Heated Exchange on NBC Sports Broadcast

During a recent episode of X-Space hosted by John Fanta, a fan called in, critiquing the performance of Big East basketball teams. This call came during a discussion about the previous losses of Seton Hall and St. John’s.

The caller bluntly stated that both teams were “terrible,” specifically targeting the Red Storm. Fanta did not take kindly to this assessment.

“You can’t just say that!” he exclaimed, labeling the caller’s remarks as “rubbish.” He was quick to defend St. John’s, pointing out their strong rankings—top 25 in KenPom and the NET, no less. “That’s not terrible,” he asserted, exasperated. “I mean, the weather might be terrible, or my football team could be terrible, but not them.” His irritation was palpable as he continued, “A lot of people call in saying it’s terrible. It’s ridiculous.”

This fiery exchange happened just a day before St. John’s achieved a significant victory against Xavier, winning 88-83—marking their sixth consecutive win.

The game was also notable as it was Rick Pitino’s 900th career win, and interestingly, he faced his son Richard, who coaches the opposing Xavier team.

After the game, Pitino expressed pride in his team. “They showed remarkable resilience, especially in front of such a large crowd,” he told reporters. Their performance was commendable, especially given the pressure to maintain composure during the match.

With this victory, St. John’s now stands at a record of 15-5, sitting in second place in the conference, trailing UW. The team’s next challenge is against Butler at Madison Square Garden this Wednesday.