St. John's Tops Big East Preseason Poll First Time Since 1991

St. John's has been selected to finish first in the Big East Conference preseason coaches' poll for the first time since 1991, receiving seven of 11 first-place votes and narrowly edging out UConn, which received four votes. The Red Storm, currently ranked No. 5 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll—the highest preseason ranking in program history—are led by senior forward Zuby Ejiofor, who was named the conference's preseason player of the year. St. John's boasts a strong roster with five players named to the preseason All-Big East teams, including transfers Bryce Hopkins, Ian Jackson, Joson Sanon, and Dillon Mitchell, marking the first time in league history that at least five players from the same program received this recognition. UConn follows closely behind with key players and the preseason freshman of the year, Braylon Mullins, while Creighton and Providence round out the top four in the poll. The Red Storm, who are defending regular season and conference tournament champions, are preparing for the season with exhibition games, including a notable matchup against No. 7 Michigan at Madison Square Garden. This high preseason expectation reflects St. John's best season in 25 years and the top-ranked transfer class nationally, setting the stage for a highly anticipated campaign.