Daniss Jenkins takes responsibility after St. John's basketball humbled by Seton Hall

Joel Soriano is the captain of the St. John's basketball team but Daniss Jenkins is emerging as an extension of Rick Pitino.

Jenkins was one of the lone Red Storm players to try and make a positive impact on Tuesday's debacle against Seton Hall with Rick Pitino sidelined because of COVID, yet the senior put the blame on his shoulders after the 15-point defeat.

"I just tried to focus on leading the team as best as I could with the adversity that we were facing," Jenkins said.

"I was more focused on the fact that we weren't playing our game," he continued when asked how things were different without Pitino in the huddles and hearing the voice of associate head coach Steve Masiello, who served as the acting head coach.

"We never played our game. They were a step ahead all night."

Despite a 13-2 hole in the opening minutes, St. John's rallied to tie the game at 24 before Seton Hall would use a 28-0 run, spanning the first and second halves, to decide the outcome.

Jenkins led the Johnnies with 17 points and five assists on 6-of-14 shooting.

"I know we go as I go, so I have to do a better job of coming out swinging, coming out and being confident, coming out and getting that first defensive stop, playing for steals," he continued.

"I have to do a better job of letting that resonate with the team."

Daniss Jenkins has been the catalyst in the improved play of the Red Storm since the beginning of the season, averaging 15.5 points and 5.8 assists with only 1.6 turnovers per game since December 20.

He sounded just like his Hall of Fame head coach when he challenged the effort of the rest of the team and said they were 'punked' by the Pirates. It was a wake-up call for the Johnnies, which have lost two consecutive games after starting 4-1 in Big East play.

There is still uncertainty whether Rick Pitino will be healthy enough to coach on Saturday afternoon (12:00 p.m. ET. FoxSports1) against No. 17. Marquette but regardless if he is there or not, the energy and effort has to be much better from St. John's.