USBWA St. John's News

St. John's head coach Rick Pitino rejuvenated the Red Storm’s program this season with a 30-4 record to date, reaching the 30-win mark for just the third time in program history and first time since 1985-86 as they head into the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. For guiding St. John’s to its first Big East Conference title in 40 seasons as well as the conference tournament title, Pitino has been named the winner of the 2024-25 Henry Iba Award, given annually by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association to its national coach of the year.

The Southeastern Conference boasts four standout players to headline the 2024-25 U.S. Basketball Writers Association Men's All-America Team, including three first-team selections. All four NCAA Tournament No. 1 seeds are represented on the team, which includes three repeat selections among the 17 players honored on three teams, with two players receiving honorable mention.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has named five Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week for games of the week ending Sunday, Feb. 9.

For the season’s second weekly women’s awards from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association for games ending Sunday, Dec. 18, Drexel graduate guard Keishana Washington is the Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Week, Santa Clara guard Tess Heal is the Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week  and St. John’s is the National Team of the Week.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected St. John's guard/forward Julian Champagnie as its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Feb. 20.