St. Johns Athletics
Before the national spotlight arrives on March 18, the St. John’s Red Storm must claim conference crowns. The St. John’s Red Storm are among the best-positioned teams.
At 22–4, St. John’s owns the best record in the Big East, a notable jump from last season’s 20–13 finish. More importantly, the Red Storm looks set to win now.
With improved chemistry in Rick Pitino’s second season, the addition of All-Big East transfer Kadary Richmond, and a breakout year from R.J. Luis Jr., St. John’s has emerged as the clear favorite.
Here are three reasons why St. John’s should be the Big East favorites.
R.J. Luis Jr. has taken a massive step forward and become St. John’s most impactful player. The 6-foot-7 guard is averaging career highs across the board: 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 44% from the field. His versatility has turned the Johnnies into a formidable opponent.
Luis ranks fourth in Big East scoring, the program’s highest mark since Julian Champagnie in 2021–22. He is also one of only six St. John’s players to finish top-five in conference scoring since 2002–03.
While Kadary Richmond arrived with major expectations, Luis has quietly become the engine of this team.
St. John’s has bolstered its record with impressive victories. Most recently, the Johnnies handed UConn its worst loss of the season in conference play, an 89–75 rout at Madison Square Garden. The win completed their first season sweep of the Huskies for the first time since the 1999–2000 season.
St. John’s is 3–1 against AP Top 25 opponents, a sharp contrast from last season’s 1–6 mark. They also rank 12th nationally in scoring margin at +13.0, the best in the Big East.
At home, the Johnnies have been untouchable. They are 17–0 at MSG, their first undefeated home season since 1984–85. The UConn win marked their 15th Big East victory, a new program record.
Furthermore, St. John’s has won 13 of its last 14 games and rides a 10-game conference winning streak, its longest since 1985.
Kadary Richmond has delivered exactly what Rick Pitino envisioned.
“Kadary really doesn’t have a weakness. He’s great at the defensive end, has great size, he’s an outstanding passer, he scores, he rebounds- he does it all.”
Over his last nine games, Richmond has averaged 17.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.3 steals. He has firmly entered the Big East Player of the Year conversation.
Despite battling multiple injuries, Richmond starred in the win over UConn, contributing across every category while setting the defensive tone.
“Kadary Richmond is more injured than any player I’ve coached right now, and he fights through it,” Pitino said. “He’s got double groin pulls, he’s got problems all over his anatomy. And he played the game and played hard. He killed it. He needs time off, as much as we can give him right now because he’s really hurting. But he showed up tonight and gave it to us. He was brilliant.”
St. John’s ranks second nationally in defensive efficiency, driven by Richmond’s on-ball pressure. They also dominate the glass, averaging 41 rebounds per game and ranking eighth in offensive boards.
Those second-chance opportunities have powered the Johnnies to the second-best offensive rebounding rate in the country.
St. John’s is enjoying its best season in four decades. The last time the Johnnies won the Big East outright was 1984–85—a season that ended with a Final Four appearance. They have not claimed a conference crown since 1991–92.
With Pitino’s leadership, elite defense, and multiple stars peaking at the right time, St. John’s looks capable of ending both droughts. If this pace holds, the Red Storm may not stop at a Big East title. They could be chasing the first national championship in program history.
A shift is happening at Madison Square Garden. Enjoy the show.
Yep, we have one too
