Andrew Pace
St. John's University's basketball team, the Red Storm, has a rich history in the sport. The team has made it to the NCAA Tournament several times and has achieved notable successes, including multiple Big East Championships. However, despite their impressive record, the men's team has never won a basketball national championship. The Red Storm has come close on several occasions, including a second-place finish in the 1952 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The women's basketball team has also achieved success, with four Big East Championships under their belt.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of NCAA Division I Basketball Championship appearances | 27-31 |
| Number of NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championships | 0 |
| NIT appearances | 27 |
| NIT championship wins | 6 |
| Number of Wooden Award winners as national player of the year | 2 |
| Number of All-Americans | 11 |
| Number of College Basketball Hall of Fame members | 6 |
| Number of players sent to the NBA | 59 |
| Number of Big East Championships | 7 |
| Number of Big East Tournament wins | 4 |
| Number of Big East Regular Season wins | 3 |
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What You'll Learn
St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team
The St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team has a rich history in college basketball, with numerous achievements despite never winning a national championship. They hold the NCAA Division I record for the most appearances in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship without claiming the title. However, St. John's has much to be proud of in terms of their basketball programme.
The Red Storm have appeared in the NCAA Tournament an impressive 28 to 31 times, reaching the Final Four on two occasions. They have also secured two Wooden Awards for national players of the year, produced 11 consensus All-Americans, and seen 6 members inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. Additionally, St. John's has successfully sent 59 players to the NBA, including notable names such as Ron Artest (Metta Sandiford-Artest) and Rich Aurilia.
The team's early history was marked by success under coaches Buck Freeman and Joe Lapchick. Freeman, who coached from 1923 to 1935, achieved a remarkable record of 177-31, an .850 winning percentage. Lapchick, who took over from 1936 to 1947 and again from 1956 to 1965, guided the Redmen to four NIT championships (1943, 1944, 1959, and 1965). During Lapchick's tenure, the team also won six Metropolitan New York Conference regular-season titles and reached the NIT semifinals an impressive 8 out of 12 times.
In the 1950s, Frank McGuire took the reins as coach, leading the Redmen to a second-place finish in the 1952 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. McGuire's teams reached the overall number one ranking in The Associated Press poll twice and won three Metropolitan New York Conference regular-season titles. The 1980s brought intense rivalry with the Georgetown Hoyas, with notable matchups in the 1985 Big East Championship and the 1985 NCAA semifinal game.
More recently, under coach Rick Pitino, St. John's has experienced a resurgence, returning to the NCAA Tournament and winning the Big East regular-season championship and the Big East tournament in 2025. In 2025, they were also upset by Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament, losing 75-66 in a closely contested game.
While St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team has yet to win a national championship, their extensive list of accomplishments and their impact on the sport of basketball cannot be overstated. They have consistently competed at the highest level, producing outstanding players and coaches who have left their mark on the game.
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NIT Championships
St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team has had a rich history in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), with the most NIT appearances (27) and championship wins (6) of any team. The team's first NIT championship came in 1943 under the leadership of head coach Joe Lapchick, a former player of the Original Celtics. Lapchick guided the team to two more NIT titles in 1944 and 1959, before passing the baton to Lou Carnesecca, who led the team to their fourth NIT championship in 1965.
The 1965 NIT run was particularly memorable as St. John's defeated a series of formidable opponents, including Boston College, New Mexico, Army, and top-seeded Villanova. The team was propelled by the outstanding performances of sophomore forward Lloyd "Sonny" Dove and senior Ken McIntyre, who tallied over 1,000 points in his college career. McIntyre's scoring prowess earned him the title of Most Valuable Player in both the Holiday Festival and the National Invitational Tournament.
Following their success in the 1965 NIT, St. John's endured a drought of NIT championships for over two decades. However, they reclaimed their glory in 1989, capturing their fifth NIT title. The team's sixth NIT championship came in 2003, but it was later vacated by the NCAA due to impermissible benefits provided to a player. As a result, St. John's official record stands at four NIT championships.
The Red Storm's dominance in the NIT can be attributed to their strong coaching staff and talented players. Joe Lapchick, who helmed the team for many of their early NIT successes, had an impressive overall college coaching record of 334–130. Additionally, St. John's has produced two Wooden Award winners as national players of the year, 11 consensus All-Americans, and sent 59 players to the NBA. The team's home games are predominantly played at Madison Square Garden, often referred to as "The World's Most Famous Arena."
