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For the first time since 1990-91, St. John’s will begin the year ranked in the preseason poll in back-to-back seasons.
In the Associated Press top 25 that was released on Monday, Rick Pitino’s Johnnies were slotted in at No. 13. The only other Big East team ranked is Connecticut at No. 4. A year ago, the Red Storm were No. 5.
There are high hopes in Queens for the back-to-back defending Big East regular-season and postseason champions.
While only two significant contributors returned, Ian Jackson and Ruben Prey, Pitino added a number of projected difference-makers.
The group is highlighted by EuroLeague point guard Quinn Ellis and a pair of high-scoring transfers: Keyshawn Hall of Auburn and Tounde Yessoufou of Baylor.
Senegalese wing Babacar Sane is also expected to make a major impact. Ellis and Sane are new to college basketball.
Pitino has called this the most talented of his four St. John’s teams, but has preached patience for a group that wasn’t together until the start of the fall semester.
St. John’s has won its first two exhibition games against Drexel and Rutgers. The finale comes Sunday against loaded Texas, ranked seventh in the AP poll. St. John’s highest-profile non-conference opponent is No. 5 Arizona, which visits the Garden on Dec. 5.
They will also meet either No. 11 Louisville or No. 19 Texas Tech in the second game of the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas Thanksgiving week and take on No. 20 Alabama on Dec 12.