St. John’s Men’s Basketball Has Highest Ranking In 33 Years

After years of struggling and attempting to regain relevancy, the St. John’s men’s basketball program looks as though they’re back. According to the latest AP poll, the Red Storm is now the 7th ranked team in the nation, which is their highest ranking in the last 33 years.

St. John’s Ranked 7th For First Time Since 1992

Rick Pitino and St. John’s appeared to be the perfect match when the head coach was hired prior to last season. After long, successful tenures at schools like Providence, Kentucky, and Louisville, Pitino joined the Red Storm as a part of his career reclamation project. In 2017, he was let go from the Louisville program after a “pay for play” investigation, and the elite coach spent time overseas before returning to coach Iona University’s team for two seasons.

When former head coach Mike Anderson stepped down after four unsuccessful years, St. John’s hired Pitino in 2023. The program was in desperate need of a shot in the arm, as they hadn’t advanced past the first round of the NCAA Tournament since the year 2000. In the eight seasons between 2016 and 2023, they finished with a winning record in their conference just one time (9-10 in 2021), a stretch which included a 1-17 mark against the Big East in 2016.

St. John’s moves up to No. 7 in the latest men’s college basketball poll, the Red Storm’s highest ranking in 33 years 📈

1. Auburn
2. Duke
3. Florida
4. Houston
5. Tennessee
6. Alabama
7. St. John’s
8. Michigan State
9. Iowa State
10. Texas Tech

— ESPN (@espn) February 24, 2025

A coach of Pitino’s caliber was just what St. John’s was looking for. Things were slow-going in  the first year, as the Red Storm finished with a 20-13 overall record in 2024 and missed out on the postseason.

But they appear destined to be in the top-68 this season. They are 15-2 in conference thus far, which is their best start since going 15-1 in 1985. They’ve defeated the two-time defending National Champions twice, sweeping the season series with UConn for the first time in 25 years. And because of their success, St John’s finds themselves ranked 7th overall in the latest AP poll, their highest ranking since 1992.

The four losses that they have sustained this season have come by a combined total of 7 points.

Pitino and company will look to keep things rolling in March when games matter the most. They are let by junior guard RJ Luis Jr., and do-it-all forward Zuby Ejiofor could become an NBA prospect if he improves his touch from three-point range.

The Red Storm will finish their regular season by taking on Butler, Marquette, and Seaton Hall over the next couple of weeks.