WIth a goal that was talked about just before the start of the 2024-25 College Basketball Season about to come to a reality this is going to be the biggest and toughest test for the St. John’s Men’s Basketball team.
As the BIG EAST Crown comes closer and closer being in the grasp of the young men under Head Coach Rick Pitino, things are about to get tough and challenging for this squad.
There are going to be a ton of challenges that the guys are going to overcome before seeing the championship come to a reality, there are things such as them managing injuries and balancing how to interact with a fan base that was starving for a College Men’s Basketball team the calibur of St. John’s to play the way that they are currently.
Two of the stars on the team in Kadary Richmond and RJ Luis Jr spoke about their most recent journeys with the team and updated members of the media as to how things are going for them and their career.
With a test against Butler on the road happening on Wednesday and then a chance to clintch the BIG EAST Regular Season against Long Time Rivals Seton Hall in March, this is the most critical time for the guys on teh squad.
RJ and Kadary are going through similar journeys as they are having to manage being a huge part of the team’s success while battling through injuries that occur during the course of the College Basketball Season.
Richmond, during the Providence game at Madison Square Garden had something happen to him and his groins.
Even though it doesn’t seem like it Kadary is for sure speaking openly as to what it is like to play through such things and how he is able to prepare himself so that when when it comes time for gameday he can be a part of the team that wins basketball games.
“Doing alright now, I’ll be ready. We’re managing it as it goes on. So, it’s not much I could do, but just go out there and do what I can to get a win, Richmond said about his health status. Kadary also had this to say when it came time for his mentality playing banged up, “I’ve told myself, once I get out there, I’m out there, it’s no time to complain or try to put on a show like I’m hurting. I’m hurting. I just keep playing and going as I can go and just monitoring it with the staff, the trainers, while I’m out there.”
Luis Jr. is going through a similar journey as he is shaking off some rust and he had this to say as to what it is to go through that, ““Definitely felt rusty. I didn’t do anything for the past four days prior to that game. So, it was just good to be back on the court. We have practice today, so I can get a little bit of rhythm back and get ready for Wednesday [against Butler].”
He also had this to say when it comes time for shaking off that rust, ““Yeah, definitely. I feel like just being out there, getting my body moving and stuff like that, is what I needed to see. More like a mental aspect and kind of a little bit of physical just to see. I played 37 minutes and felt good, like another game. Like I said, the little rust is probably just from the shots not falling, but I definitely feel like my defense was there. Building on from that and just trying to take care of these last three games and win them all.”
One of the great things for the duo, as well as the rest of the St. John’s Men’s Basketball team is that fans of New York is starting to gather around them and support the cause of them being a representative in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
The guys are starting to have more and more attention when it comes time for people wanting to take photos with them, they are starting to get more request when it comes time for features in the media and all of this is equating to great things for the Men’s Basketball team.
Luis Jr. spotted after the victory against UConn on Sunday taking photos with the fans had this to say when it comes time for getting that type of attention, ““It’s a great feeling. Definitely a blessing, just to get the type of recognition, where you got people wanting to take pictures with you and wanting to come by and talk to you., I think it’s great. I try to do my best to take every picture I can and say hello to everybody, just because it might make their day as well as mine. I am just trying to give the fans, the supporters, some type of interaction.”
Getting recogniztion is something that Richmond also notices as well, and with the Graduate Garud hailing from Brookln the sensation is doubly special and he shared these thoughts during the media zoom, ” “It’s nice to go around and be noticed for the work that we’re putting in as a group, just going out, seeing our faces on Madison Square Garden, seeing the flag poles, people noticing it wherever you go. It’s a good feeling to have.”
Overall there is a ton of exciting thigns that are happening with this squad as well as rewards that are incoming for the style of play that they have .
Thanks to the play of the team on February 24 they were announced as the No. 7 ranked team in the Associated Press Poll and No. & in the USA Today Coches Poll.
Somehow or the other though there is a humility and hunger around this team that is continuing to lead them to hights that have never been seen before.
Luis Jr. reflected a bit as to how the team tries to not let what is happening get to them by saying, “It’s just kind of one of those feelings where we kind of don’t know how to react. I feel like we see the little number by the St. John’s and it’s like, we’re number seven in the country, but we kind of don’t really know what that means yet. It’s our first time being there. It’s definitely just being hungry and having the determination to win. Coach Pitino says, ‘We’re all a bunch of humble guys.’ So, none of us have played in the [NCAA] Tournament, except for Zuby [Ejiofor], but I don’t even think he played that much when he was at Kansas. It’s really just wanting to go out there and play for the name on the front. That’s really it at the end of the day. I feel like the best team is going to win. Whoever plays the hardest on both sides of the ball. I think we’re doing a great job with that. We’re going to continue to do that.”
There is going to be a ton of anticipation and excitment with the countdown till the BIG EAST Tournament is on and the guys potentially winning the BIG EAST Regular Season about to come to a fruition.
Up first though is a tough test against Butler on Wednesday February 26 with the action airing at 9:00 p.m. to catch all the action fans are encouraged to watch the CBSSN network.
For more information on the St. John’s Athletics Department fans are encouraged to click on the link seen here:
St. John’s University Athletics – Official Athletics Website