St. John's Red Storm Returns To Top 25

 

Head Coach Rick Pitino instructs his players during a timeout on November 4. Photo by Jason Schott.

The St. John's Red Storm are in the AP Top 25, coming in at No. 22 after they have started the season with two solid victories.

It is the first time they have been ranked under Head Coach Rick Pitino, and the first for the team since the 2018-19 season, when Chris Mullin was at the helm and they made the NCAA Tournament.

St. John's won their first game over Fordham, 92-60, last Monday night, and then put up 61 points to fend off a spirited Quinnipiac team, 96-73 on Saturday.

Also on Monday, RJ Luis Jr. was named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll after he averaged 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in the two victories at Carnesecca Arena, also known as The Lou (credit Josh Adams). Luis also shot 50 percent (12-24) overall, and was a near-perfect 10-11 from the free throw line.

On Saturday, Luis led St. John's with 24 points on 8-for-17 shooting, including 0-3 from behind the arc and 8-9 on free throws, and 13 rebounds to give him a double-double, along with three assists and two steals.

No. 22 St. John's is one of four Big East schools in the AP Top 25, along with No. 3 UConn, No. 14 Creighton, and No. 15 Marquette.

AP TOP 25 MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL POLL:

RANKING - TEAM - RECORD - POINTS - FIRST-PLACE VOTES:

1. Kansas - 2-0 - 1525 - 44

2. Alabama - 2-0 - 1439 - 6

3. UConn - 2-0 -1398 - 7

4. Gonzaga - 2-0 - 1371 - 3

5. Auburn - 2-0 - 1315 - 2

6. Duke - 2-0 - 1222

7. Iowa State - 1-0 - 1206

8. Houston - 1-1 - 1070

9. Arizona - 2-0 - 1004

10. North Carolina - 1-1 - 992

11. Tennessee - 2-0 - 930

12. Baylor - 1-1 - 806

13. Purdue - 2-0 - 795

14. Creighton - 2-0 - 752

15. Marquette - 2-0 - 603

16. Indiana - 2-0 - 600

17. Cincinnati - 2-0 - 454

18. Arkansas - 1-1 - 357

19. Kentucky - 2-0 - 353

20. Florida - 2-0 - 332

21. Ohio State - 1-0 - 273

22. St. John's - 2-0 - 178

23. Texas A&M - 1-1 - 169

24. Rutgers - 1-0 - 157

25. Ole Miss - 2-0 - 147