An 87-74 wire-to-wire victory over seventh-ranked Texas on Sunday wasn’t just a win for St. John’s; it was a statement. The Red Storm ended their preseason on a high note, proving they can outmatch the country’s best, a performance coach Rick Pitino called a “quantum leap” from their previous outing. They needed to make massive strides after that four-overtime gauntlet against Rutgers, and boy, did they overdeliver.
Defense Setting the Tone, Offense Seizing the Moment
St. John’s didn’t just show up, they absolutely set the tone from the opening whistle. Their defense was relentless, turning ten Texas first-half turnovers into a crucial 14 points. They held the Longhorns to a mere 42.3% shooting before halftime. This wasn’t just active defense; it was suffocating. Tounde Yessoufou kicked things off with a steal and a breakaway layup just 19 seconds into the game, giving the Red Storm a lead they would hold onto for the entire contest. That’s how you come out swinging.
The Trio That Overwhelmed Texas
While the defense was locking it down, the offensive trio of Tounde Yessoufou, Ian Jackson, and Keyshawn Hall completely overwhelmed the Longhorns. These guys showed off their firepower, dropping a combined 65 of the Red Storm’s 87 points. They shot a blistering 23-of-41 from the field, which is 56 percent, shutting down any Texas rally before halftime with a combined 12-0 run that sent St. John’s into the break with a commanding 49-31 lead. That margin even ballooned to 22 points early in the second half. Yessoufou, a Baylor transfer, was an absolute dog out there, flexing his two-way skill set with 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, five assists, and five steals. He attacked the basket with authority and even splashed two triples. “Every game is important to us; we want to show we can be connected, and today our play showed for itself,” Yessoufou told the media. Ian Jackson, who had some shoddy outings in previous scrimmages, played with incredible control on Sunday. He scored 18 points (7-of-14), led the Johnnies with three made triples, dished out four assists, and pulled down six rebounds, the second most on the team. Coach Pitino called it the best he’s ever seen from Jackson, noting, “He did all of the right things defensively; he didn’t force the offense. He just looked like a complete player in every phase of the game.” Keyshawn Hall buoyed the offense by posting 13.
This preseason finale wasn’t just a game; it was a blueprint. If St. John’s can bring this kind of connected, two-way play and the “quantum leap” mentality into the regular season, they’re going to be a problem for anyone who steps on the court with them. That’s the challenge ahead for Coach Pitino’s squad: taking this incredible performance and making it their standard.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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