Getty St John's head coach Rick Pitino during a game against Kansas in March 2026 It was another season to remember for St John’s and Rick Pitino, highlighted by back-to-back Big East regular season and tournament championships and a deep NCAA Tournament run. Led by senior center and likely NBA-bound Zuby Ejiofor , the Red Storm reached the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 1999. After a spectacular buzzer-beater win over Kansas in the second round and a crushing close defeat to Duke ,