Mike DeCourcy of FOX Sports currently has St. John’s (21-4, 12-2 Big East) as the projected No. 4 seed in the East Region, with a potential Sweet 16 matchup against Cooper Flagg and Duke at Prudential Center. While Pitino isn’t concerned about Saturday’s Top 16- announcement, center Zuby Ejiofor said it would mean something if St. John’s is named.

The win streak is at 10, the national ranking is at 9, but St. John's Hall of Fame coach still thinks his team can play a lot better, especially on the offensive end.

St. John’s coach Rick Pitino has high expectations for Seton Hall transfer Kadary Richmond – and says those expectations are rooted in the fact that “we paid him a lot of money.”