Dan Hurley once declared, “Don’t turn your back on me. I’m the best coach in the f—— sport.” But right now, it doesn’t feel that way. Rick Pitino’s St. John’s handed UConn an 89-75 loss for the second time on February 23, setting the stage for a revenge matchup in the Big East Tournament. But Creighton slammed the door on that storyline, knocking out the Huskies 71-62. Now, Hurley is left with nothing to do other than watch how it all plays out.
After the loss, Hurley was asked about St. John’s and their chances in the tournament. His response? Politely dismissive. “What are the chances of St. John’s to make it?” a reporter asked during the Storrs Central media availability. Hurley kept his answer brief.
“I don’t want to speculate on what St. John’s season is going to be like,” Hurley said. “Maybe at some point, if my season ends before theirs does in March, maybe I’ll pop up on a TV somewhere and break down their credentials. But they’ve had an awesome season. They remind me a lot of Houston—just the rebounding and the defense, the physicality. And then, obviously, a lot of it’s going to be determined by how the game’s going to finish you in.”
It was classic Hurley—measured, respectful, but with an undercurrent of competitive tension. He knows Pitino’s squad has the firepower to make a deep run. After all, St. John’s has already proven they can outmuscle UConn twice this season. And Hurley has felt it firsthand, of course.
“I mean, look at the numbers,” Hurley said after that game. “Kadary Richmond is like devastating in the paint. (RJ) Luis (Jr.) is devastating at the paint. (Zuby) Ejiofor is a beast down there. I mean, Deivon Smith is so fast off the dribble, he is an American ninja.”
“These guys, you got to pick your poison,” Hurley added. “It’s a dangerous proposition. For us this year with our defense, we can’t take everything away. We’ve got to pick something that we want to try to take away. They stepped up and made ’em. They haven’t shot like that a lot but, credit to them, they stepped up and made ’em.”
Hurley knows better than to give Pitino any extra motivation—but Pitino hardly needs it. The legendary coach just earned his first Big East Coach of the Year award, along with a cool $100,000 bonus for winning the Big East regular season title. Pitino’s Red Storm isn’t just a feel-good story—they’re a serious threat, and Hurley knows it.
For now, though, Hurley is keeping his cards close to the vest. UConn’s Big East campaign may be over, but March Madness is still ahead. Hurley isn’t ready to tip his hand on Pitino’s squad—at least not until his own season is finished.
Greg McDermott from Creighton, on the other hand, has a problem to solve — and it’s wearing red.
Hurley watches from the sidelines as McDermott tries to solve Pitino’s Red Storm
St. John’s and Rick Pitino have been a thorn in Creighton’s side all season, and now McDermott faces the challenge of stopping the Red Storm in their upcoming Big East showdown. After a narrow 79-73 loss on February 17, the Bluejays know exactly what’s at stake — and exactly how hard it’ll be to pull off a win.
That February matchup was a battle of inches. Creighton shot 41.5% from the field, slightly better than St. John’s 38.4%, but the Red Storm’s relentless defense created chaos. St. John’s forced 15 turnovers, converting them into 20 points — a staggering difference in a six-point game.
NCAA, College League, USA Basketball: St. John at Marquette Mar 8, 2025 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA St. Johns Red Storm forward Zuby Ejiofor 24 celebrates after making the game winning shot in overtime against the Marquette Golden Eagles at Fiserv Forum. Milwaukee Fiserv Forum Wisconsin USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJeffxHanischx 20250308_jah_sh5_030
Despite winning the rebounding battle 42-45 and matching St. John’s in assists (21), Creighton’s sloppiness with the ball and poor perimeter shooting (26.7% from three) sealed their fate. Pitino’s squad didn’t just outscore Creighton — they out-hustled them.
Creighton has been riding a four-game win streak since that loss, averaging 75.7 points per game on 47.5% shooting. They’ve tightened up defensively, holding opponents to 69.4 points per game, and have found their rhythm behind the playmaking of Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander.
But St. John’s has been on an even hotter streak, winning eight straight and averaging 78.6 points (most in the Big East) while holding teams to 66 points per game. Pitino’s team is not only efficient offensively — they lead the Big East in steals (9.3) and second only to UConn in terms of blocks (5.3) per game, a defensive combination that could spell trouble for Creighton.
McDermott knows the key to beating Pitino lies in limiting turnovers and finding consistency from beyond the arc. In February’s loss, the Bluejays hit just 8-of-30 from three — a shaky 26.7% clip. St. John’s thrives on punishing mistakes, and Creighton’s 15 turnovers gave Pitino’s squad a clear edge. If Creighton wants to flip the script, they’ll need better ball security and sharper perimeter shooting.
For McDermott, the challenge is clear: contain St. John’s defensive pressure, control the tempo, and avoid the costly mistakes that sank them last time. Pitino has already beaten them twice this season — and the third time could be the charm for Creighton, or the final nail in the coffin.
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