St. John’s, long defined by losing, finally back in Sweet 16: ‘We’ve got more in the tank’
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- St. John’s ended a 27-year Sweet 16 drought with a buzzer-beater by scoreless player Darling, who confidently drew up the final play himself with 3.9 seconds left in a tied game.
- The victory marks a significant turnaround for a program that had endured decades of mediocrity, including 17 losing conference seasons and six coaching changes before Rick Pitino’s arrival.
- Despite an ugly, error-filled game, key contributions from players like Bryce Hopkins, who hit six three-pointers, helped St. John’s overcome Kansas, a team with a more recent history of success.
- Coach Rick Pitino remained composed after the win, emphasizing that this milestone is a step toward revitalizing the program and that there is still more work to be done.
- The win energized the St. John’s fanbase, many of whom traveled long distances to witness a historic moment symbolizing the program’s resurgence in college basketball.
