NEW YORK, NY — After coming into the new year of 2026 with a disappointing loss to Providence, St. John’s seems to have regained its step.
The Red Storm, standing at 13-5 overall and 6-1 in Big East Conference play, have won its last three games since the Friar upset, as the latest came Tuesday night against the Marquette Golden Eagles, a 24-point thrashing at Madison Square Garden.
In this three-game stretch for Rick Pitino’s Johnnies, Zuby Ejiofor has continued to be Zuby Ejiofor, the 2025-2026 Big East Preseason Player of the Year, and Oziyah Sellers, finding comfort from three point range, began facilitating for teammates at an efficient clip.
For Ejiofor, one of three of this year’s team captains, recording 22 points and seven rebounds in Tuesday’s win, the six-nine senior forward’s 15.8 points per game to go along with 7.5 rebounds is a good place to start off.
His consistency in the box score has shown to be vital—five 20+ point games this season and 13 contests in double-digit scoring figures—yet so is his energy and attitude in not taking a play off.
That certain aspect of the game cannot be taught, but it can potentially rub off on teammates and set a tone as the season rolls on.
“He’s always going to have the highest motor on the floor, period,” said Marquette head coach Shaka Smart, crediting Ejiofor’s energy level following Tuesday’s 92-68 result at MSG.
“I don’t know if there will be a game this year where someone else has a better motor than him.”
With Sellers, the more the six-five senior guard appears to gain confidence, gets minutes under his belt and sees opportunities in front of him, the better it gets for St. John’s.
In Big East play across five games, Oziyah Sellers has recorded 13 assists with just one turnover to go along with 10 makes from three – Image Credit: St. John’s Men’s Basketball
“He’s constantly moving and he’s in great shape,” Pitino said in Tuesday’s postgame after Sellers produced a season high 24 points, which was also a game high, with two assists and no turnovers.
Throughout the three-game winning streak—a trio of victories vs. Butler, Creighton, and Marquette, respectively—Sellers has manufactured 11 assists with no turnovers to pair to six three point makes (6-15), elevating his play by facilitating for teammates while unloading shots from deep when the time calls for it.
What’s Next?
St. John’s will be heading off to the City of Brotherly Love this coming Saturday, January 17th, for a big-time matchup with the Villanova Wildcats (14-3 overall, 5-1 in BE play) at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Tip is scheduled for 8:00PM ET on Peacock.
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