The St. John’s basketball team is gearing up for its biggest week of the season and another target was put on its back by the Associated Press Top-25 Poll.
Already holding a one game lead in the Big East regular season standings and facing two challengers – Marquette and UConn – in the next four days, the Johnnies (19-3, 10-1 Big East) now sit at No. 12 in the AP Poll, its highest ranking since the final poll of the 1999-2000 season.
“It means everything,” RJ Luis said about the Red Storm’s most recent ranking. “I’ve never been ranked Top-12 in the nation. I’ve never been ranked Top-15.”
Marquette (18-4, 9-2 Big East) checked in at No. 11 after splitting its games week, losing to UConn (16-6, 9-2 Big East) by eight points on its home floor, as the Huskies rose to No. 19 following its impressive road victory over the Golden Eagles.
St. John’s also clocked in at No. 10 in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll, its highest ranking in that listing since the end of the 1998-99 season.
Tuesday night (6:30 p.m. ET, FS1) inside Madison Square Garden will be an occurrence that has not been seen by the Red Storm program in over two decades as the Johnnies will be hosting a Top-15 regular season matchup for the first time since January 30, 1999 when playing No. 1 UConn as the No. 9 team in the country.
“It’s pretty surreal. It’s pretty exciting,” Luis continued. “I think it’s a really cool experience, especially to do it in The Garden and I can’t wait.”
It’ll also be the first time St. John’s has played in any Top-15 matchup since the 1999 Elite Eight when falling to Ohio State.
The Johnnies have won eight straight games and 14 of its last 15 games.