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Johnnies Drop Out of the Top-25

BQE Admin on December 25, 2025

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

The St. John’s Red Storm are ranked no more, and it was a long time coming. After a brutal defeat to Kentucky over the weekend, the Johnnies finally lost their spot in the national rankings, one they’ve held since January. After ranked losses to Alabama, Iowa State, and Auburn, it was the 78-66 loss to unranked Kentucky that ended the St. John’s stint in the Top-25. 

The second half was nothing short of a disaster in the CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta, GA. After holding Kentucky to 25 first half points, St. John’s was outscored 53-34 in the second frame, scoring nearly half of those points from the free throw line.

Head Coach Rick Pitino and his captains have committed to growth more than a few times this season, and now their words are starting to feel a little familiar and repetitive with that promised growth still to be seen.

‘I’m disappointed in any loss, but it’s not my job to be disappointed. My job is to make the team better,” said Pitino after the defeat. “We can be a good team, and we can get better and better and better.”

There isn’t much time left for St. John’s to get better, and following Tuesday’s matchup against Harvard, all that’s left in the Johnnies schedule is their BIG EAST slate. Their final 19 games include two against the #4 UConn Huskies, as well as matchups with a much improved Seton Hall squad. 

Additionally, Creighton, Butler, Georgetown, Xavier, Villanova, and DePaul have all started the season with 8 or more wins, a sign that the BIG EAST will be a fiery contest this season and in the conference tournament next year.

Senior big man Zuby Ejiofor is well aware of the challenge and time constraint as he looks to lead his team to a conference title defense and a return to the NCAA Tournament, but acknowledged that they can’t let their focus drift far from the next game on the schedule.

“It’s important to take one game at a time and take things one day at a time,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of opportunities, so we’ve got to stay focused and keep working.”

This season is far from over for St. John’s, but if they don’t see improved performances and consistency, it’s hard to envision Pitino’s group reaching the same heights as last year’s team.

Johnnies Beat Iona at The Garden

BQE Admin on December 19, 2025

Pitino Downs Former School, Zuby Block Party Continues, & Jackson Gets Start

Zuby Ejiofor leaps for the opening tip against Ole Miss just a week before the Iona matchup. The Red Storm big man recorded 8 blocks in each of the two games.

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

Rick Pitino vanquished his former team on Saturday afternoon as the St. John’s Red Storm took down the Iona Gaels at Madison Square Garden, 91-64. Pitino spent three seasons in New Rochelle, leading the Gaels to two MAAC regular season titles, two conference championships, and two trips to the NCAA Tournament. The win over Iona marked Pitino’s 20th over teams he had previously coached.

“Iona is such a special place because every coach that coaches there wins. Kevil Willard started there, I certainly was rejuvenated there,” Pitino said about his former school.

Even after another slow start (this time missing 12 of their first 13 field goal attempts, St. John’s were able to outscore the Gaels 36-26 in the opening half before pulling away in the second frame.

Scoring for St. John’s was led by Oziyah Sellers with 19, though 16 of them came in the 2nd half. His strong performance led him to a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.

Ian Jackson got the nod at guard over Dylan Darling for the Red Storm. It was the Sophomore transfer’s first start since the opening game of the season against Quinnipiac, and he put up a solid 14 points with 5 rebounds and a joint-team-high 3 assists. Jackson made a change of his own, chopping off his iconic hair, leading to some amusing comments by his teammates and coach.

Zuby Ejiofor was the only SJU starter to record less than 13 points, but the Red Storm big man continued his tremendous work on the defensive end with 8 blocks for a 2nd straight game. Ejiofor also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds in the winning effort. Led by Ejiofor, the Red Storm defense is finally starting to come around as a strong point.

“We realized we weren’t a very good defensive team. Last year’s team around Christmas time wasn’t a very good defensive team either and they became one of the great defensive teams in the nation,” Pitino said about their improved effort on that end of the floor. “I think we can get to that point, we just need to keep our turnovers down because you beat yourself when you turn the ball over.”

Defense isn’t the only spot where the Red Storm needs to improve. Their inability to start games hot and inconsistent shooting will be a difficult spot as the season enters conference play and eventually the BIG EAST Tournament and beyond. If they’re unable to find consistency on that end of the floor, there’s only so much the defense can do to see out big wins down the stretch.

Following Tuesday’s contest against De Paul the Red Storm is on the road to take on the Kentucky Wildcats in the CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta. Tip off will be Saturday December 20 at 12:30pm. St. John’s comes back to Carnesecca Arena for their final game in Queens on Tuesday the 23 against Harvard.

