Omaha Performance Review

Omaha, Neb. — Coach Zuby Ejiofor expressed no surprise at reserve Ruben Prey’s strong showing in Tuesday’s game against Butler.

He witnesses this level of performance daily during practice.

“He’s my main matchup,” Ejiofor mentioned. “Ruben is a fantastic player, and even better, he’s a great person. What he brings to the game is the same intensity I see in practice.”

Ejiofor noted that every practice feels like a challenge. “He protects me, and I protect him. I believe we really complement each other, pushing one another to improve every single day.”

This matchup against Butler marked the second occasion this season that coach Rick Pitino included Ejiofor alongside Prey, particularly due to foul issues.

They had previously shared the court against William & Mary on November 15. Their synergy was evident in the Butler game, where Prey notched a season-high of 10 points in just 18 minutes, contributing significantly on defense with two steals and a block.

“His 3-point shooting really helped open the floor,” Ejiofor added. “He nailed a couple of crucial shots, especially that last one. He brings size, length, and physicality to the game, just like I do.”

After Tuesday’s game, Pitino suggested the possibility of seeing Prey and Ejiofor play together more frequently in the future.

With their recent victory over Creighton, St. John’s now holds a 4-1 record in league play, marking the third consecutive year they’ve achieved this. It’s interesting to note that until Pitino’s arrival, this feat hadn’t occurred since the 2000-01 season.

Historically, St. John’s has struggled against Creighton in Omaha, with a record of 1-13. Their sole victory was on January 30, 2019, during the final year of coach Chris Mullin’s time with the team.

Bryce Hopkins delivered a solid performance as well, scoring 17 points against Butler, which was his highest total since the victory over Baylor on November 25, where he set a season-high with 26 points.