When we talk about “miracle men” in college basketball, the first name that comes to mind is Rick Pitino. The 72-year-old Hall of Famer made history earlier this year by becoming the first coach to lead six different programs to the NCAA tournament, guiding St. John’s back to the Big Dance. It was a season to remember for the Johnnies, who captured their fourth Big East tournament title and made a long-awaited return to the Big East championship game for the first time since 2000 under Mike Jarvis. The Big East, often known as a basketball-first conference, has found a new powerhouse in Pitino’s Red Storm. But Dan Hurley and company might be gearing up to challenge that throne very soon!
It was a season to forget for Dan Hurley and his squad, as their dreams of achieving college basketball immortality with a three-peat came crashing down. After two years of dominance, the pressure was on Hurley to rebuild a team strong enough to climb back to the top. And it looks like he may have done just that. Meanwhile, trouble is brewing for Rick Pitino and the Red Storm, who just lost the Big East MVP to the transfer portal—a blow that could tilt the power balance in the conference once again.
St. John’s dominated the Big East regular season with an impressive 18-2 record, while Dan Hurley’s UConn squad settled for third place with a 14-6 record. But things might look a lot different next season. Rob Dauster from the Field of 68: After Dark podcast believes that with key names like Solo Ball and team captain Alex Karaban returning, the Huskies could be right back in the Big East title hunt.
He said, “I think they’re (UConn) very much in the mix for a preseason top-five ranking and right there with St. John’s as the preseason favorite to win the Big East.” And he’s got valid reasons to believe that. Ryan Cassidy’s way-too-early All-Big East First Team features two Huskies–Solo Ball and Alex Karaban–as well as two Red Storm stars, Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins. But there is a twist. St. John’s will be without their top player from last season, RJ Luis Jr. That’s a major hole to fill! On the other hand, UConn not only returns key contributors like Karaban, Ball, and Tarris Reed– they will also welcome 5-star recruit Braylon Mullins. Safe to say, the Big East title race is shaping up to be a thriller next season.
But not all hope is lost for St. John’s. Rick Pitino wasn’t going to stand still after losing his best player. The Hall of Famer wasted no time in the offseason, making major moves to reload the roster. Let’s break down what the Johnnies did to stay in the Big East title hunt for the upcoming season.
Rick Pitino and co make big moves in the transfer portal
St John’s went in heavy in the transfer portal. According to 247 Sports, they’ve landed the second-best transfer class in the country. The Red Storm brought in some major firepower: Ian Jackson (No. 8 overall), Bryce Hopkins (No. 15), Joson Sanon (No. 23), and Oziyah Sellers (No. 110). Despite the departure of RJ Luis, St. John’s backcourt is far from depleted. Rick Pitino has reloaded with some serious talent, giving fans plenty of reasons to stay excited.
The explosive backcourt trio of Jackson, Sanon, and Sellers brings serious scoring creativity and shooting. Jackson, a Bronx native, was a standout in transition points as a freshman and enters his sophomore year on national watchlists. Meanwhile, Hopkins adds the interior strength that St. John’s dearly missed last season. Pitino’s squad is reloaded and ready for a deep March Madness run next year.
Whether these additions will be enough to outshine a hungry UConn squad remains to be seen. The Huskies are determined to bounce back after a disappointing season, and Dan Hurley has the pieces to make that happen. On the other hand, Rick Pitino has done an excellent job rebuilding the Red Storm and putting together a roster capable of making another deep run. Now, it all comes down to preparation and execution when it matters most. Stay tuned–this Big East battle is just getting started!
The post Rick Pitino Gets a Strong Dose of Big East Reality Thanks to National Analyst’s Dan Hurley Stance appeared first on EssentiallySports.