Back and Forth November Continues for Johnnies

BQE Admin on November 26, 2025

SJU Blows out Bucknell but falls to #18 Iowa St. in Las Vegas

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

The St. John’s Red Storm were 48-point winners in Queens last Thursday, dominating the Bucknell Bison. It was an impressive showing on both sides for the Johnnies, who looked to build momentum ahead of their second ranked matchup of the season. Unfortunately, just as they did against the Alabama Crimson Tide, St. John’s fell just short against top-20 opposition, losing to the Iowa State Cyclones in a narrow contest.

The Bucknell battle was never particularly close despite the Bison opening with a 8-2 lead. Head coach Rick Pitino pulled all his starters to have a conversation with them as the bench unit recaptured the lead and positioned the squad for their runaway performance.

In the second half, the Johnnies came out with a vengeance. Pitino’s halftime words clearly sparked a fervent defense that was all over Bucknell in the final 20 minutes. Offensively the Red Storm went to work, finishing just 3 points shy of the triple-digit mark.

Ian Jackson and Bryce Hopkins both recorded their best games for the Red Storm with 20 points apiece. Jackson also broke his turnover curse, something Pitino had remarked on a few times earlier this season.

The second ranked battle of the season came down to the wire in Las Vegas as the Red Storm and Iowa State Cyclones went after each other in a wild, physical battle. With both teams holding a lead in the final minutes, it was a tight 83-82 win for the Cyclones.

Pitino kept the final Red Storm timeout in his pocket for the final few St. John’s possessions, none of which were particularly threatening. Down 83-80, a frantic final 29 seconds led to a rushed three-point attempt by Zuby Ejiofor, and the rebound was put back for an ultimately inconsequential layup as time expired.

“We played a terrific basketball team, and with the game on the line, we couldn’t come up with the rebound,” said Pitino postgame. “You’ve got to create rebounding space and we were not doing that.”

The Cyclones narrowly out-rebounded the Red Storm 38-36, with the edge coming on the offensive glass, 17-15. The Johnnies also missed 7 free throws, another struggle that will hurt them down the line if trends continue.

The Red Storm were in action on Tuesday afternoon against Baylor, and the results from the first two games dictated the rest of their week in Las Vegas. The Johnnies will return to New York with Madison Square Garden matchups against the Ole Miss Rebels on December 6 at 8pm and the Iona Gaels (Pitino’s former team) on December 13 at noon.

Johnnies Fall to Alabama in First Ranked Matchup of the Year

BQE Admin on November 13, 2025

St. John’s drops to #13 in AP poll

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

The St. John’s Red Storm fell in a wild battle at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. In an early matchup against nationally ranked opposition, the Crimson Tide became just the second team to score 100+ points against Rick Pitino’s St. John’s team (Creighton defeated the Red Storm 104-76 in January of 2023).

Pitino commented many times on Alabama’s pace of play going into last weekend’s game and he was right to treat their offense with such high regard. Alabama native Labaron Philon Jr. was unstoppable off the dribble as he led the visitors with 25 points. Also piling on the points from the Crimson Tide backcourt was Aden Holloway with 21. Alabama were able to register an impressive 81 field goal attempts, hitting just under half of them.

It was a decision by Pitino and the program to face teams as talented as Alabama early in the season, also set to face tough SEC teams like Kentucky and Ole Miss this season after falling to Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament last season.

“We learned a lot tonight,” said Pitino postgame. “Disappointed we lost but we certainly learned a lot and we’ll get better from it. As a head coach I need to find out where our deficiencies lie and I found out tonight.”

“I’d like to thank Coach Pitino for the opportunity,” said Alabama Head Coach Nate Oats. “He doesn’t have to play a tough schedule so I’m thankful for all of us to come [to MSG] to play the game. Whether we won or lost it would have been a good experience for us.”

St. John’s showed why they were ranked so highly entering the season. Zuby Ejiofor was back to his dominant self in the first half, scoring 21 of his 27 points in the opening frame. He and Bryce Hopkins set the tone early, combining to score all 16 of the Red Storm points in the first 8 minutes. Alabama did well to contain the rest of the Johnnies offense, picking their poison and limiting the damage from deep.

The Crimson Tide led by 9 at the half after a late scoring burst. In the second half, some clutch scoring by Ian Jackson, Oziyah Sellers, and Ruben Pray helped cut into the deficit, eventually putting the Red Storm back on top late. Jackson scored 7 points early in the 2nd to lead an incredible run, finishing with 14 off the bench.

