St. John's Star Ejiofor Breaks Down After Sweet 16 Loss to Duke

Emotional senior forward reflects on his legacy after heartbreaking defeat ends NCAA tournament run.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 3:53am

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In an emotional postgame press conference, St. John's senior forward Zuby Ejiofor was overcome with tears when asked about his legacy and how he wants fans to remember him. Ejiofor's Red Storm fell just short against Duke in a 80-75 Sweet 16 loss, ending their NCAA tournament run one win shy of the Elite Eight.

Why it matters

Ejiofor had become a beloved figure among St. John's fans over his three-year career, emerging as a star player and leader for the program. His raw display of emotion after the crushing defeat highlighted how much the game and his time with the team meant to him.

The details

With St. John's trailing by 5 points in the final minutes, Ejiofor scored 17 points and added 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 block in the losing effort. The game came down to the wire, with the two teams trading baskets in a nail-biter finish. After the loss, Ejiofor struggled to compose himself when asked about his legacy, breaking down in tears as he tried to express his appreciation for the Johnnies fans.

  • The Sweet 16 game against Duke took place on Friday, March 27, 2026.
  • Ejiofor transferred to St. John's after his freshman season at Kansas in 2022-23.

The players

Zuby Ejiofor

A senior forward for the St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team, who emerged as a star player and beloved figure among the fanbase over his three-year career with the program.

Rick Pitino

The head coach of the St. John's Red Storm, who briefly complained about the postgame media schedule, arguing the losing team should go first.

Dillon Mitchell

A teammate of Ejiofor's who put his hand on Ejiofor's shoulder to comfort him as he broke down emotionally during the postgame press conference.

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What they’re saying

“I'm just a competitive player, you know, on the court but my character is something I pride myself on the most. And to all the Johnnies nation, I appreciate you guys. For the past three years, you know, just embracing the player...”

— Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's Senior Forward

“I'm obviously pretty disappointed. We had opportunities down the stretch to come out with the win. We felt just short of an Elite Eight and chance to go to the Final Four.”

— Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's Senior Forward

“You should let the losing team go first, and then let the winning team have as long as you want. Just a suggestion. You just left us hanging out there for over a half hour.”

— Rick Pitino, St. John's Head Coach

What’s next

Ejiofor's emotional display after the loss highlighted how much the game and his time at St. John's meant to him. The Red Storm will now look to the offseason and prepare for next year without their star senior.

The takeaway

Ejiofor's raw emotion and passion for the game and his team resonated with St. John's fans, cementing his legacy as a beloved figure who left everything on the court. His breakdown underscored the heartbreak of coming up just short of the Elite Eight, but also the lasting impact he made on the program during his three years.