Zuby Ejiofor Shines in St. John’s Victory Over Villanova
Another chapter in Zuby Ejiofor’s standout career at St. John’s was written recently.
Following a tough defeat against Connecticut, he stepped up to ensure the 15th-ranked Johnnies were prepared to take on Villanova.
Ejiofor achieved a rare feat by recording his fifth triple-double since the 1985-86 season, driving the No. 15 Red Storm to a dominating 89-57 win over Villanova in front of a lively crowd at Madison Square Garden.
He finished the game with 16 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and three blocks, leading St. John’s to their largest victory margin in school history.
“Coach Rick Pitino pulled me aside for a talk,” Ejiofor recalled. “There was no way I could forget that moment. On those last two possessions, we just let the offense flow and shared the ball. It really felt special.”
When he made his 10th assist, setting up a jumper for Johnson Sanon with just over three minutes left, the crowd erupted, chanting “Zoobie.” Past players who have achieved a triple-double for St. John’s include Mark Jackson, David Cain, Metta World Peace, and Cadary Richmond.
St. John’s will play their next game at Madison Square Garden against Georgetown on Tuesday. It’s set to be a significant night, as it will also mark Ejiofor’s senior day, promising to be an emotional occasion.
Pitino expressed his sentiments by saying, “I’m going to really miss him because I know he’s someone I can rely on every day. We need to fill the Garden to honor him and the other players.”
Originally, Pitino planned to wear a white suit for what was dubbed the “whiteout game,” following their recent disappointing loss. However, after a media session and a suggestion that not wearing a suit might convey a lack of confidence, he reconsidered.
“Actually, my mind changed,” he reflected. “I thought about it. He raised a good point—would the fans think we’ve lost confidence?”
St. John’s began the season 3-0 when Pitino opted to wear the white suit.
Moreover, freshman guard Kelvin O’Dea is still sidelined due to a sore right foot. Notably, the team’s 26 assists tied the record for the most in a Big East game since 1999.