The Red Storm were without transfer guard Dylan Darling, but Pitino said that he wouldn’t have made much of an impact as he was an offense-first guard and referencing the dominance by Philon Jr. and Holloway. The junior missed practice and the game with a calf strain, though Pitino suggested that he should be back in action for Saturday’s game against William & Mary.

St. John’s Breaks Ground on New Basketball Training Facility

BQE Admin on October 27, 2025

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

Shovels struck dirt on the St. John’s University campus over the weekend as construction began on the school’s new basketball training and student athletics building. As part of a two-phase construction and redevelopment plan, St. John’s is upgrading their basketball facilities, determined to keep the program one of the best in the nation.

“This is the crowning piece of building up men’s and women’s basketball at St. John’s” said Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. in his remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony. “This is not just about basketball; this is about the success of our University and it’s an important and pivotal moment for us.”

Fr. Shanley spoke to a crowd at St. John’s University just ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony.

The facility will feature multiple practice courts, new dedicated strength and conditioning areas, team lounges, and video review rooms. It will also boost athlete recovery with the help of hydro therapy pools and other amenities.

The push to improve campus recreation spaces at St. John’s also includes renovations to the 20-year-old Taffner Field House, adjacent to Carnesecca Arena. The much-needed upgrades will serve the greater student body and show that the University’s commitment goes beyond their prized Division I athletes.

“We expect to have a facility with all the best of what we need to support the men’s and women’s basketball teams,” remarked Chief Operating Officer Joseph E. Oliva. “As soon as that is done we will start the renovation of Taffner Field House as a recreational space for our students – to ensure that we can serve them also with a state of the art facility.”

The project is made possible largely by donations and fundraising, including a record-breaking gift from Board of Trustees Chair William J. Janetschek. The longtime University benefactor committed $32.5 million to the project, the most by a single donor in the 155-year history of St. John’s. Of that donation, approximately $25 million will go to construction of the facility, with the rest going towards student scholarships.

“I believe in the power of sports to shape young minds and build strong communities,” said Janetschek about the project. “This facility will elevate the St. John’s basketball program and inspire students to pursue and achieve their dreams with passion and dedication.”

SJU Men’s Basketball Coach Rick Pitino grabbed a shovel to help break ground on the new facility!

Joining Fr. Shanley, Oliva, and Janetschek for the groundbreaking ceremony were Hall of Fame Basketball Coach Rick Pitino, Women’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella, Athletic Director Edward Kull, Chaplain Rev. Richard Rock, and James P. Riley Jr.

A look at the rendering of the new training facility. Construction is estimated to end in 2027 with Taffner Field House getting renovations soon after!

Construction is estimated to be completed by Spring 2027, with the renovated Taffner Field House opening the following year. Construction for the 50,000-sf project will be led by Axis Construction Corporation, with global architecture planning firm Gensler designing the training facility.

St. John’s Opens With Best Ever NCAA Ranking

BQE Admin on October 16, 2025

Johnnies head into preseason at #5

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@QueensLedger.com

On Monday, the St. John’s Red Storm Men’s Basketball team received a #5 ranking in the AP preseason poll. It’s the program’s highest ever ranking before the college season tips off, following their appearance as a #2 seed in the 2025 NCAA basketball tournament. 

The previous record for the program was set ahead of their legendary 1984-85 season where Lou Carnesecca’s Redmen marched their way to the Final Four. Now the Red Storm will look to improve on last season’s dominance which saw them win their first outright BIG EAST title since that very same 1984-85 campaign.

The Red Storm aren’t the only BIG EAST squad lauded in the AP’s Top-25 rankings. Just ahead of St. John’s are the rival UConn Huskies, who fell short in their quest to “three-peat” as national champions in March. Like the Red Storm, UConn’s March Madness run came to an end in the second round, falling to #1 seeded Florida. 

While they fell in both regular season matchups against St. John’s, dropped the conference tournament semifinal to Creighton, and finished third in the conference last year, UConn will enter the 2025-26 season as the highest ranked team in the BIG EAST.

The Creighton Bluejays also made the cut for the Top-25, coming in at #23. The Bluejays accounted for one of the two conference losses faced by Pitino’s Red Storm last season. They also put up a brave fight in the BIG EAST Tournament final before St. John’s pulled away late for a 82-66 win. Like UConn, Creighton’s NCAA Tournament was cut short by a #1 seed in the second round, falling to Auburn 82-70.

