Rick Pitino had a clear vision heading into the offseason: he needed a point guard to bring his St. John’s team together.
And the guy he had his eye on? Silas Demary Jr.
Pitino had been tracking Demary for years. He made a push when Demary decommitted from USC out of high school, and again last March when the guard entered the transfer portal.
St. John’s made its pitch, but Demary and his family kept looking-and they didn’t have to look far.
Just days later, they were sold on UConn.
Now, that decision is paying major dividends for the Huskies.
Demary, a 6-foot-4 junior with a two-way skillset, has been nothing short of transformative for Dan Hurley’s squad. He’s not just a floor general-he’s a tone-setter.
He runs the offense with poise, gets his own when needed, and has played a key role in tightening up a UConn defense that struggled at times last year. His arrival hasn’t just filled a need-it’s helped elevate UConn back into national title contention.
The Huskies are rolling. Ranked No. 3 in the country, they’ve rattled off 18 straight wins and remain undefeated in Big East play through 12 games. That kind of consistency doesn’t happen without elite guard play, and Demary has delivered.
Meanwhile, over in Queens, the conversation around St. John’s early-season struggles always seemed to circle back to the same issue: the point guard spot.
Yes, Pitino landed the most talented transfer class in the country. Yes, he addressed the shooting woes that doomed last year’s squad in March.
But for all the talent, the Johnnies lacked a true connector-a player who could tie it all together.
That’s changed.
Pitino turned to Ian Jackson, the former top-10 recruit who transferred from North Carolina. Naturally a shooting guard, Jackson was asked to take on lead guard duties.
It wasn’t seamless at first, but the move is starting to click. Now, St.
John’s is back in the top 25 at No. 22, riding an eight-game win streak into a marquee Big East showdown at Madison Square Garden this Friday.
This is the game both teams have had circled for months.
UConn and St. John’s have once again separated themselves as the class of the Big East. And while Dan Hurley and Rick Pitino may not call it a rivalry, there’s no denying the stakes when their teams meet.
Their history runs back to the 2023 NCAA Tournament, when they first shared a sideline. Since then, it’s been a back-and-forth battle.
In 2023-24, UConn swept the season series 3-0, en route to a record-setting 18 Big East wins, dual conference titles, and another dominant NCAA Tournament run. But St. John’s responded with a sweep of its own last season, matching that 18-win mark and grabbing both league championships-before a brutal second-round exit at the hands of Arkansas, where the Johnnies shot just 28% from the field and a frigid 2-for-22 from beyond the arc.
Pitino didn’t let that shooting performance define the offseason. He reloaded with Jackson, Oziyah Sellers, Joson Sanon, and Dylan Darling-all of whom are knocking down threes at a clip above 35%.
But the Red Storm’s identity hasn’t changed much. Just like last year, they’re thriving on hustle stats-points off turnovers, second-chance buckets, and trips to the free throw line.
Statistically, St. John’s is right on UConn’s heels.
They sit at No. 26 in offensive efficiency and lead the Big East in offensive rebounds per game-a mark that also ranks top-15 nationally. They’re second in the conference in turnover margin, just behind Seton Hall, and they’re getting to the line more than anyone else in the league, averaging 26.5 free throws per game (12th nationally).
So while the spotlight might be shining brightest on Demary and the unbeaten Huskies, don’t sleep on what Pitino’s built in year two at St. John’s.
Both teams are peaking. Both have something to prove.
And Friday night at the Garden? That’s not just another conference game-it’s a collision of Big East heavyweights, each with championship aspirations and a little extra motivation.