St. John’s did not achieve its ultimate goal this season, but it finished higher in the year-end rankings than it had in almost 30 years.
The Johnnies came in at No. 10 in the Associated Press’s final rankings of the year, marking the first time the Red Storm have been in the Top 10 to end a season since 1999-2000, when they finished No. 9 for a second consecutive season.
“We are just getting started!” head coach Rick Pitino posted on X after learning the news.
St. John’s finished last year at No. 11 after losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Red Storm, now the back-to-back champs of the Big East regular season and conference tournament, entered March Madness this year as a No. 5 seed and reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1998-99.
Big East rival UConn, which lost to Michigan in Monday’s national championship game, ended the year at No. 2.
Duke, even after falling in ignominious fashion to the Huskies in the Elite Eight, finished at No. 4 ahead of Illinois (No. 5), which lost to UConn in the Final Four.
