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Streak Hits 13 as Red Storm Take Over BIG EAST Lead

BQE Admin on February 24, 2026

Regular Season nears finale as Johnnies beat Marquette and Creighton, rise to #15

It was a Red Storm rampage from start to finish on Saturday afternoon. Their win over Creighton was the largest in BIG EAST play at Madison Square Garden since 1992! (Photos by Noah Zimmerman)

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

The Red Storm surged into first place outright in the BIG EAST last week following a win on the road against the Marquette Golden Eagles and a UConn loss to Creighton. St. John’s would go on to thank Creighton with a blowout win over the weekend, downing the Bluejays 81 to 52.

It wasn’t pretty but the Red Storm did enough to dispatch the bottom-dwelling Golden Eagles. Despite blowing a sizable lead around halftime, St. John’s were able to lock in late to claim a 76-70 win.

Bryce Hopkins led St. John’s scorers with 23 points, also pulling down ten boards for a double-double. He didn’t get much help as only Oziyah Sellers and Zuby Ejiofor scored in double figures. Dillon Mitchell and Dylan Darling were both held scoreless, though they led the team in assists with four and five, respectively.

On Saturday afternoon, the Red Storm looked for a much more decisive result. They opened play against Creighton with an 8-0 run, holding a ten-point advantage for most of the opening frame.

It was Johnnies Day at the Garden, and fans were in high spirits with their red shirts and signs. The Red Storm fans were invigorated by a Darling steal and Ejiofor dunk, re-establishing a double-digit lead after a pair of Fedor Zugic threes cut the lead to six.

By the end of the first half, St. John’s were firmly in control, 42-27. In the second frame, the Red Storm began to really pull away.

It didn’t take long until the lead was up to 30 points, growing as large as 33 in the final minutes of action. There was no path back into the game for the Bluejays as St. John’s finished off their biggest conference win at MSG since 1992, when they took down the #6 UConn Huskies.

A pair of 15-point performances by Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins led the way for St. John’s starters but it was another stellar game from Dylan Darling to lead the way for the Red Storm. Darling scored 17 points on 5/7 shooting, also picking up a game-high three steals.

Bryce Hopkins has turned his season around, especially in the last few games since a heated exchange in Providence.

For Creighton, no Bluejay scored more than Zugic’s 9 (3/5 from three). They were handily out-assisted and out-rebounded by St. John’s and matched their season worst with 18 turnovers.

With the win, St. John’s improved to 15-1 in the BIG EAST and 22-5 overall. On Monday they continued to ascend the AP College Basketball rankings, moving to #15. It’s their highest mark since they were ranked #14 in November.

Dylan Darling has been spectacular during the Red Storm winning streak. He filled the bucket off the bench against the Bluejays.

Wednesday night’s battle in Connecticut could prove to be a decisive one with just three games remaining in regular season play. The Red Storm have all but clinched a top seed and bye for the start of the BIG EAST tournament, but there’s still work to be done to see out a phenomenal finish to the season.

On Saturday night the Red Storm will take on Villanova at Madison Square Garden, their final big matchup of the season. The Wildcats have been on the cusp of the Top-25 for a good portion of the season, also playing the Johnnies well despite an 86-79 loss in Pennsylvania earlier this year.

The final home game of the regular season is next Tuesday, March 3. St. John’s and the Georgetown Hoyas will start at 7pm. The season finale will tip-off across the Hudson River when the Red Storm visit the Seton Hall Pirates on Friday, March 6.

No Love Between St. John’s & Providence on Valentine’s Day

BQE Admin on February 18, 2026

Heated brawl breaks out in Providence as Red Storm win 11th straight

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

It was a heated affair on Valentine’s Day as the St. John’s Red Storm looked to avenge their lone BIG EAST loss of the season. This time in enemy territory, the Johnnies looked to fend off a physical Friars team that handed them a 77-71 loss at Madison Square Garden to kick off 2026.

The arena was a powder keg as Bryce Hopkins made his return to Rhode Island after transferring to St. John’s for his final year of eligibility. It felt like something was destined to happen after the first matchup between the Johnnies and Friars, and the home crowd was on their toes waiting for that spark.

That spark came five minutes into the second half of a tight ballgame, as the former Friar was fouled hard from behind. The aggressor, Providence’s Duncan Powell, was quickly swarmed by red shirts as he and Dillon Mitchell took swings at each other.

Six total players were ejected from the game. For the Friars, Powell and graduate guard Jaylin Sellers were thrown out, with the former handed a three-game suspension for “combative actions.” 

St. John’s went without Mitchell for the majority of the second half, ejected for attempting to punch Powell. Ruben Prey, Sadiku Ibine Ayo and Kelvin Odih were tossed for leaving the St. John’s bench during the scrap.

Still, for the visitors, the grit needed to win came between the lines, rather than in extra-curricular activities.

“We didn’t initiate anything,” commented Head Coach Rick Pitino after the game. “We talked about toughness as not turning the ball over, creating steals, getting offensive rebounds. That’s what we believe toughness is, and that’s all we talked about throughout the entire time.”

