Sun Feb 23 17:00:00 UTC 2025: **St. John’s Red Storm Aims for Historic Victory Over UConn at Sold-Out MSG**

NEW YORK, NY – The St. John’s Red Storm men’s basketball team is on the verge of history. A victory this Sunday against the number 10 ranked Connecticut Huskies at a sold-out Madison Square Garden would give them a season sweep over the reigning national champions and significantly boost their chances of winning their first outright regular season Big East title since 1985.

Currently sitting two games ahead of Creighton and three ahead of UConn and Marquette in the Big East standings, St. John’s has a commanding lead with only four games remaining. The atmosphere is expected to be electric, with a sea of red anticipated to drown out the familiar, and dreaded, chants of “U-C-O-N-N” from the visiting Huskies fans.

“For the most part of the season, it’s always been like a sea of red, Johnnies fans packing MSG,” said junior forward Zuby Ejiofor. The team’s success has been fueled by incredible fan support, averaging 16,188 attendees at their seven MSG games this season. Coach Rick Pitino anticipates another massive turnout, noting the team’s strong home attendance even for upcoming games against Seton Hall. He acknowledged UConn’s strong traveling fanbase, describing them as “the Kentucky of the East”.

While leading scorer RJ Luis is nursing a pulled groin and his status is uncertain, he did practice Saturday and is expected to play. The team has demonstrated resilience even without key players, losing only once in a month without starting guard Deivon Smith. Even if Luis sits out, St. John’s is confident following their previous victory over UConn in Storrs, Connecticut, where they overcame a 14-point deficit.

This game marks the culmination of a grueling six-game stretch against top Big East opponents. A win on Sunday would not only cement their place atop the Big East but also signify a remarkable turnaround for the program. “We know exactly what’s at stake,” Ejiofor stated. “We just got to get it done, whatever it takes.”

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