UConn Demolishes St. John's in Historic Blowout

Huskies become first team since 2016 to limit Pitino-coached squad to under 50 points

Feb. 26, 2026 at 6:03am

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In a dominant performance, the No. 6 UConn Huskies defeated the No. 15 St. John's Red Storm 72-40 in a Big East matchup. UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. led the way with a standout game, scoring 20 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and blocking 6 shots. The Huskies' stifling defense held St. John's to just 40 points, the fewest scored by a Pitino-coached team since 2016.

Why it matters

This game had major implications for the Big East regular season title race, as the two teams entered tied atop the conference standings. UConn's decisive victory puts them in prime position to claim the regular season crown, while St. John's will need to regroup and find a way to bounce back from the lopsided defeat.

The details

UConn dominated the game from start to finish, outscoring St. John's 42-0 in the paint and limiting the Red Storm to just 2-of-28 shooting in the second half. The Huskies' defense was the key, blocking 9 shots and forcing 24 consecutive St. John's misses to end the game. Tarris Reed Jr. was unstoppable, putting together a stat line that included 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 blocks.

  • The game was played on February 25, 2026 at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Connecticut.
  • UConn and St. John's entered the game tied atop the Big East standings.

The players

Tarris Reed Jr.

UConn's star center who put together a dominant performance with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 blocks.

Rick Pitino

St. John's head coach whose team was held under 50 points, a rarity in his coaching career.

Silas Demary Jr.

UConn's starting point guard who had 7 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists while leading the Huskies' offense.

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What they’re saying

“If he wants to be a draft pick, if he wants to win championships, he'll keep showing up like that. If he doesn't, it hurts our chances, and then we're letting each other down. We always needed Tarris to play like an All-American for this to work. And he certainly did today, and he did versus 'Nova.”

— Dan Hurley, UConn Head Coach

“That's probably only happened to me two times in my career. Once was my first year at Kentucky when we went into Phog Allen [Fieldhouse] at Kansas, I was playing with very much an inferior team [back then], not like this type of team. It's all on me. I'm very disappointed in our performance.”

— Rick Pitino, St. John's Head Coach

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.