Big East 2025 Regular Season and Conference Tournament Champions - St. John's Red Storm

Beasts of the East

Beasts of the East

Well-known member
2023 $upporter
This isn't Mount Everest, but maybe one of those plateaus you see out west.

We began this journey with enthusiasm, then immediate doubt as we limped home from the Bahamas with two losses. From that point on it's been an absolute Rocky story for us.

We hoped to be a top 4 league team by season's end. It was a reasonable goal and anything less a mild to moderate disappointment.

To wake up this morning looking down from the top of the league at everyone else is, well, for a lifelong Johnny fan, nothing short of a dream come true.

Yes, we have to clinch sole possession and no, that isn't a layup. But is there any doubt that we are one of the best teams in the country no matter what happens and we have the national coach of the year (if not the GOAT) leading us?

Lots of critical games to be played, but hey, we are about to play our first meaningful March basketball in a quarter century.

Bask in it fellas. This is a great accomplishment and by all means congratulations to every kid on the roster, every coach, trainer, and team manager.
 
Beasts of the East said:
This isn't Mount Everest, but maybe one of those plateaus you see out west.

We began this journey with enthusiasm, then immediate doubt as we limped home from the Bahamas with two losses. From that point on it's been an absolute Rocky story for us.

We hoped to be a top 4 league team by season's end. It was a reasonable goal and anything less a mild to moderate disappointment.

To wake up this morning looking down from the top of the league at everyone else is, well, for a lifelong Johnny fan, nothing short of a dream come true.

Yes we have to clinch sole possession and no that isn't a layup. But is there any doubt that we are one of the best teams in the country no matter what happens and we have the national coach of the year (if not the GOAT) leading us?

Lots of critical games to be played, but hey, we are about to play our first meaningful March basketball in a quarter century.

Bask in it fellas. This is a great accomplishment and by all means congratulations to every kid on the roster, every coach, trainer, and team manager.
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Things could not have gone better. Even early games we lost, we competed and could have won. We are positioned well for post season success. We last said that during the James Buchanan administration.

It is astounding Pitino achieved what he has in year two. Coaching counts and putting together this winning roster is incredible, just ask Kansas who flopped miserably in portal and paid the price.
 
I do believe the Baylor loss was just as important as any other win we’ve had this season. They don’t want to feel that pain again.

I honestly didn’t know if we’d ever get back to these kind of heights. It feels great and hopefully just the beginning. Kudos to Pitino for gelling this team in this age of NIL too.
 
Coaching counts (so does NIL $$$). I know that it is maybe trite, but I think that not only could we have won each of the games we lost, but we should have won each of them (not that we should have won all of them because losses happen). I don't think that any other team in the country has had a better season frankly, and no other team has been in each and every of their games like we have. It is astounding to think.

This is an historic run, and one that StJ has seen only a few times in its history. Not sure what will happen going forward this year (I think literally anything could happen), but it is imperative that we all try to enjoy the ride. It may not happen again, at least not in some of our lifetimes... (self included).

Great, great season. Not going to say to was worth the wait (because it has been really painful at times to be a fan), but certainly grateful to see it.
 
redmanwest said:
Coaching counts (so does NIL $$$). I know that it is maybe trite, but I think that not only could we have won each of the games we lost, but we should have won each of them (not that we should have won all of them because losses happen). I don't think that any other team in the country has had a better season frankly, and not other team has been in each and every game like we have. It is astounding to think.

This is an historic run, and one that StJ has seen only a few times in our history. Not sure what will happen going forward this year (I think literally anything could happen), but it is imperative that we all try to enjoy the ride. It may not happen again, at least not in some of our lifetimes... (self included).

Great, great season. Not going to say to was worth the wait (because it has been really painful at times to be a fan), but certainly grateful to see it.
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Nil money helps. Still need to add the right pieces to make it work. Fund the players who will work in a system and also set aside egos and play for the team and not them selves. It seems like it’s going to be where you want to catch lightening in a bottle. The days of building foundations through retention and development is over.
 
Rhythm said:
Nil money helps. Still need to add the right pieces to make it work. Fund the players who will work in a system and also set aside egos and play for the team and not them selves. It seems like it’s going to be where you want to catch lightening in a bottle. The days of building foundations through retention and development is over.
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Retention, yes. Development, well, every kid on this roster is a better player because of Rick and staff.

Understand your point though.

