No. 12 St. John’s Seeks Another Statement Win Against No. 19 UConn in Big East Showdown

St. John’s is enjoying a season for the ages, while UConn is still searching for the dominant form that made them back-to-back national champions. In a highly anticipated Big East clash, the No. 12 Red Storm will visit the No. 19 Huskies on Friday night in Storrs, Conn., with both teams aiming to solidify their conference standing.

St. John’s on a Historic Run

The Red Storm (20-3, 11-1 Big East) have been the hottest team in the conference, riding a nine-game winning streak that has catapulted them into the national spotlight. Their 20-3 record through 23 games is their best since the 1985-86 season, and their 11-1 Big East mark is the program’s best conference start since 1984-85—a year that saw St. John’s reach its last Final Four.

Head coach Rick Pitino has instilled a tough, gritty style of play that has carried his team to success despite below-average perimeter shooting. The Red Storm rank near the bottom of Division I in three-point shooting at 29.6% (344th out of 364 teams), yet they dominate in other key areas.

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Their defensive efficiency ranks fourth in the nation, and their relentless work on the glass has been a defining trait. St. John’s is pulling down 14.5 offensive rebounds per game—ninth-most in the country. In Tuesday’s 72-70 win over No. 11 Marquette, the Red Storm grabbed 21 offensive boards, leading to 16 second-chance points and 36 points in the paint.

The win also featured an impressive rebounding effort from multiple players. Zuby Ejiofor finished with 13 rebounds, while RJ Luis Jr. and Kadary Richmond each hauled in 11, marking the first time this season that three Big East teammates recorded double-digit rebounds in the same game.

“I’ve been proud of a lot of teams, but I’m so proud of this team,” Pitino said. “They are just so refreshing with the way that they play, how hard they play. They deserve all the credit in the world.”

UConn Still Searching for Its Championship Identity

For UConn (16-6, 8-3 Big East), the season has been far from smooth. The Huskies are aiming to become the first program to win three straight national titles since UCLA’s legendary run from 1967-1973, but this year’s team has not consistently displayed the dominance of its predecessors.

Defensive struggles have been a major concern. UConn currently ranks 119th in defensive efficiency—its lowest ranking since Dan Hurley’s first season in 2018-19. The Huskies have already lost twice as many games as they did all of last season, and their Big East wins have been far less commanding than in years past.

While UConn ended last season on a 13-game winning streak—winning by double digits in 11 of those games—this year’s team has had to grind out victories. Their eight conference wins have come by an average margin of just 6.8 points, and they’ve had to erase double-digit deficits in comeback wins over Providence and DePaul.

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In Tuesday’s 77-69 win over Marquette, the Huskies never trailed but struggled to put the game away. After building a 15-point lead, they allowed the Golden Eagles to cut the deficit to six points three times in the final 2:51. Solo Ball was instrumental in sealing the win, scoring 17 of his 21 points in the second half.

Head coach Dan Hurley acknowledged that his team’s lack of urgency has been a recurring issue.

“There was a stretch in the second half where it was like we weren’t desperate enough or urgent enough,” Hurley said. “It’s been the story of our season. These are the things that we haven’t done this year that our past teams have done. They were just way hungrier to the ball, especially in the second half. … I’m proud of the win, but we don’t play with that tenacity that our past teams have played with.”

Key Factors to Watch

• St. John’s Physicality vs. UConn’s Defense – The Red Storm thrive on winning battles inside, while the Huskies have struggled defensively this season. If UConn doesn’t bring the necessary physicality, St. John’s could dominate the boards and control the pace of the game.
• Three-Point Shooting Disparity – UConn is far superior from beyond the arc, while St. John’s relies on attacking the rim. If the Huskies get hot from deep, they could neutralize the Red Storm’s rebounding advantage.
• Battle of Coaching Minds – Pitino has been masterful in getting the most out of his team, while Hurley is searching for the formula to reignite UConn’s championship mentality. The adjustments made throughout the game could be pivotal.

With St. John’s surging and UConn trying to regain its dominant form, Friday’s matchup promises to be a high-intensity battle that could have major implications in the Big East standings.