NEW YORK – St. John’s University is experiencing a resurgence that has its fans buzzing with excitement. Cheers resonated through Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night as the 12th-ranked Red Storm secured a 70-64 victory over the 11th-ranked Marquette in a crucial Big East clash.
This victory marks an impressive start to what could be a pivotal week for Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino and his team, allowing them to maintain their position at the top of the conference standings while improving their record against ranked teams to 1-1 this season.
The anticipation builds as St. John’s prepares for a highly-anticipated matchup against No. 19 UConn, the two-time defending national champions, later this week.
“It feels great to be where we are, but we know there’s more work ahead,” stated Kadary Richmond, a guard who transferred from Seton Hall and delivered an impressive performance with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists.
Alongside Richmond, leading scorer RJ Luis Jr. contributed significantly with 17 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Red Storm boast a remarkable record of 20-3 and an 11-1 mark in conference play. This triumph represents their 15th victory in the last 16 games, and they’ve now won nine consecutive regular-season Big East games—a feat not achieved since the 1984-85 season when the team advanced to the Final Four under legendary coach Lou Carnesecca.
“We’ve put in a lot of hard work this preseason, and it’s paying off,” Luis remarked. “This season is shaping up well, but we’ve still got plenty to achieve, and the team is eager to accomplish even more.”
Zuby Ejiofor added to the success with a double-double, contributing 13 points and 13 rebounds to help St. John’s maintain a perfect home record at 15-0, in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 16,521, which included notable figures like New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone and former sports stars John Franco and Victor Cruz.
With their current ranking being the highest for St. John’s in 25 years, the team is enjoying its best start since the 1985-86 season. The last time they held an 11-1 record in Big East play was back in 1985 when they started 14-0, a period marked by the thrilling play of Carnesecca’s squad, which featured star Chris Mullin.
“Watching St. John’s regain its competitive edge is really exciting,” expressed Pitino, who is in his second season coaching the team. “Coaching these players has been incredibly enjoyable, and witnessing the energy in The Garden is rewarding. I am truly grateful to the fans for their unwavering support.”
On the opposing side, Marquette faced disappointment with this defeat, marking their second consecutive loss and bringing their record to 18-5 and 9-3 in the conference. The Eagles had previously enjoyed a six-game winning streak but have now struggled, posting a 3-3 record following that run.
“St. John’s played a fantastic game,” stated Marquette coach Shaka Smart. “Much respect goes to Coach Pitino and his team. They displayed tenacity and aggressiveness throughout the majority of the game.”
