UConn Dominates St. John's in Historic Blowout

On February 25, 2026, the No. 6 UConn Huskies delivered a historic performance against the No. 15 St. John's Red Storm, winning 72-40 at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford. This victory not only avenged a previous loss to St. John's but also marked the largest margin of defeat for the Red Storm under head coach Rick Pitino. UConn's defense was particularly suffocating, holding St. John's to a mere 20% shooting, including a staggering 17:28 stretch without a field goal.

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Tarris Reed Jr. was instrumental for UConn, scoring 20 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and blocking six shots. Alex Karaban contributed 14 points, while Solo Ball added 11. The Huskies dominated the paint, outscoring St. John's 42-12 in that area. St. John's struggled offensively, with only Joson Sanon reaching double figures, scoring 10 points, all in the first half. The Red Storm's overall shooting percentage of 19.6% (11-of-56) was the worst for a top-15 team in the last two decades.

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The matchup was highly anticipated, as St. John's entered the game on a 13-game winning streak, the longest for the program in 41 years. The Red Storm had previously defeated UConn 81-72 at Madison Square Garden on February 6, 2026. However, UConn's recent performances had been inconsistent, including a loss to Creighton just prior to this game. The stakes were high, with both teams vying for the top position in the Big East standings.

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After the game, Rick Pitino took full responsibility for the loss, stating, "It's all on me. I'm very disappointed in our performance offensively, especially in sharing the ball and moving the ball." He emphasized the need for his team to regroup quickly, as they still had a chance to compete for the Big East title. UConn head coach Dan Hurley praised his team's defensive effort, noting that they played with a level of desperation necessary for success in the closing stretch of the season.

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Critics highlighted St. John's offensive collapse as a significant concern. The team's inability to score during crucial moments raised questions about their preparedness and execution. Zuby Ejiofor, a key player for St. John's, expressed disappointment, stating, "Tonight was not what I was expecting at all." The loss has left the Red Storm needing to refocus as they prepare for upcoming games against Villanova, Georgetown, and Seton Hall.

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Following this defeat, St. John's will host Villanova in a critical matchup on February 28, 2026, while UConn will face Seton Hall on the same day. Both teams are still in contention for the Big East title, making their upcoming games pivotal as the regular season comes to a close.

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• "It's all on me. I'm very disappointed in our performance offensively." — Rick Pitino, Head Coach, St. John's

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• "What we did today as a rebounding team, as a defensive team, was impressive." — Dan Hurley, Head Coach, UConn

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• "Tonight was not what I was expecting at all." — Zuby Ejiofor, Senior Center, St. John's

St. John's basketball has historically bad showing in beatdown against No. 6 UConn

• "If Tarris shows up like this, we’re gonna be tough to beat the rest of the way." — Dan Hurley on Tarris Reed Jr.

UConn wallops St. John’s, 72-40