Philadelphia’s basketball tradition runs deep, but this year’s NCAA Tournament offers no hometown team to support.
Villanova is in transition after firing Kyle Neptune, Penn parted ways with Steve Donahue, and Temple, Drexel, and St. Joseph’s all failed to make a real impact. The city that breathes college hoops suddenly finds itself without a squad to rally behind. But for fans still craving the emotional rollercoaster of March Madness, there’s a team that fits Philly’s basketball DNA: the St. John’s Red Storm.
St. John’s is an urban school deeply embedded in Queens. The Red Storm’s basketball history is steeped in Big East tradition, much like how the Big 5 defines college hoops in Philly.
For those who grew up watching classic Big East battles, the resurgence of St. John’s under legendary coach Rick Pitino feels like a throwback to the conference’s golden era, when powerhouses like Georgetown, Syracuse, and UConn ruled the court. Even if St. John’s has never been a direct part of Philly’s hoops culture, it carries an energy and toughness that aligns with what local fans admire.
Defensively, St. John’s plays the kind of basketball that Philadelphia fans love. They finished the season ranked No. 1 in KenPom’s defensive efficiency ratings, grinding their way to a 30-4 record and sweeping the Big East regular season and tournament titles. If there’s one thing Philly fans respect, it’s a team that scraps and fights for every possession.
Offense, however, is where things get dicey. The Red Storm struggles to score efficiently, ranking 65th in offensive efficiency while shooting a meager 30.4% from three. If there’s a reason to doubt their ability to make a deep run in the tournament, it’s their inconsistent shooting. But that struggle might make them even more relatable to Philly fans—after all, watching the Sixers go cold at crucial moments is practically a city-wide tradition.
Then there’s the Pitino factor. The man is a basketball lifer, a two-time national champion, and one of the sport’s most compelling figures. His history is complicated, marked by both brilliance and controversy, but there’s no denying his ability to turn programs around.
In Pitino’s second year at St. John’s, he brought the Red Storm back to national prominence. Some South Philly fans even call him “Uncle Rick,” embracing his fiery personality and old-school intensity. If you love how Eagles coach Nick Sirianni leans into his Italian roots, Pitino brings that same energy to college hoops.
For the die-hard Philadelphia fan searching for a team to invest in this March, St. John’s makes a compelling case. They are tough, defensive-minded, and playing with a chip on their shoulder. They haven’t won a national championship before, making them an underdog in their own way.
Let’s be honest—jumping on the St. John’s bandwagon is a far better option than defaulting to blue-blood powerhouses like Duke or Kansas. And since there’s no Philly team to back this year, why not go all-in on a squad that plays the game with the same heart and grit that defines this city?