Despite a large contingent of Red Storm stars departing for the pros, the top transfer class in the nation has arrived in Queens. Reigning BIG EAST Coach of the Year Rick Pitino has built a formidable squad despite only four returning players in Seniors Zuby Ejiofor and Sadiku Ibine Ayo and Sophomores Ruben Pray and Lefteris Liotopoulous.

Ejiofor’s return will be vital for Pitino’s team this year, as the 2024-25 BIG EAST Most Improved Player was a major contributor on both sides of the floor. In his second year in Queens, Ejiofor brought his averages up to 14.7 points per game alongside 8 rebounds and over 2 combined steals and blocks per game. Zuby also saw his field goal percentage jump from 49% in 2023-24 to 58% to help power the Red Storm to glory.

Ejiofor was part of a trio of stars that shared countless Player of the Game, Week, and Month awards. His former teammates RJ Luis Jr. and Kadary Richmond are looking to cement roster spots with the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards during NBA preseason camp, but Zuby will be eyeing another dominant college season to increase his draft stock.

A star-studded 7-player transfer class will be looking forward to their Red Storm debuts. Among them are former McDonald’s All-American and Top-10 High School prospects Ian Jackson and Dillon Mitchell, 2022-23 BIG EAST First Team honoree Bryce Hopkins, and shooting threats Oziyah Sellers and Joson Sanon. Also joining SJU via the transfer portal are reigning Big Sky Player of the Year Dylan Darling and Appalachian Athletic Conference (NAIA) Player of the Year Handje Tamba.

The Red Storm preseason slate tips off this weekend when St. John’s hosts Towson at Carnesecca Arena on Saturday afternoon. They’ll play another exhibition game against #7 Michigan on Saturday, October 25.

The Red Storm will host 12 games at Madison Square Garden this season, the most they’ve had since 1951-52. The first of these games is scheduled for November 8 against the #15 Alabama Crimson Tide. It’ll be the second game of the year for St. John’s, following their season opener against Quinnipiac at Carnesecca Arena on November 3.

Red Storm win First BIG EAST Tournament Since 2000!

BQE Admin on March 18, 2025

#2 Johnnies Head to Providence for 1st Round Matchup with #15 Omaha

By Noah Zimmerman

The St. John’s Red Storm are BIG EAST Tournament champions for the first time in 25 years. A 82-66 win over Creighton punctuated a stellar campaign, following up a regular season championship with a tournament title and sending the program to their 31st NCAA Tournament appearance as a #2 seed, just like in 2000.

The Red Storm weren’t tested by the Butler Bulldogs in their opener at Madison Square Garden as they won comfortably in the quarterfinals 78-57. In the semifinals it was a much tougher battle against nationally-ranked Marquette, hungry to best the Johnnies after two tight regular season losses.

Kai Jones was electric at the Garden as he looked to avenge his Senior Day defeat to St. John’s. The guard put up a strong 24 point, 7 rebound effort in the BIG EAST Semifinals, leading the Golden Eagles.

For the Red Storm it was Zuby Ejiofor dominating on New York’s hardwood. The junior put up a career best 33 points as St. John’s outscored Marquette 44-26 in the second half to complete a season sweep.

With the back-to-back champion UConn Huskies falling 71-62 to Creighton, the Red Storm would face the Bluejays in the BIG EAST final, the team that played them the best all season long.

St. John’s dug themselves into a typical early hole, but they quickly erased a 10-2 deficit as the game entered halftime 28-25 in favor of Creighton. In the second frame RJ Luis Jr. hit the jets as he finished off a 29-point, 10-rebound double-double.

After the Johnnies had opened a 70-55 lead with five minutes left, there was no path back into the game for Creighton, who finished a remarkable season with a 15-5 conference record and NCAA Tournament berth of their own.

On Selection Sunday, St. John’s were drawn into the West Region as the tournament’s best #2 seed, ranked 5th on both the AP Top-25 and Coaches Poll on Monday afternoon. They open the tournament on Thursday night in Providence, RI as they take on the #15 Omaha Mavericks.

The winner will take on either #7 Kansas or #10 Arkansas, meaning there may be another clash between Hall of Fame coaches after Bill Self’s Jayhawks and John Calipari’s Razorbacks face off in the first round.

