St. John’s downs No. 3 Conn, ending the Huskies’ 18-game winning streak
NEW YORK — After more than five decades of coaching, it’s hard for anything to impress Rick Pitino. But after seeing his biggest regular-season win since taking over at St.
“This is the best, smartest group of people I’ve ever coached,” Pitino said. “In 52 years. There’s not one guy who doesn’t give me everything.”
No. 22 St. John’s got its first marquee win of the season Friday night, knocking off No. 3 Conn 81-72 to snap the Huskies’ 18-game winning streak in front of an electric crowd at Madison Square Garden. It was Pitino’s first win over a top-five team since Feb. 1. 2016, according to ESPN Research, and means he has now coached five different programs to top 10 wins, becoming only the second coach ever to reach that mark.
The win also tied Pitino with Roy Williams for third in Division I history with 903 career wins.
“It’s as tough a game as we’ve had to play this year,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said.
The strategy of St. John appeared in the first few minutes. After UConn big man Tarris Reed Jr. led by six points six minutes into the game, the Red Storm were finally able to find an offensive rhythm through Big East Preseason Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor. Ejiofor immediately scored his first basket, went to the free throw line in the next zone, then assisted Joson Sanon 3 to win a 7-0 run that lasted less than a minute and gave the Red Storm the lead.
Conn would lead just three more times in the game and never score more than two points.
The Red Storm have relied heavily on toughness and physicality as the season progresses, and Friday night was no different. They always looked to beat UConn in the paint, outscoring the Huskies in that area 42-34. They grabbed nine rebounds and turned in 16 points in the second half. They also got to the foul line 31 times, compared to the Huskies’ 12 free throw attempts.
Ejiofor (21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists), Dillon Mitchell (15 points, six rebounds) and Bryce Hopkins (14 points, six rebounds) proved too much for UConn’s front line on the offensive end.
“They’re grown men,” Hurley said. “Mitchell, Hopkins and Ejiofor, if you have to play them in Big East games, the way the game will be handled in conference play, they are built for Big East games.”
On the other side of the floor, the full-court pressure of St. John always causes problems for UConn. The Huskies turned the ball over 15 times, leading to 20 Red Storm points. UConn had problems throughout the game throwing the ball inside, getting too close on too many five-second calls. When Silas Demary Jr. was UConn’s best player on the night, finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and had nine turnovers.
“They probably had 15 times where it was about five seconds but we didn’t get the call,” Pitino said. “But it’s tiring. A lot of times, the benefits of the treadmill are physical, trying to open for five seconds, it’s tiring. And it’s tiring in your recovery, worn out in your passing.”
Despite the stellar play of the frontcourt, the unsung hero of the night was Idaho State transfer Dylan Darling. Darling’s role has changed throughout the season, and after a scoreless first half in which he played just five minutes, it didn’t look like Friday was going to be a good game. But the 6-foot-1 point guard was the catalyst in the second half, posting nine points, two assists and one steal after halftime.
Darling generated momentum early in the second half when he stole the ball from Demary and made two big baskets later in the half — including a 3-pointer with 3:13 left that pushed the Red Storm’s lead to five points.
“This is the best, smartest group of people I’ve ever coached. In my 52 years. There’s not one guy who doesn’t give it his all.”
St. John’s coach Rick Pitino
“It’s hard to adjust from where he was to this level. It takes time,” Pitino said. “His level of wanting to take over the game is amazing to me. … It’s really amazing what he’s doing right now.”
St. John’s has now won nine straight after starting 9-5, and the Red Storm are tied in the loss column with UConn atop the Big East. A rematch is scheduled for Feb. 25 in Hartford, and they may be on their way to a Game 3 clash for the Big East championship game.
But on Friday, St. John’s secured home court — a court sometimes referred to as “Storrs South” after the way UConn fans take over Madison Square Garden when the Huskies are in town. This time, there was no mistaking which fan base had a chance.
“The garden was as beautiful as I’ve seen,” Pitino said. “I thought it was unbelievable, how beautiful the garden was. I said 70/30, 60/40 — that was 90/10. A big crowd.”
