NEW YORK — Rick Pitino is making significant strides in his second season as head coach, as St. John’s University is beginning to resemble the powerhouse it was decades ago.
The Red Storm, currently ranked 20th, is off to the best start in 39 years with a record of 17-3 and an 8-1 mark in the Big East, having recently secured sole possession of first place by defeating Xavier 79-71 in an exciting overtime match.
St. John’s last captured a share of the regular-season conference title back in 1992 during the final year of the legendary Lou Carnesecca, who passed away on November 30, just shy of celebrating his 100th birthday. “We’re bringing St. John’s back to where it needs to be,” Pitino expressed, reflecting on the impact that Carnesecca would have felt about the current team’s fighting spirit.
This championship drought, the longest in Big East history, highlights the frustration of the past few decades. While programs like Butler and DePaul have yet to record a title since joining the conference in the 2000s, all other original Big East members formed in the 1979-80 season have at least one regular-season championship to their names. St. John’s, under Carnesecca, won five titles, the last of which came before their lengthy hiatus.
This year’s team, led by standout players RJ Luis Jr., Zuby Ejiofor, and Kadary Richmond, is echoing the success of the 1985-86 season when they started 20-2 and finished with a 31-5 record, earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament during a remarkable four-year span.
The current squad’s 8-1 Big East record marks the first instance since 1999 that St. John’s has achieved such a feat, during a season that ultimately sent them to the Elite Eight. However, the team has struggled over the years since that time and has not won a NCAA tournament game since 2000. A return to March Madness has become a pressing goal after six years without a bid.
“Maintaining our improvement and accumulating wins is crucial for us,” said Pitino, emphasizing the team’s determination. “We cannot afford losses. That’s a non-negotiable for us, and I believe our players exhibit a genuine fear of losing, which is beneficial for our development.”
While they stand at the top of the league for now, there remain significant challenges ahead. St. John’s has not yet faced off against ranked opponents, No. 10 Marquette and No. 19 UConn, and both face-offs are still on the horizon. Additionally, they have yet to notch a victory against any team currently located in the AP Top 25 rankings.
The competitive landscape will only intensify. “Teams are going to give us their best effort,” noted Ejiofor. However, it is worth celebrating that the Red Storm has returned to the national rankings with their highest placement in ten years, following a brief stint at No. 22 in November. Their ability to stage impressive comebacks has shone through, utilizing fierce man-to-man defense alongside relentless rebounding, especially on the offensive end.
The Red Storm’s losses this season have been exceptionally narrow, narrowly falling in its three defeats by a total of just five points — one due to a last-second 3-pointer, all against storied Power Five programs. Although senior point guard Deivon Smith has been sidelined for two of the last three games due to a shoulder injury, St. John’s is on a six-game winning streak and has claimed 12 victories out of their last 13 outings, boasting an unblemished 13-0 record at home.
“Their relentless pressure was really effective against us tonight,” remarked Xavier coach Sean Miller after his team relinquished a 16-point lead in the latter half of the game. “They have a clever way of wearing you down.” He added, “No lead is ever a guarantee against them; their defense is top-notch.”
At 72, Pitino is familiar with this winning formula, having led teams to national championships with Kentucky in 1996 and Louisville in 2013, alongside guiding Providence to the Final Four in 1987. During the various stages of his coaching career, he has watched programs flourish dramatically under his leadership, such as Boston University, Providence, Kentucky, Louisville, and Iona.
In his inaugural season at St. John’s, the team finished with a 20-13 record but was unfortunately overlooked by the NCAA selection committee despite a strong finish. Now, as he embarks on his second year, Pitino strives to cement his legacy by aiming to take six different schools to the NCAA tournament.
“We’re riding a great wave of success now, and winning paves the way for that,” Pitino stated confidently. “This is New York. Success is paramount.”
