It is a Saturday night in late January, and if you are standing anywhere near 33rd and 7th in Manhattan, you can feel the floor shaking. Rick Pitino is back in his natural habitat. He is pacing the sidelines with that signature intensity, looking like he just stepped out of a high-end tailor shop and into a street fight. But if you think you know what is happening with this St. John's basketball team, you probably haven't been paying close enough attention lately.
The narrative around the Red Storm usually falls into two categories: "Pitino is a wizard" or "the transfer portal is killing the soul of the game." Neither is quite right. Honestly, what is actually happening in Queens is much more chaotic—and much more interesting—than a simple comeback story.
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The $10 Million Question at Madison Square Garden
There was a lot of noise over the summer about the "investment" made into this roster. We're talking numbers in the neighborhood of $10 million in NIL value. When you drop that kind of cash, the expectations aren't just for wins; they are for a coronation. But as we saw on January 3rd, 2026, when St. John's blew a 13-point lead against Providence, money doesn't buy late-game chemistry.
It was ugly. The Johnnies didn't hit a single field goal in the final three minutes. Fans at the Garden were stunned. It felt like the same old story—a collection of talented mercenaries who didn't know how to close. You've heard this before, right? The "mercenary" label is the easiest one to slap on a Pitino team these days.
But then, something shifted.
After that Providence disaster, they went on a tear. They didn't just win; they dominated on the road. Taking down Creighton and Butler in their own gyms isn't easy. Then they went into Philadelphia and handled Villanova 86-79. Suddenly, that 13-5 (6-1 Big East) record looks like a legitimate threat rather than a fluke.
Why Zuby Ejiofor Is the Real MVP
If you want to understand St. John's basketball right now, you have to look at Zuby Ejiofor. He is the heartbeat of this team. While everyone was busy talking about the high-profile transfers like Ian Jackson or Bryce Hopkins, Ejiofor has been quietly—or not so quietly—becoming the best big man in the Big East.
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He is averaging 16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. Basically, he is doing everything. Against Marquette, he was a force of nature, dropping 33 points. He’s not just a rim runner anymore. He's passing out of the post (3.1 assists) and even taking the occasional three, though Pitino might have a heart attack every time he sees a "James Harden-like" stepback from his center.
The nuance here is that Ejiofor isn't just a stats stuffer. He is the glue. In an era where everyone is looking for the next exit in the portal, his development at St. John's is a throwback. He is the reason the defense works. He's the reason the "attacking" man-to-man scheme can survive when the perimeter defenders get beat.
The Support Staff: Jackson, Sellers, and Hopkins
- Ian Jackson: The sophomore transfer from North Carolina had a slow start, but he finally looked like a lottery pick against Villanova, putting up 18 points.
- Oziyah Sellers: The Stanford transfer is the team's primary floor spacer, leading the squad in minutes and hitting nearly two threes a game.
- Dillon Mitchell: He’s the "point-forward" of the group. He might not get the headlines, but his ability to grab a board and push the break is what makes the Red Storm offense so fast (86 points per game).
The Pitino Paradox: Old School Meets New Portal
Rick Pitino is 73 years old, but he recruits like he's 25. He's been very vocal about what he needs. He lamented the loss of Acaden Lewis in the recruiting cycle and has been brutally honest about his players' performances. He doesn't do "coach speak." If you play poorly, he’s going to say it.
That honesty is polarizing. Some people think it’s outdated. They say you can't talk to modern athletes that way. Yet, look at the results. He’s taken a team that was 9-5 and struggling with its identity and turned them into a group that ranks in the top 35 nationally in scoring.
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The interesting part is the tactical shift. Pitino’s teams used to be all about the dribble-drive. Now, they are playing "cut-heavy" basketball. They lead the Big East in points in the paint because they aren't just standing around the three-point line. They are moving. They are physical. It’s a sort of "bully ball" wrapped in a high-octane package.
What's Next for the Red Storm?
We are heading into the meat of the Big East schedule. The January 20th matchup against Seton Hall is a massive trap game, followed by a home date with Xavier. If St. John's wants to prove they are a second-weekend NCAA tournament team, they have to maintain this defensive intensity.
They are currently projected as a 7-seed in most Bracketology maps, but that ceiling is much higher. If Ian Jackson continues to play like a star and Ejiofor keeps dominating the paint, they are a nightmare matchup for anyone in March.
Actionable Insights for the Second Half of the Season:
- Watch the Turnovers: The Johnnies are averaging nearly 12 turnovers a game. In the Big East, that’s playing with fire. If that number drops to 9 or 10, they are nearly unbeatable.
- The Three-Point Trap: Don't let the 35.7% team average fool you. They are a "streaky" shooting team. If they start settling for threes early in the clock, it usually signals a scoring drought is coming.
- Home Court Advantage: They need to keep winning at Carnesecca. The Garden is great for the "big" games, but the intimacy of the on-campus arena provides a different kind of pressure for opponents.
The hype is real, but it’s fragile. One bad week in this conference can send you from a top-25 ranking to the NIT bubble. For now, enjoy the ride. It's been a long time since New York City basketball felt this relevant.