. Out of love, he said he will chop me up in seven pieces and send me back to Detroit or Houston or wherever the bleep I’m from.”