For head coach Rick Pitino it’s a chance at a third national championship after he led Kentucky and Louisville to glory in 1996 and 2013 respectively. It’s a 20th appearance in the tournament for Pitino, who was named BIG EAST Coach of the Year last week. He also made history as the first BIG EAST coach to win the conference tournament at two schools, winning three times at Louisville.

RJ Luis Jr. continued to rake in national accolades as well, as the Red Storm star was named to the Associated Press 2nd Team All-America on Tuesday afternoon. The BIG EAST Player of the Year will have more to prove as his stage keeps getting bigger and bigger.

Three other BIG EAST teams qualified for the NCAAT, including UConn who were also drawn into the West as the #8 seed as they hunt a third straight title. They take on #9 Oklahoma in round 1 and have a chance to meet the Red Storm in the Elite 8 in San Francisco should both teams advance.

Creighton enter as the South’s #9 seed and Marquette the #7. They could also meet in the Elite 8. Xavier’s BIG EAST Tournament loss to Marquette put them on the verge of missing the NCAAT, but they will take on Texas in a First Four matchup to decide the #11 seed in the Midwest.

JJ: “An All Time New York Coaching Job. Now, The Fun Begins”

BQE Admin on March 18, 2025

By John Jastremski

Let’s be real about something right out of the gate.
There haven’t been a whole lot of great coaching performances by the coaches of our teams over the past decade plus.
Yeah I can give you Tom Coughlin in 2011 leading the Giants to a Super Bowl or Tom Thibodeau resurrecting a dead Knicks franchise, but the examples aren’t littered with great examples in this town since 2010.
I’ve been doing content in this city since 2011 and I’ve lived here my entire life, so that should give this next statement even more perspective.
Rick Pitino’s job with St John’s is one of the best coaching jobs I have seen in my lifetime in New York Sports.
No exaggeration, no hyperbole.
Rick Pitino has brought a program that has been super irrelevant on the national stage for two decades to a place it has not been in a long, long time.
Last week was a party for everyone associated with the St Johns Red Storm basketball program.
After winning their first Big East regular season crown since the days of Lou Carnesecca, the Johnnies completed their first Big East Tournament crown since 2000.
Madison Square Garden was a sea of red for the Johnnie’s dominant second half against the Creighton Blue Jays.
The Red Storm fell behind in both the semi final on Friday night and Saturday’s Championship game, but the common theme in both games was the relentless, top notch defense that overwhelmed their opponents on the Garden Floor.
In a year in which the basketball community mourned the loss of the great Lou Carnesecca, Pitino honored his legacy in the best way imaginable.
He won and he won big.
A sense of accomplishment, pride and good feelings are all over the Red Storm program at the moment.
However, the work is not done.
The NCAA Tournament begins this Thursday and St Johns has a chance to make some more history.
The program has not won an NCAA Tournament game in 25 years.
They are a 2 seed taking on Omaha. The streak of futility must end.
Newsflash, it will. Barring disaster.
Regardless of what happens, the next few weeks, this season will go down as an all timer for the St John’s program.
It’s already the year that brought the program back to life.
There are more memories to make, can Rick Pitino work his magic in the NCAA Tournament like he has done so many times throughout his illustrious coaching career?
We are about to find out…
You can listen to my podcast New York, New York on The Ringer Podcast Network every Sunday & Thursday on Spotify/Apple Podcasts. You can watch me nightly on Honda Sports Nite at 11 PM on SNY. 

Red Storm Rises to Top 10!

BQE Admin on February 11, 2025

St. John’s Remains Perfect in 2025 with Wins vs Providence, #11 Marquette, #19 UConn

By Noah Zimmerman

RJ Luis Jr. carries the ball down the court against UConn. The junior guard led all scorers with 21 as he was named Naismith National Player of the Week.
(Photo courtesy of St. John’s Athletics)

Rick Pitino’s Red Storm have a habit of putting themselves in tough situations, but every time their backs are up against the wall they’ve clawed their way back on top. In their first three matchups in February, St. John’s showed off their toughness and grit as they fought their way to the top of the BIG EAST and finally into the nation’s Top-10.

On Monday St. John’s were ranked #9 in the AP Top-25, also coming in at #8 on the national Coaches Poll. They entered Wednesday’s contest at Villanova with a 10-game conference winning streak, the program’s best since 1984-85 when the legendary Lou Carneseca led the Redmen to the Final Four.

