QUEENS, NY — St. John’s Men’s Basketball could not have begun their 2024-2025 BIG EAST season on a better note, beating up on DePaul Tuesday night, 89-61, at a rockin’ Carnesecca Arena.
“Our team had total respect for them (DePaul) today, and they were totally locked in,” said head coach Rick Pitino following the Red Storm’s BIG EAST season opener, later pointing out that Tuesday’s victory was the best game played by St. John’s on all phases all year.
Tipoff between DePaul and St. John’s on Tuesday night at Carnesecca Arena in Queens – Image Credit: St. John’s Men’s Basketball
En route to their ninth win of the season, (9-2 overall, 1-0 in BIG EAST conference play), which featured lockdown perimeter defense and 55% shooting from the field — four Johnnies finished in double scoring figures, including RJ Luis Jr. (19), Kadary Richmond (18), Simeon Wilcher (16), and Zuby Ejiofor (12).
There was a viable chance for the grand total to reach five as Red Storm guard Deivon Smith, began to heat up in the second half, scoring seven points, but he ultimately ended up with nine overall — two in the 1st half and seven in the 2nd half. The dynamic 6-0 senior, displaying his versatility all over the hardwood, also recorded eight assists, six rebounds and five steals.
Red Storm guard Deivon Smith recorded a season high of five steals in Tuesday’s win over DePaul – Image Credit: St. John’s Men’s Basketball
By and large, when viewing the Johnnies’ win from Tuesday evening with a clear lens, it was not just based on one individual performance, but rather, a 40-minute showing of how deep the Red Storm’s lineup can go and how multifaceted it truly is. Or at least has the potential to be as the BIG EAST season has just arrived…
“Honestly, I think five or six guys can be in double digits,” said Smith when asked on how much legitimate depth the Red Storm beholds. “You know, we had a few missed shots but just playing fast, changing the pace, sharing the ball with our teammates. Just staying on the move. A couple guys getting ten shots, eight shots, so just not letting the ball stick — everybody has a chance to have a good game collectively.”
Simeon Wilcher, one of four Johnnies to go for double digits in Tuesday’s win over DePaul, was one point shy of matching his season high of 17 points which came against Fordham on November 4th – Image Credit: St. John’s Men’s Basketball
Adding to Smith’s comments, Wilcher, compiling four rebounds, and three steals, with his 16 points, followed by stating: “we got a lot of guys on our team who can just go. Part of the reason why you see so many changes in the starting lineup is because it doesn’t matter who is out there…
They can all go out there and have thirty (points) if they want to. But it’s just a testament to the guys, and what they’ve been working on individually, and what we’ve been working on as a team — just to move the ball and share the ‘sugar.’ And everybody will eat. And that’s a testament to what happened today.”
St. John’s will look to carry their momentum from Tuesday to Friday, as the Red Storm face off against Providence on the road – Image Credit: St. John’s Men’s Basketball
What’s Next for St. John’s?
The Red Storm (9-2 overall, 1-0 in BIG EAST play) will travel to Providence this Friday night, December 20th, and take on the Friars (7-5 overall, 1-0 in BIG EAST play) at Amica Mutual Pavilion — tipoff scheduled for 8:00 PM ET on FOX.
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