St. John’s Aims for Historic Win Against UConn at MSG

NEW YORK, NY — With the NCAA Tournament around the corner, the St. John's Red Storm are gearing up for a crucial matchup against the University of Connecticut Huskies on Sunday at Madison Square Garden (MSG). The game, set to tip off at noon ET, is particularly significant as St. John’s looks to maintain its lead in the Big East standings and solidify its chances for a top seed in the upcoming tournament.

St. John’s, who currently sits at 23-4 overall and 14-2 in the conference, seeks to erase the memories of Connecticut fans overwhelming MSG during their victories over the Red Storm last season. “U-C-O-N-N, UConn, UConn, UConn” has become a chant synonymous with tension for St. John’s players and fans alike. Junior forward Zuby Ejiofor expressed, “The energy and the support that they show us on a given night is just something we expect coming up against UConn.”

The stakes are high for both teams as St. John’s is on the cusp of its first outright regular-season league title since the 1984-85 season. A victory against the 10th-ranked Huskies would further distance the Red Storm from their closest competitors, Creighton and Marquette, and position them firmly atop the conference with just three games remaining in the season.

Facing UConn for the first time since the Huskies rejoined the Big East, St. John’s players are motivated by the potential to clinch their place at the top. “Such a big stage, such a big arena, such a big game coming up,” sophomore guard Simeon Wilcher said. “It’s really hard to put into words how excited I am, especially just for the environment.”

Though UConn fans are expected to be present, a strong turnout from St. John’s supporters is anticipated, with the Red Storm having sold out their last game against Creighton. The average attendance at MSG for St. John’s this season has been an impressive 16,188, a testament to the growing support for the team. Coach Rick Pitino remarked, “They’re gonna show out, believe me.”

St. John’s enters the game without leading scorer RJ Luis, who is dealing with a pulled groin, although there is optimism surrounding his potential availability after practicing on Saturday. His absence may pose a challenge, considering Luis is averaging 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds this season and performed exceptionally in St. John’s previous victory over UConn on February 7, where he scored 21 points.

Despite his uncertain status, Coach Pitino believes his team can replicate the defensive prowess displayed in their last meeting with the Huskies, where they limited UConn to just 32 points in the last 31 minutes of the game. “We know exactly what’s at stake,” Ejiofor said. “We just got to get it done, whatever it takes.”

Both teams are riding impressive streaks, with St. John’s undefeated at home this season and UConn boasting a long winning record in New York City. The outcome of this game not only serves as a chance for St. John’s to solidify their lead in the Big East but also as an opportunity for redemption against a rival that has long caused them heartache at MSG.