For the primary time in a quarter-century, St. John’s has cracked the highest 10 within the AP ballot.
The Rick Pitino-led Pink Storm got here in at No. 9 on this week’s ballot, matching their highest rating since they had been No. 9 on the finish of the 1999-2000 season.
They moved up three spots from final week after defeating No. 11 Marquette at Madison Sq. Backyard on Tuesday and No. 19 UConn on the street Friday.
St. John’s has gained 10 video games in a row, boasts a 21-3 file and is 12-1 in Large East play.
“We’re playing great basketball right now, but our defense is one of the best in the country,” Pitino stated after beating UConn. “We’re getting better offensively. So, I’m happy. I’m happy with everybody, their defensive focus.”
Now of their second season since hiring the championship-winning Pitino as head coach, the Johnnies are closing in on their first NCAA Event look since 2019.
They only accomplished their first undefeated January since 1985, a yr during which Lou Carnesecca led them to the Closing 4. That is their first 10-game successful streak in convention play since that magical 1984-85 season.
Fueling Friday’s 66-62 win over UConn, the back-to-back defending NCAA champions, was 21 factors from guard RJ Luis Jr., whose jumper with below 11 seconds remaining served because the dagger.
Luis, who scored 17 factors towards Marquette, earned a collection of honors for his latest performances, together with Large East Participant of the Week and Naismith Trophy Nationwide Participant of the Week.
Luis, a junior in his second season at St. John’s, is averaging 17.8 factors and 6.8 rebounds per recreation this season.
“Everybody brings it,” Luis stated after the UConn recreation. “Just to see where Coach Pitino is at in his life, just the fire that he brings. Not only Coach Pitino but the whole coaching staff. … They want to see us do well. When you got people like that around you that want to push you every day, you want to push back.”
Subsequent up for St. John’s is a street recreation towards Villanova on Tuesday, adopted by a gathering with No. 24 Creighton on the Backyard on Sunday.
Creighton is the final crew to beat St. John’s, having gained the groups’ Dec. 31 matchup in Omaha, Neb., by a rating of 57-56.
The Johnnies’ three losses this season are by a mixed 5 factors.
“Having a hell of a year,” Pitino stated. “We just got to keep it up.”
Initially Revealed: February 10, 2025 at 4:56 PM EST
