Welcome back to the Associated Press Top-25 rankings to the St. John’s basketball program.
Nearly two months after debuting in the poll this season at No. 22, the Johnnies slipped out of the rankings and have been inching its way back before finally breaking through on Monday afternoon.
The Red Storm (16-3, 7-1 Big East) are No. 20 and it’s the highest ranking for the school since the 2014-15 season, the final year under head coach Steve Lavin.
St. John’s used a five-game winning streak to catapult itself back into the poll after falling one spot short last week.
“If we stay in the rankings the rest of the season, we make the [NCAA] tournament,” Aaron Scott said on Friday afternoon before the Johnnies’ game against Seton Hall on the idea of returning to the rankings.
“I know eventually we are going to get in as long as we keep winning. That’s the main goal, keep winning.”
Its winning has put the Red Storm in first place of the Big East standings yet there are two Big East teams ranked ahead of St. John’s this week, No. 10 Marquette and No. 19 UConn – each suffering losses to unranked teams on its home floor this weekend.
The Golden Eagles were upended by Xavier, the next opponent for the Johnnies on Wednesday night (7:00 p.m. ET, FS1) at Madison Square Garden.
While the inclusion in the Top-25 might not mean much to Rick Pitino and his players, it certainly means a lot of its administration and fans.
“I really don’t think too much of that,” Pitino said after St. John’s 79-51 win over Seton Hall about its position in the conference standings and potential place in the rankings.
“I’m proud for the St. John’s fans, I know it means something to them.”
The Johnnies could climb even higher in the poll with a win over the Musketeers since it’s the only game the team will play this week.