The St. John’s basketball team proved that it had a toughness and resilience about them after winning four straight games, three of which came on the road in some of the most difficult environments the Big East presents – Butler, Creighton, and Villanova.
However, there was still something missing with the Red Storm that it needed to prove it could accomplish – win a game in comeback fashion.
Entering Tuesday’s game against Seton Hall, St. John’s had lost every game this season in which it trailed by four or more points in the second half. The grit it showed in comeback wins last season was absent and when the Johnnies were hit with adversity mid-game it failed to adjust.
That all changed against the Pirates after St. John’s quickly got down by 15 points, 47-32, to begin the second half. Instead of folding, St. John’s finally dug in, grinded its teeth, and found a way to win the game, 65-60.
“Don’t worry about it,” Rick Pitino explained of what his message was to his team when they faced its largest deficit of the game.
“You’re getting down. Don’t get down, get up. Possession by possession. Make the plays offensively, get the defensive rebounds, play by play, dig in.”
The comeback showed a new side to the Johnnies, one that was ready for the fight and grind of a game. One that could win ugly and with its defense when shots weren’t falling.
More importantly, the Red Storm flashed its depth as most of its surge in the second half was with Zuby Ejiofor on the bench as he battled foul trouble. Ejiofor, St. John's leader in ever statistical category, left with 12:12 remaining and the Johnnies down by 11 points, 48-37.
When he returned with 7:04 left, the Red Storm were within three, 52-49, but he only lasted 19 seconds on the court after picking up his fourth foul. Yet when he checked back in for the stretch drive, St. John's led 57-56 and he pushed the lead to three, 59-56, at 1:21 on two free throws following an offensive rebound.
Bryce Hopkins said after the victory that St. John’s discovered “there is no quit” in the team.
It was a win that could set a template for how to win in March when things might not be going their way after St. John’s out-rebounded Seton Hall 20-6 over the final 12:10 of the game and ended on a 33-13 run in the final 15:39.
Now, the Red Storm will look to build on its momentum from the comeback win, and its five-game winning streak, when heading back on the road to play Xavier on Saturday afternoon as Rick Pitino searches for on-court career victory No. 900.