Nov 9, 2024; Queens, New York, USA; St. John’s Crimson Storm head coach Rick Pitino watches from courtside within the first half in opposition to the Quinnipiac Bobcats at Carnesecca Area. Obligatory Credit score: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Photographs St. John’s is about to see the diploma of problem in its schedule enhance, and the opener of that difficult stretch can be a household affair.
Unbeaten by three video games and coming off its first win as a ranked crew in almost a decade, No. 22 St. John’s will host New Mexico on Sunday afternoon in New York within the fourth teaching matchup between Rick Pitino and his son Richard Pitino.
Rick Pitino is 2-1 in opposition to his son.
The Crimson Storm (3-0) are beginning every week after they not solely face New Mexico, however Twelfth-ranked Baylor on Thursday within the Baha Mar Hoops event within the Bahamas/ St. John’s may face Eleventh-ranked Tennessee or Virginia in that occasion.
St. John’s is coming off three wins in its on-campus area in Queens over Fordham, Quinnipiac and Wagner by a mixed 76 factors.
“New Mexico might be the No. 1 offensive-pace crew within the nation, and I do know it higher than anyone,” Rick Pitino stated after the Crimson Storm earned their first win as a ranked crew since Dec. 28, 2014.
“So we have to prepare for this tempo. They have an awesome guard, they have nice assist gamers, they have a terrific inside participant. It is a robust, robust check.”
The primary three video games featured moments when the Crimson Storm struggled, particularly throughout Wednesday’s 66-45 win over Wagner. St. John’s scored 18 straight factors to drag away within the closing 10 minutes.
The Crimson Storm shot 50 p.c from the sphere (21 of 42) however took 13 fewer photographs than Wagner and missed 12 of 30 free throws.
RJ Luis Jr. scored 13 factors as St. John’s high scorer, however Aaron Scott made three key photographs through the decisive run and added 11. Scott made his key contributions after sitting out in opposition to Quinnipiac on Nov. 9 with an sickness and tweaking his ankle in follow forward of the Wagner recreation.
“We did our job in opposition to these three groups,” Rick Pitino stated. “Now it is actually going to get robust.”
Pitino modified the beginning lineup by having Kadary Richmond come off the bench together with Zuby Ejiofor, however each might return to beginning on Sunday.
New Mexico (3-0) acquired 15 factors on this week’s High 25 ballot and is searching for its second win over a ranked opponent this season. The Lobos knocked UCLA out of this week’s ballot by beating the then-No. 22 Bruins 72-64 on Nov. 8.
New Mexico is making an attempt to start out 4-0 for the second time in three seasons after incomes a 100-81 dwelling win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Tuesday, when the Lobos pressured 22 turnovers following forcing 21 in opposition to UCLA.
Donovan Dent, who’s averaging a team-high 19 factors a recreation for the Lobos, totaled 25 factors and 10 assists and continued his enchancment from his sophomore season. Dent averaged 14.1 factors on 52 p.c capturing from the sphere however final season however is capturing 58.8 p.c in 2024-25.
“It was a great win for our guys,” Richard Pitino stated. “I assumed they have been able to go. When you have got an enormous win like UCLA, everyone seems to be telling them how nice they’re. Then you have got one other massive recreation in opposition to St. John’s arising. I assumed the psychological strategy was terrific to deal with their enterprise in opposition to (Corpus Christi).”
Moreover Dent’s massive displaying on Tuesday, Kayde Dotson added 18 factors and Tru Washington 15.
–Area Stage Media
