St. John’s Aims for Title Against UConn in Showdown at Madison Square Garden

NEW YORK, New York — The St. John’s Red Storm will host the reigning two-time national champions, the University of Connecticut Huskies, on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. This high-stakes matchup, which tips off at noon ET, is critical as St. John’s seeks to secure its first outright regular-season league title since the 1984-85 season.

Ranked 10th nationally, St. John’s currently leads the Big East Conference with a record of 23-4 and is two games ahead of Creighton and three games ahead of both Connecticut and No. 16 Marquette as the regular season enters its final stretch.

“For the most part of the season, it’s always been like a sea of red, Johnnies fans packing MSG, and that’s something that we need to thrive off of,” said junior forward Zuby Ejiofor.

This is the first time the Huskies will face St. John’s at the Garden since rejoining the Big East five years ago. The match carries the weight of rivalry, considering the Connecticut fans who celebrated victories over St. John’s last season, an echo Ejiofor described as “nightmare fuel.”

St. John’s comes into the game following a win over DePaul where they showcased their strong home advantage, which has seen average attendance at 16,188 per game this season. Coach Rick Pitino noted the significant presence of St. John’s supporters, emphasizing that “they’re gonna show out.”

In terms of player health, leading scorer RJ Luis is expected to be available despite dealing with a pulled groin, having missed the game against DePaul. His contribution is vital, especially after his standout performance of 21 points in the earlier meeting with UConn on February 7.

St. John’s defense shined in that victory, forcing 22 turnovers and limiting UConn to just 32 points in the second half. UConn coach Dan Hurley acknowledged the Red Storm’s formidable defense, praising their physicality and ability to switch on and off the ball.

Currently, both teams bring impressive streaks into the game. St. John’s remains undefeated at home with a perfect 16-0 record, while the Huskies have won 10 straight games in New York City, including eight consecutive victories at Madison Square Garden. As both teams aim for postseason positioning, the emotional stakes could not be higher.

“We know exactly what’s at stake,” Ejiofor said. “We just got to get it done, whatever it takes,” emphasizing the collective determination of the team as they prepare to face the Huskies.