St. John’s had its best season in a quarter-century in 2024-25. The Red Storm tied a program record with 31 wins, captured the Big East regular-season and tournament championships and earned a No. 2 seeding in the NCAA Tournament. They managed to do all that by overcoming terrible outside shooting with relentless rebounding and tenacious defense.

When opposing coaches and players were asked about that St. John’s team, what did we hear? That the Red Storm played harder than they did. That their physicality couldn't be matched. That St. John's defensive connectivity was unassailable.

Never did we hear the word “finesse” used in describing them. Yet that’s exactly the word St. John’s coach Rick Pitino has been using since the 14th-ranked Red Storm lost to Alabama on Nov. 8.

It didn’t sou

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