“You were all there when we went undefeated at Carnesecca Arena and Madison Square Garden,” proclaimed Rick Pitino to a sold-out Carnesecca Arena as St. John’s showcased their new hardware prior to the tip-off of the 2025-2026 season.
Pitino and the four returning Johnnies showed-off Big East championship rings and displayed new banners that will wave eternal in the rafters of Carnesecca Arena. The ceremony served as an epilogue for one of St. John’s most successful teams.
But as one door closes, another opens and as is the case for the new-look Johnnies handpicked by Pitino.
A completely different roster, headlined by the acquisition of Big East rival Bryce Hopkins and potential NBA player Ian Jackson, did not seem to be a problem in both of their preseason exhibitions. A convincing win over Towson and a narrow but exciting loss against No. 7 Michigan were just appetizers for the excitement that a new season will bring.
The pre-game festivities may have served as extra motivation for Pitino’s squad, as the re-tooled offense began this season with a statement run.
The reigning Big-East Champions showed they were ready to defend their crown with an opening offensive onslaught against the Bobcats, outscoring their opponents 19-4 not even five minutes into the contest.
Established by a combined 13-points from newcomers Ian Jackson (15 pts, 6-6 FG) and Dillion Mitchell (18 pts, 7 rebs.), the Johnnies flashed an explosive faster-paced and team-based offense that should put the nation on notice.
That 15-point lead grew, and continued to grow, until they led by as much as 24 with only five minutes remaining in the first half.
Quinnipiac only managed to make-up four points before the halftime whistle, with St. John’s carrying a 54-34 advantage into the locker room. The Johnnies offense was nothing short of stellar in the inaugural opening half: shooting a scorching 58% from the field as a team and an efficient 4-9 from beyond-the-arc enroute to this 20-point cushion.
Pitino leaned into this team’s depth, deploying a 10-man rotation that saw constant change in the backcourt. Jackson, Mitchell, Oziyah Sellers and Dylan Darling all split point guard duties, an experimental approach from a coach that rarely breaks from tradition.
The second half began much more even than the first, as potential turnover problems arose from St. John’s. The Johnnies coughed the ball up four times in the first five minutes, causing some easy fast-break opportunities from the Bobcats.
Despite the turnovers, St. John’s maintained a 20+ point advantage for much of the half due in large part to Zuby Ejiofor’s offensive takeover. The preseason Big East Player of the Year dominated the Bobcats, scoring nine of his 17 points in the opening minutes of the second half.
The Red Storm offense eventually settled in, expanding their already sizable lead to as much as a staggering 43 points. After crossing the 100-point threshold, Pitino emptied his bench which effectively ended the contest.
By a final score of 108-74, St. John’s began a highly anticipated 2025-2026 campaign with an emphatic blowout.
“We made our mistakes, as you always do in the first game. But overall, I can’t be more pleased,” said Pitino reflecting on the win. “But now we’re gonna play a whole different type of ball club… so we have to be ready for that but we’ll enjoy this win.”
Pitino mentioned the team’s next test, a date with No. 15 Alabama in Madison Square Garden on Nov. 8. Either win or lose, a difficult early season matchup will serve as a valuable lesson and potential momentum building stepping-stone for a team with National Championship aspirations.
