NEW YORK — A year ago, the Big East was synonymous with UConn's reign in college basketball, led by the legendary Dan Hurley. His leadership guided the Huskies to a sweep of Big East championships and a staggering 37-3 record, while securing back-to-back national titles—a feat that could see him inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame.
The Huskies were so formidable under Hurley's stewardship that, despite losing four NBA draft picks, the UConn program was still highly regarded this season, entering with a preseason ranking of No. 3. Questions loomed about whether UConn could maintain its greatness and whether Hurley's strategic prowess could keep Connecticut competitive at the summit of college basketball.
For those who have followed the sport in recent months, the answer is clear. Hurley and his Huskies have tumbled from the top. Since a notorious 0-3 performance at the Maui Invitational, UConn's results have been a rollercoaster, reflecting a puzzling decline after an impressive two-year NCAA Tournament run.
While there have been notable in-league victories against Creighton and Marquette, a shocking overtime road loss to Seton Hall—a team ranked 209th at KenPom—casts a shadow. Wins against teams like Baylor, Gonzaga, Texas, and Xavier, though celebrated in December, have lost their luster as these teams hover around the bubble, much like UConn, currently projected as a 9-/10-seed.
The narrative took a dramatic shift on a Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden, where St. John's defeated UConn 89-75. This marked a significant shift in the Big East hierarchy, a testament to the ever-changing nature of college basketball rosters and dynamics.
On Feb. 3, 2024, UConn triumphed at MSG with a 77-64 victory, but this time, the Red Storm's fanbase took over, with nearly 70% of the crowd clad in crimson. Rick Pitino, dissatisfied with last year's turnout, proudly noted the presence of SJU fans.
When St. John’s secured a comeback victory at UConn 16 days prior, it hinted at a potential changing of the guard in the Big East. Sunday's victory solidified this transition for the 10th-ranked Red Storm, earning their 24th win of the season.
Pitino's rapid transformation of St. John's, a program struggling for much of this century, is one of the most impressive stories in college basketball. In just 22 months, Pitino has revitalized a team, setting them on a path toward a potential Big East title for the first time since 1991-92.
After defeating UConn, Pitino expressed, "I thought we played our best game of the season." The Red Storm are now poised to rise in college basketball rankings, signaling a promising future.
UConn, once dominant, now finds itself on a precarious decline, suffering its ninth loss of the season. With three losses in the past five games, including a near-defeat at home against Villanova, Hurley described Sunday's loss as the most demoralizing since November.
"We've got too many flaws," Hurley admitted. Unlike past seasons, UConn now faces difficult matchups. The Red Storm have claimed control of the Big East, reshaping the conference hierarchy faster than anticipated.
St. John's remarkable performance, including a 50-32 halftime lead—UConn's largest gap since 2019—demonstrates their dominance. SJU’s strategy of leveraging their perimeter shooting was pivotal, with the team shooting 8-of-19 from 3-point range.
Despite UConn's efforts, including junior forward Alex Karaban's team-high 17 points, the outcome was never in doubt. The Red Storm's defense and scoring prowess proved insurmountable.
St. John's has upcoming games against Butler, Seton Hall, and Marquette, paving the way to a potential Big East title. With a two-game lead over Creighton, the Red Storm are on the brink of securing their first standalone Big East crown since 1984-85, potentially setting the stage for a Final Four run.
Sunday's game highlighted the transient nature of dominance in college athletics. While UConn may return to prominence with a strong recruiting class in 2025, for now, it's St. John's time to shine. The presence of coaching greats like Pitino ensures that no team can claim permanent ownership of the mountaintop.
