Berrick JeanLouis’ 23 points were career high as Iona rolled past Vermont Friday. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)
Friday evening, however, saw a different JeanLouis, one who ignited his team with his offensive exploits.
Needing someone to help carry the load after Quinn Slazinski was sidelined by a sprained ankle in warmups Thursday, JeanLouis stepped in admirably and seamlessly, pouring in a career-best 23 points on an efficient 10-of-12 shooting for the Gaels in a 71-50 rout of Vermont at Mohegan Sun Arena.
“I know I could play defense, so all summer, I was mainly working on my jumper a lot and just being confident in shooting the ball,” JeanLouis said of his improved offense, which included 17 points in the first half as Iona (2-1) led from wire to wire in its first showing since last Friday's narrow loss to Hofstra. “I felt I got worse from last year, so now I’m shooting it like it’s going in every single time.”
“I don’t judge him by the threes,” Pitino said. “What we tried to work on with him with player development is to make the mid-range shot and layups. He was always, if you noticed how many free throws he shot last year, he was always afraid to get fouled, so he was constantly taking shots before the ability to drive. We want him to drive more, because he’s so fast. He’s evolving into a very good basketball player.”
JeanLouis’ evolution added a new wrinkle Friday, as Slazinski’s injury forced the guard into more of a frontcourt position as Iona limited Vermont's transition opportunities and 3-point shooting while Daniss Jenkins chipped in with 20 points alongside JeanLouis to fuel the high-octane Gael attack.
“Berrick is not only our best defensive player, but he tried to take Quinn’s spot tonight, and he did more than a great job,” Pitino gushed. “When I tell you yesterday, in a token warmup drill, Quinn goes down and we have no backup four man. Oz (Shema) is just coming back from his injury, so we’ve got to play Berrick at the four, and all we did was teach him the plays at the four spot the entire time. What we lost with Quinn, we gained with defense.”
“I wouldn’t necessarily say more pressure, but obviously, someone else has to step up,” JeanLouis added. “We knew we had to step our game up and take over what Q brings to the table. We had to make up for that.”
Iona’s intent was to break out the patented Pitino press and wear out an already fatigued Catamounts team playing its third game in six days, and the Gaels did exactly that in scoring the first seven points of the evening and eventually building a 23-8 lead as Jenkins exploded after the first media timeout for a quick seven points to provide another weapon alongside JeanLouis on his career night.
“They just traveled 8,000-plus miles, and our strategy was to just press them, kill the break and try to wear their legs out because they just played a grueling schedule,” Pitino revealed. “We took advantage of their legs tonight. If they didn’t have that type of travel, it would be a much closer game.”
“He just challenges us on both ends of the floor,” Jenkins said of his new coach, who has made his return to the Division I ranks an easy transition. “On offense, he challenges us to push the pace and on defense, (to) get after it. That’s the way I love to play, so it’s great for me. He just challenges me every night, and I like challenges.”
Pitino, who has been effusive in his praise for Jenkins since the native Texan arrived in New Rochelle, doubled down after another tour de force effort from a MAAC Player of the Year contender.
“I’ve coached a lot of great guards,” Pitino began. “I coached Kentucky and I coached Louisville. He could play for both of those teams, that’s how good he is, and he’s a tremendous young man.”
Iona now has a weeklong hiatus before heading to Las Vegas to face Santa Clara and former Pitino acolyte Herb Sendek’s Broncos in what will only be the Gaels’ fourth game of the season. The Hall of Fame coach admitted it was his choice to play a light slate in the first month of the year, knowing that the quality of a non-conference schedule he has modeled after Gonzaga’s highly competitive ledgers will serve his players well in the long run.
“That was by design,” Pitino said of the schedule. “Anton (Brookshire) is new, Daniss is new, Michael Jefferson is new, Cruz (Davis) is new. We wanted to schedule very few games in the month of November to let them learn the system. Tonight, we had three different presses that I haven’t used since Kentucky, so they’re learning that and we need time to pick up all those things.”
“These types of games make you better. Last year, I felt we had a little bit of fool’s gold in certain areas. This year, we’re going to earn every victory, and tonight, we busted our ass to earn this one.”
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