First-year head coach – and 2013 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee – Rick Pitino has taken the St. John’s University basketball team back to its glory days – with his eyes set on getting the team back into March Madness play. The last time the team played in the NCAA Tournament was in 2019!
“I want to make the NCAA Tournament,” said St. John’s senior center, Joel Soriano.
Soriano is arguably having an All-Big East type of season, averaging 17.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game – which are all team-highs. He, like the rest of the team, also wants to dominate the upcoming Big East Tournament. Fueled by the team’s recent win over Villanova – their first win on the Villanova campus in over 30 years – St. John’s is looking more confident than ever.
Growing up watching college basketball – specifically the Big East – and having attended St. John’s University – I can attest to the hype that had previously surrounded the program. Throughout the years, the program had its share of coaching staff changes, downfalls, and pivots but is finally back on the upward trend – and getting back to what St. John’s basketball is all about.
Check out the St. John’s vs Villanova highlights below and the upcoming schedule.
St. John’s vs Seton Hall: Tuesday, Jan 16 @ 8:30 p.m.
St. John’s vs Marquette: Saturday, Jan 20 @ 12 p.m.
St. John’s vs Villanova: Wednesday, Jan 24 @ 8:30 p.m.
St. John’s vs. Xavier: Wednesday, Jan 31 @ 6:30 p.m.
St. John’s vs. UConn: Saturday, Feb 3 @ 12 p.m.
