College basketball delivered one other strong showcase matchup on Friday night time when a raucous Madison Square Garden hosted No. 22 St. John’s battle with No. 3 UConn.
Circled on the calendar of faculty hoops followers all season, the Big East slugfest between two preseason top-five groups gave St. John’s a essential 81-72 victory — its most essential win of the season. The Red Storm entered the 2025-26 season with national championship expectations. A sluggish 9-5 begin, together with a stunning Big East loss to Providence, derailed any early discuss of titles.
Advertisement
Things have rotated for Rick Pitino’s crew over the past a number of weeks. With a month left within the common season, St. John’s is hovering nearer to preseason requirements. Nine consecutive wins places the Red Storm in Big East title rivalry whereas vaulting them up the national rankings. Perhaps most significantly, the UConn win is the second Red Storm victory over a seemingly NCAA Tournament at-large crew — quieting some considerations about a mild St. John’s match profile.
Once thought of a severe contender, St. John’s noticed its national title odds dip to close triple digits earlier than its current surge. Is the UConn win a signal of larger issues to return for the Red Storm or merely the height of a curler coaster first three months?
Balance offers St. John’s a constant spine
Last season noticed St. John’s win the Big East on the way in which to a No. 2 seed within the NCAA Tournament. The trio of Big East Player of the Year R.J. Luis Jr., all-conference huge man Zuby Ejiofor and guard Kamary Richmond was one of the crucial acclaimed teams within the sport.
Advertisement
Despite the star energy, the Red Storm had been in the end upset by No. 10 seed Arkansas within the second spherical because of poor perimeter taking pictures and an premature dud from Luis Jr. Finishing with solely 9 factors on 3-for-17 taking pictures, a depressing taking pictures day from Luis Jr. — coupled with season-long 30 p.c crew 3-point taking pictures — sank a once-promising season earlier than the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
Restocking the roster by way of the switch portal, St. John’s couldn’t offset Luis Jr.’s NBA departure with particular person manufacturing with just one participant. Instead, they’ve successfully constructed a roster of efficient portal additions round Ejiofor’s return inside.
Former Big East all-conference choice Bryce Hopkins offers satisfactory secondary scoring and a bodily prowess that wears down opposing entrance traces. Athletic bursts from well-traveled former five-star ahead Dillon Mitchell punctuates the frontcourt trio, with Mitchell’s defensive versatility including to the group’s physicality.
The unconventional backcourt quartet of Ian Jackson, Oziyah Sellers, Joson Sanon and Dylan Darling all present distinctive attributes which might be starting to click on. Sellers and Jackson are starters and double-figure scorers. Sanon’s perimeter taking pictures prowess and Darling’s true point-guard skills present useful minutes off the bench.
Advertisement
Although query marks stay in regards to the lack of a true level guard within the beginning lineup towards elite groups, St. John’s is sharing the ball successfully and counting on the sum of all components. Six completely different gamers have led a recreation in scoring this season and 7 completely different gamers paced the Red Storm in assists for a matchup. Even if a predominant participant is having an off-shooting recreation, there’s loads of choices to step up within the scoring column, one thing St. John’s lacked throughout final season’s upset towards Arkansas.
With a top-25 offense and protection nationally, in accordance with KenPom, the Red Storm boast a strong metric profile coupled with a number of succesful scorers.
Improved perimeter taking pictures makes St. John’s extra harmful
A obvious weak spot for St. John’s final season was the crew’s horrendous 30 p.c mark from 3-point vary. There are nonetheless flaws with the retooled Red Storm roster. Perimeter taking pictures has noticeably come a great distance since final season.
Advertisement
Up to a respectable 35 p.c 3-point taking pictures as a crew on the season, the Red Storm roster options considerably extra perimeter taking pictures choices than the earlier season. After the UConn win, all 4 of Darling, Jackson, Sanon and Sellers are at or above 36 p.c from 3-point vary for the season.
Ejiofor additionally labored on his taking pictures vary this offseason to enhance to a respectable 33 p.c from 3 on his restricted seems — a noticeable enchancment from 22 p.c a season in the past. Hopkins may knock down robust perimeter seems regardless of solely hitting 30 p.c up to now this season.
Nobody is mistaking St. John’s for an elite taking pictures outfit. But an elite defensive crew boasting a number of succesful perimeter shooters is a recipe for a harmful matchup in March.
St. John’s nonetheless has work to do to change into a true contender
One of the most popular groups within the nation, St. John’s nonetheless has work to do to enhance its underwhelming NCAA Tournament profile. Winning 9 video games in a row is a optimistic begin for the Red Storm’s long-term outlook.
Advertisement
But a street win at Villanova and Friday night time’s residence win towards UConn are the one two tournament-quality wins for St. John’s all season. And, because of a down yr within the Big East, St. John’s solely will get two extra assured common season matchups towards tournament-caliber groups earlier than the postseason.
Already hovering close to the 5- or 6-seed line in lots of Bracketology projections, any sudden loss not coming to UConn or Villanova might rapidly derail momentum for St. John’s. In a season the place the highest 10 groups are all loaded with high-end expertise, there’s little room for error for a crew like the Red Storm throughout the remainder of the common season.
If St. John’s is to make a deep run in March, it is going to seemingly come from a seed outdoors of the highest three. Unless important assist comes within the type of a number of top-ten groups freefalling down the standings, the Red Storm lack the standard wins (and alternative for high quality wins) of different groups competing for sturdy seeding.
The excellent news? Rick Pitino groups have a repute for getting stronger throughout the season. The win over UConn doesn’t outline St. John’s as a true title contender after its rocky begin simply but. It was additionally the primary time all season St. John’s finally began dwelling as much as its lofty preseason billing.