NEW YORK, NY — There is a storm forming across the greater New York City area, and it has all been generated by head coach Rick Pitino and St. John’s Men’s Basketball.
In his second season under the helm in Queens, Pitino has put St. John’s on top of the Big East, leading the conference currently with a dominant 7-1 record in Big East play and 16-3 overall record (16-3, 7-1 in BE Play).
Rick Pitino has the Red Storm off to their best start in conference play in program history since 1998-1999 – Image Credit: Tomasso DeRosa/Latino Sports
Their three losses on the year have come by a combined total of six points — one-point losses to Baylor and Creighton and a four-point loss to Georgia.
“It feels great to be in first place, but the job’s not finished,” said Dominican-Ecuadorian junior wing RJ Luis Jr., on the Red Storm’s hot start to conference play following their most recent win last Saturday @ Seton Hall, a 79-51 lopsided Johnnies victory.
“We got to continue winning games, playing together and having fun as a group.”
Red Storm junior forward RJ. Luis Jr., of Dominican and Ecuadorian heritage, is averaging 17.8 points per game this season, which is third-highest in all of the Big East Conference – Image Credit: Tomasso DeRosa/Latino Sports
To simply put it, this is a team New Yorkers should get behind and support. They are a gritty, entertaining bunch, who hustle on each possession, post highly efficient clips on defense, and lastly, one who stands pat as a group, turning it up collectively in the second half — outscoring their opponents by a +9.2 margin in second halves this year — only behind No. 2 Duke (+11.3), No. 6 Tennessee (+10.3) and No. 5 Florida (+9.6).
Essentially, all characteristics that fit a Pitino-led system.
“I’m just enjoying each practice, each game,” stated Pitino on the Johnnies currently leading the Big East. “I really don’t think too much of that. I’m proud for the St. John’s fans. I know it means something to them, but to me, it means very little.”
St. John’s graduate student guard Kadary Richmond is recording 10.8 points per game this season with 4.8 assists per game (7th in Big East) – Image Credit: Tomasso DeRosa/Latino Sports
As the dominance has continued week-by-week, St. John’s finally saw themselves ranked on the latest AP National Poll, coming in at 20th overall — their highest AP ranking since December 29th, 2014 (15) — a time when Pitino was coaching at Louisville.
“I think it’s extremely significant,” St. John’s Athletic Director Ed Kull said in a statement regarding the Red Storm being ranked. “There’s not a better message, showing signs of growth and success, than being in the top-25 and being in first place in the Big East.”
He added: “It’s a tremendous testament to what Coach Pitino has done here with this program and for us as a University with Father Shanley’s leadership, now there’s no excuse to not invest or come to games or get behind this program.”
The hype for the St. John’s Red Storm across New York City has gained steam win by win as they are now ranked 20th on the AP Poll and 21st on USA Today’s Coaches Poll – Image Credit: Tomasso DeRosa/Latino Sports
Like Kull said, there’s no excuses now…
For fans who would like to come out and see the Johnnies take the court in person, the next opportunity to do so is tomorrow, Wednesday, January 22nd, as the Red Storm host the Xavier Musketeers (12-7, 4-4 in BE Play) at Madison Square Garden.
Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM ET on Fox Sports 1 — tickets still available at St. John’s Men’s Basketball Ticket Information.
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