Yeah,St. John’s is for real.
That’s been evident a while now, but since the Red Storm have won 10 in a row, lead the Big East by 1.5 games and will almost certainly bust into the Associated Press top-10 next week — they’re already there in the coaches’ poll — it’s become impossible to miss the Rick Pitino & Friends Show.
“Having a hell of a year,” Pitino said after St. John’s latest noisemaker, a 68-62 win at Connecticut Friday night. “We just got to keep it up.”
Just what’s going on to keep up there? These might help explain.
The 21-3 overall record and 12-1 start in the Big East? Those numbers haven’t been seen since the mid-1980s, back in the Lou Carnesecca glory days, when Pitino was getting his coaching career really going up the coast at Providence. The Red Storm have already matched their best victory total in the past 25 years and it’s only Feb. 8.
First place in the conference? St. John’s hasn’t won any part of the Big East season title since 1992. The Red Storm have averaged 11.9 league defeats over the past nine years. So far this season, they have one. By one point.
The back-to-back wins over No. 11 Marquette and No. 19 Connecticut? They haven’t had a week like that in 19 years. Those were, by the way, only the second and third opponents they have faced this season who were ranked at the time of the game.
The No. 12 ranking last week in the Associated Press poll? St. John’s hasn’t been that high in 25 years.
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The Red Storm have trailed by double digits in five games this season; by 16 to Xavier and Providence, 15 to Georgetown, 14 Friday night at UConn and 10 to Kansas State. They won all five games. “We’ve been down before, down big, and we always find a way to fight back,” guard Kadary Richmond said.
St. John’s three defeats have come by a combined five points — Baylor 99-98 at the buzzer in double overtime after leading by 18, Georgia 66-63 after going 2-for-19 behind the arc and 57-56 at Creighton, the only loss since the weekend before Thanksgiving.
This is a starting-lineup driven surge. The Red Storm are 300th in the nation in points off the bench. In the past three wins over Providence, Marquette and Connecticut, the St. John’s bench was outscored 98-17. It was 44-5 against Providence. Hasn’t stopped them.
About the defense. “We know that’s our common denominator,” Pitino said. Some of that handiwork: A 22-7 advantage in turnovers at Connecticut, holding Georgetown to 24.6 percent shooting, limiting Seton Hall to 15 field goals to go with 18 turnovers, in the top 20 in the nation in field goal percentage defense and turnover margin. Defense often must do the heavy lifting since the offense can sometimes stall. St. John’s is 341st in the nation in 3-point shooting, 273rd in free throw percentage, 336th in 3-pointers per game. That doesn’t sound much like a 21-3 team, does it?
But numbers often can’t stop will and purpose. ”We’re very hungry,” said leading scorer RJ Luis Jr., whose baseline jumper off an inbounds play in the final seconds cooked the Huskies for good Friday night.
Some of the victories almost seem mystical. The Red Storm went 3-for-16 in 3-pointers and 17-for-31 from the free throw line against Marquette, but won anyway. Blew a 19-point lead in the final nine minutes against Providence, but won anyway. Led for only seven minutes and trailed by 16 against Xavier but won anyway. Went through 18 lead changes against Villanova but won anyway. Missed of 20 of 21 from behind the arc against Butler but won anyway.
“Obviously, a very intelligent but gritty team that doesn’t rattle when we are down,” Pitino said.
Who are these guys? Mostly transfers in the starting lineup. Richmond, tops in assists and steals and third in scoring, came from Seton Hall this season. Aaron Scott from North Texas, Deivon Smith from Utah. Luis is in his second season after transferring from Massachusetts and is usually the leader of the pack. He had 21 points at UConn — even while missing all six shots from the 3-point line — and 30 against Villanova. “There is no better scorer in the Big East than RJ,” Pitino said.
Ah, Pitino. He’s 72 now and next month will make history when St. John’s becomes the sixth different school he has taken into the NCAA tournament. “I’m having a blast coaching this team,” he said, and a 21-3 record can certainly put the bounce in a senior citizen’s step. Not to mention his team’s.
“I think everybody brings it,” Luis said. “Just to see where coach Pitino is at in his life, just the fire that he brings. Not only coach Pitino but the whole coaching staff. They really care about us, they’re really genuine. They want to see us do well. When you got people like that around you that want to push you every day, you want to push back.”
The final stretch will keep testing the St. John’s magic. The Red Storm will be at Villanova Wednesday and must still go to Marquette, while Connecticut and Creighton will visit Madison Square Garden, which St. John’s has electrified.
And then, March, when there will be a whole new batch of droughts to address. The last NCAA tournament bid for the Red Storm was 2019. The last tournament win was 2000. There has been no advance past the first weekend this century — and one Final Four in 72 years. That was 1985 with Carnesecca.
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He died last November at the age of 99, and it’s too bad he’s missing this. Pitino wouldn’t be the only old coach having a blast at St. John’s.
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