After this season the only eligible kids departing will be those feeling squeezed out. Kids will want to come here and stay. No bull! Is a factor
 
Rhythm said:
Nil money helps. Still need to add the right pieces to make it work. Fund the players who will work in a system and also set aside egos and play for the team and not them selves. It seems like it’s going to be where you want to catch lightening in a bottle. The days of building foundations through retention and development is over.
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As COVID extra year expires, I think you will see more balance between free agency, retention and an occasional physically mature prep school addition.
 
I think retention is more important than ever. It's easy for me to forget RJ/Zuby weren't high school recruits. It's imperative we get more than just super seniors in the portal, and get guys who can stay for multiple years. Let them work out the freshman kinks and, for most, sophomore slumps somewhere else, but then have them for their full upperclassmen years.
 
paultzman said:
Things could not have gone better. Even early games we lost, we competed and could have won. We are positioned well for post season success. We last said that during the James Buchanan administration.

It is astounding Pitino achieved what he has in year two. Coaching counts and putting together this winning roster is incredible, just ask Kansas who flopped miserably in portal and paid the price.
Click to expand...

"We last said that during the Jason Buchanan administration."

Fixed that for you....
 
A rule my father (also a pretty good basketball player back in his day and youth coach for a long time in my youth) taught me as a young lawyer is after a win you get 15 minutes to celebrate and after a loss you get 15 minutes to mope. Then it's on to the next case.

I am 100% certain that Pitino subscribes to the same theory.

Good job vs Butler. Next case.
 
Nice accomplishment, but only the BET champ gets a guaranteed invite to the Dance. Win them all!
 
That Baylor game might have been more important as a loss than if we won. Fans chanting Zuby the next game before it even started you don't forget moments like that. His family posted on the St Johns fans Facebook page how much the support meant to them that weekend. I think SJU79 had said something like kids on other teams around the country noticed that moment

I wish it was a main part of the vice episode

That's going to go down as my favorite moment as a fan so far and Zuby an all time favorite
 
redmanwest said:
Coaching counts (so does NIL $$$). I know that it is maybe trite, but I think that not only could we have won each of the games we lost, but we should have won each of them (not that we should have won all of them because losses happen). I don't think that any other team in the country has had a better season frankly, and no other team has been in each and every of their games like we have. It is astounding to think.

This is an historic run, and one that StJ has seen only a few times in its history. Not sure what will happen going forward this year (I think literally anything could happen), but it is imperative that we all try to enjoy the ride. It may not happen again, at least not in some of our lifetimes... (self included).

Great, great season. Not going to say to was worth the wait (because it has been really painful at times to be a fan), but certainly grateful to see it.
Click to expand...
I’m with you on all of this, although the “it may not happen again” is where I draw the line. We have the best coach in the sport (suck it Danny boy), and he is driven like so few are. It may not be first place every year for us while he leads our troops, but he is going for it with every move. That’s what I ask for and what I suppose you and most others on this board do.

And the evidence is there that our defense will be top 5 every year (or damn close), so with that my confidence is super high. Back in the 80’s and 90’s, we knew we belonged and we should win almost every game. Well boys, we belong again. And with the way the Garden is exploding with each play and each win, Rick and this very special team are reminding the basketball world of what we already knew. This is a special place and a unique place to play. Enjoy it, and expect it. We are…
 
Jnaw17 said:
I’m with you on all of this, although the “it may not happen again” is where I draw the line. We have the best coach in the sport (suck it Danny boy), and he is driven like so few are. It may not be first place every year for us while he leads our troops, but he is going for it with every move. That’s what I ask for and what I suppose you and most others on this board do.

And the evidence is there that our defense will be top 5 every year (or damn close), so with that my confidence is super high. Back in the 80’s and 90’s, we knew we belonged and we should win almost every game. Well boys, we belong again. And with the way the Garden is exploding with each play and each win, Rick and this very special team are reminding the basketball world of what we already knew. This is a special place and a unique place to play. Enjoy it, and expect it. We are…
Click to expand...
I was also just thinking this is probably the best time we could've possibly had Rick at St. John's. Shanley is the first university President who's competent and serious about investing in the college basketball program. Kull is the perfect institutional bridge to Repole (and other high end donors), and can execute a plan. Like you said, this isn't a flash in the pan with good players like other years.

If he was hired four years ago, he would've been frustrated with higher ups + had to deal with COVID years, and probably still young enough to contemplate leaving for another job. He was never ever coming here at any other point in his career.

We're really lucky and I finally think things are breaking our way in a big way for years to come.
 
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