Enough is enough for the St. John’s basketball team. It’s time to show some fight.
Just over a year ago, Rick Pitino went viral on his Vice TV docuseries when he emphatically questioned his team’s toughness at halftime in an eventual comeback victory on the road against Providence.
While that moment still circulates the internet, it was the last time anyone ever brought up or questioned the toughness of the Johnnies, who rolled through the Big East en route to the regular season and tournament titles.
This year, there has been no toughness to be found in St. John’s. Nearly every time the Storm has been hit with adversity they’ve folded.
Auburn blasted them with a second half run in its final game in Las Vegas and they wilted, being outscored by 20 points. The same thing happened three weeks ago in Atlanta against Kentucky, collasping the minute the Wildcats turned up the pressure and were outscored by 19 points in a loss.
And finally, showing no resistance during Providence’s 14-3 run in the final three minutes on Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden to stun the Johnnies and bring more questions to the forefront about the team.
Rick Pitino should be playing the clip on a loop in the locker room or reenact the moment to try and create a spark.
Now, the Red Storm enter the most important week of the year, with back-to-back road games against Butler and Creighton, as its season teeters on the brink of disaster.
It starts on Tuesday night (7:00 p.m. ET, Peacock) inside Hinkle Fieldhouse.
A sweep would breed new life into the group that has been a major disappointment this season, going from being ranked No. 5 in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll to not receiving a single vote in the poll this week.
Splitting the games would still generate questions about the legitimacy of the team, although it needs at least one win in the worst way, and being swept could open the cellar door and see the season spiral out of control.
It all can’t be on the shoulders of superstar Zuby Ejiofor, he’s done all he could possibly do to try and will this team to victories including a 33-point, 15-rebound showing against the Friars.
It’s time for one of the transfers in the prized offseason haul to step up and take on the mentality of Ejiofor and the Johnnies of last season and respond positively to adversity because if they don’t it’s going to be a long, long final two months of the season.