We all know St. John’s—it’s a program with deep tradition, a fan base that bleeds red, and well, accustomed to its fair share of heartbreak in recent years. But this year is different. Riding high on their relentless defense and guided by a coach who simply wins everywhere he goes, the Red Storm are rewriting history. Providence, Kentucky, Louisville, Iona—Rick Pitino’s track record speaks for itself. And now he’s doing it all over again at St. John’s.
With their eighth consecutive win and 18th in their last 19, the Red Storm aren’t just having a good season—they’re making history. Their latest feat ia a 79-63 beatdown of Marquette in the Big East tournament semifinals, punching their ticket to the conference final for the first time since 2000. That’s a 25-year drought. GONE now.
And yet, for the first seven minutes of the game, it looked like heartbreak was back on the menu. Marquette stormed out to a 24-9 lead, and Madison Square Garden, packed with Red Storm faithful, fell eerily quiet. But this St. John’s team doesn’t fold. A blistering 9-0 run flipped the momentum in just 90 seconds.
By the second half, they had full control, marking their seventh double-digit comeback win this season. Zuby Ejiofor stole the show with a historic performance, dropping 33 points (setting a program record for a Big East tournament game). And naturally, social media is buzzing in awe of St.John’s HC.
Rick Pitino lowkey might be the best college basketball coach of all time
— Another KU Burner (@KUBurner) March 16, 2025
A fan wrote, “Rick Pitino lowkey might be the best college basketball coach of all time.” Now, that’s a statement. Coach K is widely considered the GOAT, and Pitino forcing his way into that conversation says a lot. Then there’s this, “Rick Pitino is a coaching god and St. John’s is a wagon!” A wagon. As in, they’re rolling, and everyone better get out of the way. Pitino’s reputation has always been larger than life, and now fans are throwing around metaphors fit for a deity. That’s the level of impact he’s having.
So, the energy is electric, the belief is back, and St. John’s is on the brink of something special. One more win, and this team cements its place in history. But we also know that Pitino is aiming for something bigger than this.
The post College Basketball Community Gives Strong Verdict over Rick Pitino as He Ends St. John’s 25-Year Big East Drought appeared first on EssentiallySports.