Mike Francesa said he saw this red storm coming, over long conversations with Rick Pitino at Saratoga Race Course last summer. But on Tuesday night, he saw it arrive in full force, when the 15th-ranked St. John’s men’s basketball team routed Georgetown, 66-41, to complete a perfect January.

The Hall of Fame coach has the Red Storm looking strong. Plus, new-look Wisconsin, Utah Valley is in the mid-major spotlight, and this weekend’s games to watch.

With Tuesday’s 66-41 win at Georgetown, the Johnnies improved to 7-0 since the calendar flipped to 2025. They completed their first undefeated January since 1985, a year in which the late Lou Carnesecca led St. John’s to the Final Four.

For much of the past two decades, St. John’s basketball has struggled to reclaim its former glory. Halfway through the 2024-25 season, that's changing.

The Red Storm get a major chance to pad their thin resume. Plus, Cooper Flagg gets his first dose of the Duke-UNC rivalry against the reeling Tar Heels.

Rick Pitino joked that senior guard Kadary Richmond was like a fine wine. “He keeps getting better with age,” Pitino quipped. “And he’s 35.” Even if he was 35 and not 23, Richmond still would not have been born the last time St.

St. John’s fans should appreciate RJ Luis while he’s here. Rick Pitino is anticipating the dynamic junior wing going pro when this season is up. The reigning Big East Player of the Week, the 6-foot-7 Luis has taken a big leap this year as the Johnnies’ leading scorer at 17.5 points per game.