NEW YORK (AP) — It took two years for Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino to restore New York City pride and a winning tradition at St. John's.

Now, the task ahead for his revamped team is living up to lofty expectations and handling the national hype.

Pitino and the fifth-ranked Red Storm got off to a fast start in their season opener Monday night, overwhelming Quinnipiac from the outset in a 108-74 rout at Carnesecca Arena.

“The one thing that stood out from an ultra-positive standpoint was our mentality going into the game," Pitino said. “From when the ball was thrown up to the end, we had an intense, aggressive mindset. We made our mistakes, as you always do in a first game, but overall, I couldn’t be more pleased.”

On deck, a much tougher test against an up-tempo Southeastern Confere

See Full Page