Faculty basketball delivered one other stable showcase matchup on Friday night time when a raucous Madison Sq. Backyard hosted No. 22 St. John’s battle with No. 3 UConn.
Circled on the calendar of school hoops followers all season, the Huge 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 Crimson Storm entered the 2025-26 season with nationwide championship expectations. A sluggish 9-5 begin, together with a shocking Huge East loss to Windfall, derailed any early discuss of titles.
Issues 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. 9 consecutive wins places the Crimson Storm in Huge East title rivalry whereas vaulting them up the nationwide rankings. Maybe most significantly, the UConn win is the second Crimson Storm victory over a possible NCAA Event at-large crew — quieting some issues a couple of mild St. John’s match profile.
As soon as thought-about a critical contender, St. John’s noticed its nationwide title odds dip to close triple digits earlier than its current surge. Is the UConn win an indication of larger issues to come back for the Crimson Storm or merely the height of a curler coaster first three months?
Steadiness provides St. John’s a constant spine
Final season noticed St. John’s win the Huge East on the best way to a No. 2 seed within the NCAA Event. The trio of Huge East Participant of the 12 months R.J. Luis Jr., all-conference large man Zuby Ejiofor and guard Kamary Richmond was probably the most acclaimed teams within the sport.
Regardless of the star energy, the Crimson Storm have been in the end upset by No. 10 seed Arkansas within the second spherical due to poor perimeter capturing and an premature dud from Luis Jr. Ending with solely 9 factors on 3-for-17 capturing, a depressing capturing day from Luis Jr. — coupled with season-long 30 p.c crew 3-point capturing — sank a once-promising season earlier than the second weekend of the NCAA Event.
Restocking the roster by the switch portal, St. John’s couldn’t offset Luis Jr.’s NBA departure with particular person manufacturing with just one participant. As an alternative, they’ve successfully constructed a roster of efficient portal additions round Ejiofor’s return inside.
Former Huge East all-conference choice Bryce Hopkins gives 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 can be starting to click on. Sellers and Jackson are starters and double-figure scorers. Sanon’s perimeter capturing prowess and Darling’s true point-guard skills present useful minutes off the bench.
Though query marks stay in regards to the lack of a real level guard within the beginning lineup in opposition to 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 Crimson Storm in assists for a matchup. Even when a foremost 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 in opposition to Arkansas.
With a top-25 offense and protection nationally, in accordance with KenPom, the Crimson Storm boast a stable metric profile coupled with a number of succesful scorers.
Improved perimeter capturing makes St. John’s extra harmful
A obtrusive weak point 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 Crimson Storm roster. Perimeter capturing has noticeably come a good distance since final season.
As much as a decent 35 p.c 3-point capturing as a crew on the season, the Crimson Storm roster options considerably extra perimeter capturing 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 capturing vary this offseason to enhance to a decent 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 powerful perimeter seems regardless of solely hitting 30 p.c to this point this season.
No person is mistaking St. John’s for an elite capturing outfit. However 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 grow to be a real contender
One of many hottest groups within the nation, St. John’s nonetheless has work to do to enhance its underwhelming NCAA Event profile. Profitable 9 video games in a row is a constructive begin for the Crimson Storm’s long-term outlook.
However a highway win at Villanova and Friday night time’s residence win in opposition to UConn are the one two tournament-quality wins for St. John’s all season. And, due to a down 12 months within the Huge East, St. John’s solely will get two extra assured common season matchups in opposition to 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 shortly 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 just like the Crimson Storm throughout the remainder of the common season.
If St. John’s is to make a deep run in March, it would doubtless come from a seed outdoors of the highest three. Except important assist comes within the type of a number of top-ten groups freefalling down the standings, the Crimson 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 through the season. The win over UConn doesn’t outline St. John’s as a real title contender after its rocky begin simply but. It was additionally the primary time all season St. John’s lastly began dwelling as much as its lofty preseason billing.