Pitino, who previously coached at Providence and led the Friars to the Final Four in 1987, was disappointed in the home crowd, who seemed bloodthirsty.

“I think the crowd lost objectivity of what they’re here for,” he said. “If they’re just here to poke fun at Bryce Hopkins and not get a win for the Friars, that’s not the Friars I remember in ‘87.”

Play resumed after a 20-minute delay, and the Red Storm quickly asserted themselves. Free throws and a quick bucket. They would keep their foot on the gas and see out the win, 79-69. It was the 11th consecutive victory for St. John’s dating back to their loss to Providence. Compared to the Johnnies, Providence has lost all but three contests since their upset win at MSG.

“I feel like we responded in the best way possible,” said Zuby Ejiofor, who finished with 14 points to lead St. John’s starters. “We were without [four] of our players and you know, Dylan [Darling] does what Dylan has been pretty much doing for a big stretch now. So I’m really proud of the guys, knowing how we competed for 40 minutes.”

Darling finished with a game-best 23 points, also picking up eight rebounds and three steals. 17 of those points came in the second half, where he was instrumental in the visitors pulling away and maintaining a lead down the stretch.

Darling’s play has been instrumental during the current winning streak and it’s clear St. John’s will need their dynamic guard performing come postseason in both the BIG EAST and NCAA tournament.

“Somebody needed to step up, I just try to bring energy,” said Darling about his performance. “We knew we needed to focus on every small detail to win the game, and that was really just our focus.”

On Monday Darling was named Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Player of the Week, following Ejiofor who won the honor the week before. Darling also picked up his first appearance on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.

The Johnnies are back at MSG this weekend to finish the season series with the Creighton Bluejays. Tip-off is set for noon on Saturday the 21. 

After this weekend, only a pair of home games remain in the Red Storm schedule. On February 28 they welcome Villanova to Madison Square Garden, before hosting Georgetown in their penultimate regular season matchup on March 3.

Next week the Red Storm head back to New England, this time to play the #5 UConn Huskies in Hartford, CT. It’s sure to be another thrilling contest with the St. John’s streak still going strong and UConn looking to answer following their defeat earlier this month.

red Hot red Storm Take Down #3 Huskies at MSG

BQE Admin on February 12, 2026

St. John’s soars to #17, beats Xavier in OT

St. John’s senior Bryce Hopkins drives from the perimeter against UConn. Photos: Noah Zimmerman

By Noah Zimmerman

Noah@queensledger.com

St. John’s were finally able to pick up their first ranked win of the season, and it came against their toughest opponent of the year. On Friday night, the Red Storm welcomed their rivals, the #3 UConn Huskies, to the world’s most famous arena.

On the back of an 8-game winning streak, St. John’s began their ascent back up the national rankings after an unceremonious plummet from the top-25. They were tabbed at #22 in the nation ahead of Friday’s matchup.

It was an electric night at the Garden, drawing by far the loudest crowd with a primetime sellout. Fans were involved in every play, both on offense and defense. Visiting UConn supporters were noisy as well, with trash talk aplenty between the rival fanbases.

Red Storm wing Joson Sanon plays tough defense on UConn’s Solo Ball. Huskies head coach Dan Hurley is animated on the sideline.

Zuby Ejiofor was unbelievable in Friday’s contest. The St. John’s captain recorded another double-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. He added a trio of blocks and a pair of steals on defense for a terrific all-around game. Ejiofor was named BIG EAST and MWPA Player of the Week for his dominance against DePaul and UConn, adding fuel to his push for conference Player of the Year.

Bryce Hopkins and Dillon Mitchell helped Zuby with 15 and 14 points, respectively. The trio combined for 17/26 shooting and 22 of the Red Storm’s 32 rebounds. Off the bench Dylan Darling continued to put together a remarkable second half of the year, adding an efficient 9.

Hopkins gets to the glass for a bucket. He finished with 15 points.

For the Huskies it was senior Alex Karaban who really impressed. The forward went up against one of the top frontcourts in the nation and picked up an efficient 17 points on 7/10 shooting (3/4 from downtown). Silas DeMary Jr. led the Huskies with 18 points, but the UConn guard was hounded all game, resulting in 9 turnovers.

While they got help from the other starters, UConn’s bench only managed to score six combined points, nine less than the Red Storm reserves.

In the final minutes the Red Storm were unable to gain significant ground. Karaban brought the Huskies within a pair of points, but St. John’s were just barely able to keep ahead thanks to terrific defense down the stretch.

It was a short turnaround, but on Monday night Rick Pitino welcomed his son Richard and the Xavier Musketeers to MSG.

Fatigue looked to play a role as the Red Storm couldn’t hold a significant lead through the opening half. Every score had an answer, with Xavier hitting big shots to level the game at multiple points, including a three right at halftime to make it 42-42.

A focal point of the Red Storm defense was limiting Musketeers forward Tre Carroll, who scored 31 in the first matchup against St. John’s. The FAU transfer was held to just four points in the opening frame.

St. John’s made sure to keep Tre Carroll off the board in the first half, limiting him to 4 points. The Musketeers star scored 31 in their first matchup.

