Rick Pitino's St. John's Eyes Top 25 Ranking Amidst Roster Overhaul

The St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team is entering the new season with high expectations, earning a preseason ranking of No. 13 in the Associated Press poll. This marks the first time since the 1990-91 season that the program has been ranked in the AP's top 25 for two consecutive years.

Head coach Rick Pitino highlighted the diverse skill sets of his new roster, noting the unique contributions of players like point guard Quinn Ellis and freshman Ian Jackson. "It's a fun group because they're all so different in skills and there's nobody that's similar," Pitino said during a recent news conference. He described Ellis and Jackson as "direct opposites" in their playing styles, which adds an element of challenge and excitement to his coaching.

Pitino also lauded other players, calling transfer Keyshawn Hall "one of the best bucket-getters I've ever seen." He further praised the development of Babacar Sane and the untapped potential of Hungarian addition Zsombor Maronka, stating that reporters have yet to witness Maronka's full capabilities.

The team's cohesion is still developing, as many players, including Hall and Indiana transfer Reed Bailey, joined the program in late August. With only two significant contributors from the previous season, Jackson and Ruben Prey, returning, Pitino acknowledged that the team is still mastering the offensive and defensive systems. "There are bound to be growing pains," Pitino stated, as he continues to learn the strengths and weaknesses of a largely new group of athletes. The coach expressed his enthusiasm for working with this squad, emphasizing his excitement to "making Babacar a great player."