Preview of the 2025‑26 Season
Coming off a stellar 31‑5 season that brought Big East regular-season and tournament titles, St. John’s enters next season with confidence—led by Rick Pitino’s bold repositioning of their offense as “point‑less”, a system inspired by modern NBA motion play.
🔁 What Is the “Point‑Less” System?
- Pitino has intentionally removed the idea of a traditional single point guard, instead empowering multiple players across positions to initiate the offense.
- He explained in a recent open practice:
“We just realized … so many good athletes that we’re going to run a point‑less system … everybody handles the ball, everybody passes the ball”.
📈 Who’s Initiating the Offense?
- Forwards Dillon Mitchell and Bryce Hopkins led the team in assists during summer practices and scrimmages, ahead of traditional backcourt options.
- In a scrimmage session, Zuby Ejiofor recorded seven assists, followed by Dylan Darling (5 assists) and Ian Jackson (4 assists)—highlighting depth in ball‑handling.
- Oziyah Sellers, a Stanford transfer, commented:
“This is probably the fastest team I’ve been on … especially with Pitino emphasizing kicking the ball ahead”.
🌟 Roster Tailored for Flexibility
- St. John’s boasts the nation’s top-rated transfer class per 247Sports, featuring versatile talents including Ian Jackson, Dylan Darling, Oziyah Sellers, Joson Sanon, Dillon Mitchell, and Bryce Hopkins.
- Returning star Zuby Ejiofor, the Big East’s Most Improved Player and rebounding leader, anchors the inside while adapting as a facilitator.
- Darling remains the most natural traditional point guard, but the offense is built to operate without reliance on any single ball‑handler.
🎯 Why This System?
- Pitino believes the classic pass‑first point guard era is over, as elite motion basketball evolves toward NBA‑style, positionless dynamics.
- He cited the depth and athleticism of his roster as justification:
“We have so many good athletes … we’re going to run pure motion”. - The system is designed to create spacing, relentless transition scoring, and continual matchup advantages.
⚖️ Risks and Rewards
| ✅ Strengths | ⚠️ Risks |
|---|---|
| Multiple initiators enable constant motion and unpredictability | May lack consistent decision-makers in high‑pressure moments |
| Depth in ball-handling allows lineup flexibility and rest rotation | Potential for chaos if roles aren’t defined as season progresses |
| Athletic frontcourt adds rebounding, pace, and versatility | If shooting slumps again, rhythm and execution could suffer |
🔍 Offseason Highlights
- Big East preseason outlook ranks St. John’s among favorites alongside UConn, citing league-leading talent and elite coaching depth.
- Coach of the Year honors: Pitino shared AP Coach of the Year, won the Henry Iba and Naismith Coach of the Year awards, underlining his influence in transforming the program in just two seasons.
- Strategic roster upgrades: The addition of Joson Sanon, a sharpshooting wing transferring from Arizona State, addresses last year’s perimeter struggles (he shot nearly 37% from three-point range).
🧠 Why Fans Should Care
- Expect fast-break points, unpredictable ball movement, and high energy at Carnesecca Arena and MSG.
- With no set starters until November, Pitino can adapt lineups weekly based on matchups, fatigue, and player chemistry.
- Watch how players like Mitchell, Hopkins, Sellers, Jackson, and Sanon evolve into reliable initiators and scorers.
- And keep an eye on whether Ejiofor remains the team’s emotional and tactical nucleus, pulling rim’s gravity at both ends.
