St. John’s Triumphs Over UConn in College Basketball Showdown

College basketball put on quite the display on Friday as No. 22 St. John’s clashed with No. 3 University College in the electric atmosphere of Madison Square Garden.

Fans had marked this matchup on their calendars—the Big East battle between two of the top five preseason teams ended with St. John’s taking a significant 81-72 victory. This win is arguably the most critical for the team this season. The Red Storm kicked off the 2025-26 season with championship aspirations, but a slow 9-5 record, including an unexpected loss to Providence, dampened any early hopes of a title run.

However, things have started to look up for Rick Pitino’s squad recently. With a month left in the regular season, they are approaching their earlier expectations. Having secured nine consecutive wins, the Red Storm are back in the race for the Big East championship and have climbed the national rankings. Notably, their recent victory over UConn stands as their second against an at-large NCAA Tournament team, easing concerns about their credentials for the tournament.

Previously seen as strong contenders, St. John’s odds for the national championship had plummeted before this recent upswing. So, is the win against UConn a sign of things to come, or merely a high point in an otherwise tumultuous season?

Balanced Team Structure Provides Stability for St. John’s

St. John’s had previously clinched the Big East title and entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed last season. The standout trio of RJ Lewis Jr., Zubby Ejiofor, and Kamary Richmond was one of the most respected in college hoops.

Despite their talent, the Red Storm faced a significant setback in the tournament, suffering a blowout in the second round due to poor shooting from beyond the arc and an untimely injury to Lewis Jr. His dismal 3-of-17 shooting performance contributed to a disappointing conclusion to what had promised to be a great season.

The team has since rebuilt through the transfer portal, with new talent stepping in, though no single player could replace the impact of Lewis Jr. However, they effectively surrounded Ejiofor’s return with capable portal additions.

Notable among the new players is Bryce Hopkins, who adds depth in scoring and physicality. Dillon Mitchell brings athleticism and defensive versatility to the forward lineup, enhancing the team’s strength.

The backcourt features an interesting mix of Ian Jackson, Ojia Sellers, Joeson Sanon, and Dylan Darling, all contributing unique skills. Both Sellers and Jackson have secured starting spots and are double-digit scorers. Meanwhile, Sanon’s perimeter shooting and Darling’s skill as a point guard offer depth off the bench.

While there is a concern regarding the absence of a dedicated point guard in the starting five—especially against elite teams—St. John’s has shown they can effectively share the ball, relying on the collective talent of their roster. This season, multiple players have stepped up to lead in scoring or assist, a key difference from last year’s early tournament exit.

With a top-25 setup in both offense and defense, according to KenPom, the Red Storm feature a strong profile complemented by multiple scoring options.

Enhanced Perimeter Shooting Makes St. John’s More Fearsome

A significant weakness last season was St. John’s low 30 percent shooting rate from three-point territory. Although the current roster has its flaws, perimeter shooting has notably improved.

This year, the team has significantly more options from the three-point line, achieving a 35 percent success rate overall. Following the win over UConn, players like Dahlin, Jackson, Sanon, and Sellers have all shot at least 36 percent from beyond the arc this season.

Ejiofor also worked to enhance his shooting skills and is hitting a respectable 33 percent from long range, up from last year’s 22 percent, while Hopkins has been a tough competitor from the perimeter, even if his current rate sits at 30 percent.

While St. John’s isn’t necessarily an elite shooting team, pairing strong defense with multiple capable shooters makes them a daunting opponent, especially come March.

St. John’s Aims for True Championship Contention

Currently one of the hottest teams in college basketball, St. John’s still has improvements to make for a genuine run in the NCAA Tournament. The ongoing nine-game winning streak is a solid foundation for their broader ambitions.

However, the Red Storm’s tournament-level wins so far have been scarce, limited to key victories against Villanova and the recent game against UConn. With a relatively underwhelming year in the Big East, the team only has two more regular-season games against other competitive teams before the postseason kicks off.

Many Bracketology forecasts already place them around a 5th or 6th seed, which means a surprising loss to teams like UConn or Villanova could jeopardize their current momentum. In a season teeming with top-tier talent, St. John’s has little room for error heading into the season’s final stretch.

If the Red Storm make it far in March, it’s likely they’ll have to do so as a seed lower than the top three. Without significant changes in the standings of top teams, they won’t have the same quality wins—or chances for new quality wins—compared to others vying for favorable seeding.

The silver lining? Coach Rick Pitino’s teams have a history of gaining strength as the season progresses. While a win against UConn doesn’t fully establish St. John’s as a formidable championship contender after a rocky start, it’s certainly a sign they may finally be living up to preseason expectations.