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NCAA Tournament appearances
St. John's Red Storm has had a total of 27 or 29 NCAA Tournament appearances, making them the seventh-most tournament appearances in college basketball history. However, they have never won an NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, currently holding the record for most appearances without a championship.
In 1952, St. John's made their first NCAA Tournament appearance, reaching the Elite Eight before being defeated by eventual national champion Kentucky. The team has since made it to the NCAA Tournament 27 more times, including in 1961, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2011, 2015, and 2019.
In 2025, St. John's made it to the NCAA Tournament again, marking their 28th or 31st appearance. They were the No. 2 seed but suffered an upset defeat to the No. 10 seed Arkansas Razorbacks, led by coach John Calipari. This marked the first time St. John's had won an NCAA tournament game in 25 years.
The St. John's-Georgetown rivalry was a notable matchup in the Big East during the 1980s, with both teams facing off in the 1985 Big East Championship and the 1985 NCAA semifinal game.
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St. John's-Georgetown rivalry
St. John's University's basketball team, the Red Storm, has a long history in the sport, with 11 consensus All-Americans, 6 members of the College Basketball Hall of Fame, and 59 players sent to the NBA. However, they have never won a Division I national championship, currently holding the record for most appearances without a win.
One of St. John's most notable rivalries is with the Georgetown Hoyas of Georgetown University. The first game between the two schools was on December 8, 1909, with St. John's taking the win. The rivalry gained renewed interest in 2013 when both schools moved to the new Big East Conference during the 2010-2014 NCAA conference realignment.
The rivalry was particularly intense in the 1980s, with notable matchups including the 1985 Big East Championship and the 1985 NCAA semifinal game. The rivalry also featured Hall of Fame coaches Lou Carnesecca and John Thompson, as well as Hall of Fame players Chris Mullin and Patrick Ewing. Both programs were coached by their school's Hall of Fame players during the 1984-85 season, with tenures overlapping: Mullin coached St. John's from 2015 to 2019, and Ewing coached Georgetown from 2017 to 2023.
In addition to Georgetown, St. John's also has several other rivals, including East Coast rivals Villanova Wildcats, Providence Friars, and Seton Hall Pirates. They also frequently play other New York City opponents representing the other NYC boroughs, such as the Fordham Rams and Manhattan Jaspers of The Bronx.
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St. John's women's basketball team
The St. John's Red Storm women's basketball team is a successful programme at St. John's University in New York City, New York. The team has been competing in the Big East Conference since the 1982-1983 season and has accumulated various achievements throughout its history.
The Red Storm women's basketball team has won the Big East Championship four times (in 1983, 1984, 1988, and 2016). They have also made ten appearances in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, with seven of those appearances occurring since 2006. On February 18, 2012, the team achieved a notable victory by defeating the UConn Lady Huskies, ending their 99-game home court winning streak.
The team's success has been built upon a strong foundation. Vickie Kresse served as the team's first coach during their initial season in the AIAW (1974-1975), guiding them to a 10-8 record and their first winning season. The current head coach, Joe Tartamella, took over in 2012 and has continued to lead the team's recent successes.
While St. John's University has won two NCAA team national championships, these were not achieved by the women's basketball team. The women's basketball team has not been mentioned as a winner of a national championship, and the specific years associated with their Big East Championships and NCAA tournament appearances are provided.
The St. John's Red Storm women's basketball team has a rich history and has consistently performed well in their conference. However, they have not been listed among the schools with the most DI women's basketball national championships. Their achievements in the Big East Conference and NCAA tournaments showcase their competitiveness and dedication to the sport.
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Frequently asked questions
No, St. John's currently holds the NCAA Division I record for the most appearances without a championship.
Yes, St. John's has won the Big East Championship four times (1983, 1986, 2000, 2025). They have also won the NIT Championship six times, although they were stripped of one due to an NCAA infraction.
St. John's has produced several notable players, including two Wooden Award winners, 11 consensus All-Americans, and 6 members of the College Basketball Hall of Fame. 59 players from St. John's have made it to the NBA.
Some notable St. John's Red Storm basketball coaches include Frank McGuire, Joe Lapchick, Lou Carnesecca, and Rick Pitino.
