If the country didn’t think the St. John’s basketball team was serious, they better reassess its perception of the Johnnies.
After being ranked No. 22 in the country following the first week of the season, there were still some people skeptics of the Johnnies entering the second season under Rick Pitino despite making high profile additions in the transfer portal.
Now, after dominant victories over New Mexico and Virginia, including its crushing loss to No. 13 Baylor on a double overtime buzzer beater, the Red Storm are as confident as ever in its team.
“I think every loss is a lesson,” transfer forward Aaron Scott said on Saturday as St. John’s prepared for its final game of its trip to the Bahamas against Georgia on Sunday.
“We really put the world on notice on what we can do because we were up 16 in the first half . We just have to finish.”
St. John’s showed that potential against a Virginia team that does not have the expectations that it typically did under head coach Tony Bennett, but it was still an impressive showing given what transpired 24 hours prior.
The Red Storm led by as many as 29 points with six minutes to go in the game before Pitino sat most of his starters.
A 2-1 trip would have been considered a success for the Johnnies before it landed on the island, and it still will be if they are able to knock off Georgia despite letting the Baylor matchup slip through the cracks.
“All these games are important, no matter who you are playing,” Kadary Richmond said.
“It all leads down the road to March, so we are trying to get another big win and enjoy ourselves.”
That road to the NCAA Tournament continues at 11:00 a.m. ET (CBS Sports Network) from the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort on Sunday.
“I think we put the world on notice on what we can potentially become,” Scott concluded.