The St. John’s Red Storm are firmly establishing themselves as one of the top college basketball teams this season under head coach Rick Pitino. This success seems to have surprised longtime analyst Jeff Goodman, who shared his thoughts on social media regarding the team’s impressive turnaround.
If someone had suggested at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season that a matchup between St. John’s and UConn would be deemed a must-watch just a year later, few would have believed them. Yet, on Sunday, the St. John’s-UConn game certainly held that significance, with St. John’s entering the contest as betting favorites against the two-time defending national champions.
I honestly can’t even remember the last St. John’s regular-season home game I was at.
The Johnnies have been nationally irrelevant for soooo long.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 23, 2025
While Goodman aimed to commend St. John’s progress this season, it was perceived by Zach Brazille, a St. John’s beat writer for the New York Post, as a subtle dig. Brazille took issue with Goodman’s implication that his attendance at games might signify national relevance, retorting with, “Are you saying you’re nationally relevant?”
Are you saying you’re nationally relevant?
— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) February 23, 2025
Ultimately, Goodman’s remarks should be taken as a reflection on St. John’s basketball history rather than a personal critique. His anecdote regarding his limited attendance at Johnnies home games is secondary to the vital point he made about the program’s resurgence. Regardless of opinions on Goodman’s comments, it’s clear that St. John’s is indeed relevant this year. This was highlighted on the court as the Red Storm decisively defeated UConn for the second time this season, clinching an 89-75 victory.
