Rick Pitino Praises St. John's Star After Upset Win

Veteran coach says Zuby Ejiofor's performance may force him to retire soon.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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In a highly anticipated Big East matchup, No. 22 St. John's pulled off an upset victory over No. 3 UConn at Madison Square Garden on Friday night. After the game, St. John's head coach Rick Pitino had high praise for star player Zuby Ejiofor, saying "You know you're going to make me retire? Because I'm not living life without you."

Why it matters

The win over the heavily favored Huskies is a major statement for the St. John's program and its young star Ejiofor. Pitino's comments highlight Ejiofor's immense talent and impact, and suggest the veteran coach may be nearing the end of his illustrious career.

The details

St. John's defeated UConn 72-68 in a thrilling game at Madison Square Garden. Ejiofor, a sophomore forward, led the Red Storm with 25 points and 12 rebounds in the upset victory.

  • The game took place on Friday, February 7, 2026.

The players

Rick Pitino

The head coach of the St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team, a Hall of Fame coach with over 800 career wins.

Zuby Ejiofor

A sophomore forward for the St. John's Red Storm, emerging as a star player for the team.

UConn

The University of Connecticut men's basketball team, ranked #3 in the country at the time of the game.

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What they’re saying

“You know you're going to make me retire? Because I'm not living life without you.”

— Rick Pitino, Head Coach, St. John's Red Storm (wn.com)

What’s next

The win over UConn should boost St. John's' NCAA Tournament hopes, though they will need to continue winning tough Big East games to secure a high seed.

The takeaway

Pitino's high praise for Ejiofor suggests the young star has the potential to lead St. John's to new heights and may even prompt the legendary coach to consider retirement in the near future if he continues to dominate at this level.