The St. John's Red Storm have spent most of this season toppling top-ranked teams. Today, for the first time in ten years, they joined them.
It was announced today that St. John's is listed at No. 23/25 in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches polls, respectively. They haven't made any poll since November 2008. Their defeat of Pittsburgh on Saturday sent the previously 4th ranked team down two notches to six. Duke, who lost to the Red Storm in the Garden by 15 points, topped both polls.
"I think it's a benchmark of achievement for the senior class and naturally it will be helpful in recruiting with the national exposure," first-year head coach Steve Lavin told RedStormSports.com.
Lavin, who coached UCLA and worked most recently as an ESPN analyst , came on with the promise of bringing the team back to national prominence.
"I think it's an interesting thing that they forged through such a challenging schedule," he said.
"It takes pressure, heat and time to make a diamond. It shows how together this group is."
Senior Dwight Hardy, who sent in the next-to-impossible, last-second shot under the hoop to beat Pitt on Saturday, was also named Big East Player of the Year for the second straight week--and the third time this season.
The Red Storm face DePaul University on campus at the Carnesecca Arena on Wednesday at 7pm. They place top-ranked Villanova on the road on Saturday.
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