Bryce Hopkins stepped into a critical defensive role late, helping contain Carroll and other Xavier bigs and prevent a 2nd half collapse. He made a few terrific stops, but St. John’s just couldn’t get the game squared away as Xavier forced OT.

In the extra period, Xavier’s foul trouble finally got to them. On consecutive defensive possessions Jovan Milicevic, Isaiah Walker, and Malik Messina-Moore picked up their 5th and final personal fouls. Carroll scored 17 in the 2nd half but was kept from attempting a single shot in OT.

Zuby and Hopkins bullied Xavier on defense and drew fouls on the other end before the game was finally punctuated by an Oziyah Sellers fastbreak to make it 87-82.

It was a tough battle but St. John’s were able to pick up the win in an overtime battle, 87-82.

Rick Pitino picked up win #904, passing Roy Williams for 3rd on the all-time NCAA Division I wins list. Still, with the game going to overtime, Pitino wasn’t fully pleased with the effort.

“I hate getting any milestone against him but I go away tonight saying my son is a hell of a coach,” said Pitino postgame. “To say my son is a great coach is much more pleasing than any number of victories.”

The Red Storm will hit the road for three of their next four matchups. On Valentine’s Day the Johnnies have a date in Providence with the Friars, looking to avenge their lone BIG EAST defeat. Then on the 18th they head to Milwaukee to take on the basement-dwelling Marquette.

St. John’s returns to Madison Square Garden on February 21 to finish their season set against the Creighton Bluejays.

Johnnies Down Bluejays

BQE Admin on January 15, 2026

Best shooting night of the year gives the Red Storm a big road win over Creighton

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

The St. John’s Red Storm picked up vital BIG EAST wins on the road last week, defeating the Butler Bulldogs in Indianapolis before taking down the Creighton Bluejays in Omaha. Coming off a brutal loss to Providence, Rick Pitino and his team are looking to reestablish themselves and catch fire for an important stretch of conference play.

The win in Nebraska was done by way of aerial assault, playmaking, and rebounding. The Red Storm knocked down 12 threes and won both the assist and rebounding battles.

Seven of the St. John’s three-pointers came off the bench, with Lefteris Liotopoulos shooting 5/8 from downtown and Dylan Darling hitting 2/4. The Red Storm finished with 52.2% shooting from deep, by far their best mark in what’s been a relatively rough season from the floor.

For Liotopoulos, the past few BIG EAST matchups have been a good opportunity to earn important minutes in the rotation. The Sophomore out of Greece recorded his second double-digit scoring performance of the year on January 6 at Butler (10 points, matching Dec. 13 vs Iona) before using his sharpshooting to set a career high with 17 against the Bluejays in Omaha.

The back-to-back conference wins are just the beginning if St. John’s wants to steady a rocking ship. The #4 UConn Huskies are going to be very difficult to catch, already 6-0 in BIG EAST play and in order to secure a tournament bid they’ll need to finish near the top of a competitive conference.

Following Tuesday’s matchup with Marquette the next two contests for the Red Storm are on the road against 2nd place Villanova on Saturday and next Tuesday at MSG against 3rd place Seton Hall, who broke into the nation’s Top 25 this week.

“After the loss [to Providence] we gathered together and said, ‘we’re not going to lose anymore,’” said Liotopoulos following the win over Creighton. “We were great in practice, aggressive with a lot of energy and that translated on the court.”

The goal is set, and now it’s time for the Red Storm to deliver. Can they start the transformation of MSG back into the fortress it was last season, and can they do it in emphatic fashion against the rival Pirates?

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.

SJU Women Upset Oklahoma State for 1st Ranked Win of the Year

BQE Admin on November 26, 2025

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

While the nationally ranked Red Storm men’s team draws most of the attention on the hardcourt at Carnesecca Arena, the women’s team notched a tremendous victory last Wednesday night in Queens. In their only game against Top-25 opposition scheduled for the Fall of 2025, the Red Storm downed the #18 Oklahoma State Cowgirls with a fantastic showing on both sides of the court.

Brooke Moore led St. John’s scorers with 13 points, with Sa’Mya Wyatt and Kylie Lavelle each adding 12. Wyatt came within reach of a double-double, pulling down 8 rebounds in just 17 minutes of action, and Lavelle recorded a great all-around game with 6 assists and 5 boards of her own.

Even though the Cowgirls were averaging 100 points in their 5-0 start, a tremendous defensive showing held them to just 67 points in their first road game of the year. Oklahoma State shot a brutal 30% from the floor in the first half, and while they were able to respond in the last two quarters they finished at 40% to the Red Storm’s 59% display. St. John’s were also able to out-rebound and out-assist their opponents in the ranked win.

Oklahoma State’s 67 points are the most allowed this season by the Red Storm, who kept Central Connecticut to 46 (the least allowed so far) on Monday. If they can keep up their defensive prowess they’ll not only make Rick Pitino and his men’s team jealous, but they’ll quickly draw eyes around the NCAA women’s basketball circuit.

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.

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