Don’t look now, but there’s an oldie but goodie at the top of the Big East Conference college basketball standings. St. John’s is 16-3 overall and 7-1 in the Big East. The St. John’s coach: Rick Pitino.

It’s a late winter night, the crowd is buzzing, and two of college basketball’s fiercest coaches are facing off. The post $45 Million National Coach’s Unpredicted Breakthrough Prolongs UConn and Dan Hurley’s Agony appeared first on EssentiallySports.

After indicating on Friday that Deivon Smith wouldn't play against Seton Hall because of a sprained right shoulder and adding that he wouldn't use a player experiencing pain, Rick Pitino had Smith on the court for 17 minutes in a blowout win.

Riding the program's best start in 39 years, No. 20 St. John's regained sole possession of first place in the Big East by rallying past Xavier 79-71 in overtime.

The long climb back to national relevance has finally ended for No. 20 St. John's. But Rick Pitino and the Red Storm are nowhere near satisfied. St. John's will look

Rick Pitino’s first-place Johnnies returned to the national rankings after another perfect week, slotting in at No. 20. It is their highest spot in the top 25 since the 2014-15 season. That was also the last time St. John’s reached the main draw of the NCAA Tournament.

Another night and another Big East game where Seton Hall was badly over-matched.

St. John’s coach Rick Pitino likes Coach K’s idea.

Even so, adding traditional hoops powers such as Connecticut, Villanova and Marquette ... in the form of current St.John's head coach Rick Pitino. "I am 100 percent in agreement with him ...

There must be something in the water in Queens because the St. John's Red Storm just continue to roll no matter the obstacle.

A win over St. John's would've had Xavier walking hand-in-hand with the NCAA Tournament bubble. Instead, Xavier let another signature win slip away.

Zuby Ejiofor scored six of his 16 points in overtime and No. 20 St. John's erased a 16-point deficit in the second half to rally past Xavier 79-71.