In Hartford, Connecticut, a showdown between two college basketball rivals took a surprising turn. The Huskies, desperate for a win, dominated St. John’s with a painful 72-40 victory. The Johnnies entered the game riding a strong 13-game winning streak, their best since the 1984-85 Final Four team. However, they seemed to leave their game back in Queens.
Coach Rick Pitino took full responsibility for the loss, calling it one of the lowest points of his Hall of Fame career. He noted that his team failed to execute the strategies that had served them well throughout the season. “We did things that we’ve never done,” he lamented, hinting at a lack of focus that overshadowed their past performance.
This loss snapped St. John’s streak and tied both teams in losses for the Big East standings. St. John’s still controls its destiny: If they win out, they can secure at least a share of the league title and maintain a top seed in the upcoming Big East Tournament.
“Championship-level teams respond,” said Zuby Ejiofor, a player on the St. John’s roster. He emphasized the importance of moving on from this setback and preparing for their next challenge against Villanova. “Today was an off game for me personally, as well as the team.”
This marked the first time a Pitino-led team failed to score above 50 points since 2016. Interestingly, the last time St. John’s scored this few points was in a loss to Notre Dame back in 2013. The team struggled throughout the game, often going long stretches without scoring. Their 20% shooting percentage and failure to capitalize on turnovers were dire indicators of the night’s outcome.
On the flip side, Tarris Reed Jr. shined for Connecticut, contributing 20 points, 11 rebounds, and six blocks. Alex Karaban added 14 points to help secure the win for the Huskies. Coach Dan Hurley remarked that it was a night where “everything went great for us and everything went wrong for them.” The Huskies seemed to have found their rhythm just in time.
User reactions on social media reflected disbelief at the game’s one-sidedness. Many fans expressed shock over St. John’s inability to compete, especially given their recent success. This was not the type of performance expected from a team aiming for a tourney run.
As both teams look ahead, the atmosphere is charged with the anticipation of a possible rematch in the Big East Tournament. For now, St. John’s faces the critical task of regrouping and rediscovering the momentum they’ve recently lost.
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College Basketball,Sports,big east,St. John's Red Storm,uconn huskies
