St. John’s Preseason Opener: Key Takeaways
During St. John’s media day, it was announced that Bryce Hopkins, a significant addition from the transfer portal, will not be starting in Saturday’s preseason opener. This comes as a slight surprise.
Coach Rick Pitino mentioned he was looking for more aggression and consistency from Hopkins. In response, Hopkins stated he aims to follow his coach’s guidance, considering it as constructive feedback. The 6-foot-7 forward expressed, “I try to take it with a grain of salt, knowing he wants the best for me. Not starting today didn’t hit me too hard. When I got my chance, I just focused on contributing.”
In his debut, Hopkins scored 13 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out four assists, and made three steals in 26 minutes of play. This is a promising start for him, especially since he only participated in three games last season while recovering from a torn ACL.
Pitino clarified, “I wasn’t out to send a message to Bryce but to guide him toward greatness. Achieving that doesn’t happen without outstanding practice. I want him to become not just the best player on our team, but one of the best in the country. He has the potential to reach that level, but he needs to realize it.”
Hopkins played a crucial role in the Red Storm’s comeback after a rocky first half. They ended up outscoring Towson by 21 points during the final 18 minutes and 23 seconds. Notable contributions also came from Zuby Ejiofor, Joeson Sanon, Saddiq Ibin Ayo, and Ojiya Sellers, each scoring nine points, while Dillon Mitchell added eight points along with five rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
The Johnnies faced some difficulties against Towson’s pressure defense towards the end of the game, finding themselves trailing by five on rebounds. They suffered through a tough first half but showed resilience after halftime.
Pitino acknowledged the nerves that come with playing in front of a home crowd, saying, “Everyone felt it, regardless of experience. The first exhibition game is challenging for all teams, but we managed to stay calm, maintained our defense, and kept pushing. Our offense improved as the game progressed.”
Despite some players underperforming, including Ojia, Zuby, Ian, and Dylan Dahlin, Pitino remained positive about the overall outcome. “We can certainly do better, but I was pleased with the win,” he said.
A standout moment came when Pitino utilized a three-forward lineup, featuring Mitchell, Hopkins, and Ruben Prey, which sparked a significant 20-5 run early in the second half. Mitchell remarked, “It worked well. With Bryce, Ruben, and Zuby, we’ve got versatile players in the frontcourt that provides us an edge many teams lack.”