St. John’s dispatched each foe in January before opening this month with their second win of the year against Providence. It was Kadary Richmond who put the finishing touches on a tight battle with the Friars, as he cut to the free throw line where he pulled up for the game-winning jumper as St. John’s got the win at Madison Square Garden, 68-66. The senior guard had a season-high 24 points, also pulling down 8 rebounds in the effort.

Debuting their brand new #12 ranking, St. John’s welcomed #11 Marquette to MSG. As the rankings suggested, the two sides were incredibly well-matched as a gruelling back-and-forth battle unfolded at the Garden. Neither team was able to build a significant lead.

What finally helped St. John’s seize control was their defensive effort, a point of pride for Pitino’s squad. Even with their shooting struggles, the Johnnies were able to match the Golden Eagles’ offensive output. Phenomenal rebounding helped St. John’s to a significant edge on field goal attempts, as they pulled down 50 boards to Marquette’s 28, with almost half of their rebounds coming off the offensive glass. 

St. John’s went 3/16 from three point range, one of their worst perimeter shooting nights all year. They shot 17/31 from the free throw line, a consistent issue all season long.

Just six minutes into their game last Friday, the Johnnies found themselves in their most precarious position yet; down 21-8 on the road against the back-to-back defending national champions. The #19 Huskies bared their fangs on defense, refusing to allow St. John’s to their most efficient spots near the paint, and the three point shots refused to fall for the Red Storm.

The Huskies showed why they were such a feared squad, even after so many of their stars were scooped up in the NBA draft. Just a number of months after turning down the Los Angeles Lakers, Dan Hurley returned to seek a third consecutive national championship with Connecticut.

Still, Hurley’s Huskies were far from unbeatable. The Johnnies got more physical on defense and began to push quickly in transition as they were able to snatch back a 37-35 lead going into halftime. The Red Storm forced a remarkable number of turnovers against a well-coached squad.

UConn played St. John’s at their own game, with brutal interior defense and consistent rebounding on both sides of the floor. Again St. John’s hit a wall with their shooting. 4/21 from deep and 12/16 from the charity stripe put the Johnnies in a tough spot, but strong work by RJ Luis Jr. helped St. John’s stay in control.

In the final minutes St. John’s were finally able to build their largest lead of the game, with some clutch steals and transition buckets finally putting them ahead. Kadary Richmond showed off his handles with a gorgeous reverse layup and Luis Jr. used a great screen by Zuby Ejiofor for a catch-and-shoot midrange bucket as the game was finally put to bed.

With 21 points, Luis led all scorers in the primetime showdown. He was named Naismith National Player of the Week, the first Johnnie to win the award since Joel Soriano in 2023.

The 68-62 win cemented St. John’s in first as they snapped UConn’s remarkable 9-game winning streak over ranked opponents. After taking the floor against Villanova this week the #9 Red Storm return to MSG to host Creighton, looking to avenge their only conference loss. After visiting DePaul they will host UConn at MSG on Sunday, February 23.

RJ Luis Jr. carries the ball down the court against UConn. The junior guard led all scorers with 21 as he was named Naismith National Player of the Week.
(Photo courtesy of St. John’s Athletics)

St. John’s erase 16-point deficit to down Xavier in OT, Red hot Red Storm 8-1 in BIG EAST, ranked #14

BQE Admin on January 28, 2025

By Noah Zimmerman

The Red Storm keep rolling in the face of adversity.

It seemed as if this was surely the game they’d lose to snap a 5-game winning streak as St. John’s trailed Xavier by 16. Still, Rick Pitino’s squad were able to mount a comeback, sending the game to overtime before winning 79-71.

This time it was graduate Kadary Richmond leading the way for St. John’s. The guard erupted for 19 points, his highest scoring performance of the season. Richmond was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll, the latest of a handful of Johnnies named to the list.

Other high-scorers for St. John’s were Zuby Ejiofor, RJ Luis Jr., and Simeon Wilcher, who all scored 16 apiece. Ryan Conwell led Xavier with 21 points despite the losing effort.

With the win, the Johnnies continued to climb both the AP and USA Today polls, earning #15 and #14 rankings respectively.

The real test comes up next month as St. John’s finally clashes with Marquette and UConn after finishing the season series against Providence on Feb. 1.

Marquette and St. John’s continue to jockey for the BIG EAST lead, both 8-1 entering the week. It’s likely the two will decide who gets the top spot when the Red Storm welcomes the Golden Eagles to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Feb. 4.

The Huskies have slipped into 4th in the conference behind Creighton, but remain a dangerous foe as St. John’s heads to Connecticut next Friday, Feb. 7.

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