St. John’s season preview: High hopes, new faces and Rick Pitino’s next test

There was a stretch in Rick Pitino’s news conference Friday in which he went from praising Quinn Ellis as one of the smartest point guards he’s coached to raving about Ian Jackson’s development. Later, he called Keyshawn Hall “one of the best bucket-getters I’ve ever seen,” lauded Babacar Sane’s recent progress and went on to tell reporters they haven’t seen Hungarian addition Zsombor Maronka’s top 25 ability yet to impact a game. 

“It’s a fun group because they’re all so different in skills and there’s nobody that’s similar,” the St. John’s coach said. “These two guys [Ellis and Jackson] are the direct opposites of each other in the way they play. So it’s fun coaching so much of a variety in talent. 

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“Last year I was very excited because the guys were so much fun to be around. This group is the same way. Like, I’m totally pumped up about making Babacar a great player.” 

This team’s potential has the Hall of Fame coach amped up for another year, as much for the roster’s pure talent as its untapped potential. The Johnnies are ranked in the Associated Press preseason top-25 poll, coming in at No. 13, for the second consecutive season for the first time since 1990-91. They have only been together since the start of September — Hall and Indiana transfer Reed Bailey joined the program in late August — so there are bound to be growing pains. Only two significant contributors, Jackson and Ruben Prey, are back from last year. Pitino is still learning a good portion of the roster, and his players have yet to master the offensive and defensive system.