Rick Pitino, a Hall of Famer and two-time national champion, has revitalized the St. John's basketball program in just two years, transforming it into a Final Four contender.

In a thrilling matchup, St. John's secured a 68-62 victory over UConn, marking their best start in Big East play since the 1984-85 season, the same year they reached the Final Four.

As of February 8, 2025, St. John's is ranked No. 8 in CBS Sports Top 25 And 1, pushing other teams down in the rankings and projecting them to win the Big East by two games.

The Red Storm has achieved 21 wins by early February, matching their total from the previous season and tying for their most wins in a season since 2000-01.

Pitino's strategy to press more than usual aimed to tire out UConn players and limit their offensive efficiency, which proved effective as UConn scored only 36 points in the final 32:38 of the game.

After implementing a pressing strategy, St. John's forced UConn into 15 turnovers, resulting in 14 fewer field goal attempts for the Huskies.

St. John's defense proved critical, outscoring UConn 56-36 in the second half and forcing 22 turnovers from the Huskies.

The team is now ranked No. 2 in per-possession defense according to KenPom and deployed a full-court press that hindered UConn's performance.

Pitino emphasized that his team does not rattle when down, showcasing their mental toughness, especially after initially falling behind 26-12.

To inspire the team before their game against UConn, St. John's players watched a video of the 400-meter men's final from the 2024 Olympics.

Despite expressing dissatisfaction with his team's early defense, Pitino's adjustments led to a remarkable comeback.

With this victory, Rick Pitino is coaching a top-10 team again, positioning St. John's as a strong contender for the Big East title for the first time since 1992.