Rick Pitino's St. John's Completes First Unbeaten January Since 1985

Rick Pitino's second season at St. John's has seen the Red Storm achieve a remarkable turnaround, currently boasting an 18-3 record, including a 9-1 mark in Big East play. The team recently completed its first undefeated January since 1985, and they are tied atop the Big East standings with No. 9 Marquette. St. John's has won seven consecutive games, outscoring opponents significantly during this stretch, including a notable victory over Georgetown. The Red Storm's offensive prowess is highlighted by their second-best scoring average in the conference, and they are also excelling in rebounding and three-point shooting. Despite losing point guard Deivon Smith to injury, the team has continued to perform well, raising expectations for their upcoming match against Providence. Pitino remains focused on improvement, emphasizing the team's progress rather than historical comparisons to the program's past successes.