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Jeff Borzello
Multiple Authors
NEW YORK — After over 50 years of coaching, it’s rare for Rick Pitino to be genuinely surprised. yet, following his most significant regular-season victory with St. John’s, the Hall of Fame coach made a bold statement about his Red Storm squad.
“This is the finest group of individuals, character-wise, that I’ve ever coached,” Pitino remarked. “In my 52 years, there’s not a single player who doesn’t give me their all.”
No. 22 St. John’s achieved its first significant victory of the season on Friday night, defeating No. 3 UConn 81-72, ending the Huskies’ 18-game winning streak in front of a lively audience at Madison Square Garden. This victory marked Pitino’s first over a top-five team since Feb. 1, 2016, as per ESPN Research, making him the only second coach to guide five different programs to top-10 victories.
The triumph also put Pitino even with Roy Williams for third place in Division I history, totaling 903 career wins.
“That was one of the toughest games we’ve had to play this season,” UConn coach Dan Hurley commented.
St. John’s strategy was clear from the game’s early minutes. After UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr. went to the bench with a six-point lead six minutes into the match, the Red Storm found their offensive flow, led by Big East Preseason Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor. Ejiofor quickly scored, drew a foul for free throws, then assisted on a Joson Sanon three-pointer, igniting a 7-0 run that shifted the momentum in favor of St. John’s.
UConn only reclaimed the lead three times for the rest of the game, never exceeding a two-point advantage.
The Red Storm have increasingly embraced an identity of toughness and physicality throughout the season, a theme that continued on Friday. They targeted UConn in the paint, dominating with a 42-34 score in that area. They also secured nine offensive rebounds, converting those into 16 second-chance points, and attempted 31 free throws compared to the Huskies’ 12.
Ejiofor (21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists), Dillon Mitchell (15 points, six rebounds), and Bryce Hopkins (14 points, six rebounds) were too much for UConn’s frontcourt defensively.
“They’re grown men,” Hurley expressed. “Mitchell, Hopkins, and Ejiofor are built for Big East battles, especially with the way officiating operates during conference play.”
At the other end, St. John’s intense full-court pressure consistently troubled UConn. The Huskies committed 15 turnovers, which led to 20 points for the Red Storm. UConn struggled with inbounding the ball, coming perilously close to several five-second violations. even if Silas Demary Jr. was UConn’s standout player that night with 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, he also tallied nine turnovers.
“There were probably 15 instances that could’ve led to a five-second count that we didn’t get called,” Pitino remarked. “But it wears you down. Oftentimes, a team’s pressing can exhaust you physically, making it harder to rebound and pass.”
although the impressive frontcourt performance, the unsung hero was former Idaho State transfer Dylan Darling. After a scoreless first half with minimal playing time, he emerged as a crucial player in the second half, scoring nine points along with two assists and one steal.
Darling sparked momentum early in the second half with a steal from Demary, followed by two significant baskets, including a 3-pointer with 3:13 remaining that expanded the Red Storm’s lead to five points.
“This is the best group of people, character-wise, that I’ve coached. In my 52 years, there’s not one guy that doesn’t give me everything.” St. John’s coach Rick Pitino
“It’s a challenging transition from where he was to this level. It requires time,” Pitino added. “His desire to take charge of a game is truly impressive. … What he’s accomplishing right now is remarkable.”
After overcoming a 9-5 start, St. John’s has now secured nine consecutive victories, tying them with UConn for the top of the Big East standings. A rematch is scheduled for Feb. 25 in Hartford, and they are likely on a path to face each other again in the Big East tournament championship.
On this occasion, St. John’s successfully defended their home court — often referred to as “Storrs South” due to UConn fans dominating Madison Square Garden when the Huskies visit. yet, this time there was no ambiguity about which fanbase held the advantage.
“The Garden was the best I’ve ever seen it,” Pitino reflected. “It was incredible. I thought it was 70/30, 60/40 — but it was actually 90/10. What a fantastic crowd.”
