St. John’s gets Vote of Confidence from Dickie V

Are the Johnnies back? Legendary college basketball broadcaster Dickie V seems to think St. John’s will live up to expectations this season. And even at age 85, I think he knows how to pick ’em.

We’ll have to wait a few months to see if that’s true. Vitale dropped his too-early-to-tell Sweet 16 picks yesterday morning.

With the college basketball season still months away, these should be taken with a grain of salt. But it’s worth noting that at the very end of his Sweet 16 picks, the college basketball legend revealed that he has St. John’s sneaking into the Sweet 16. 

Dick Vitale’s Sweet 16 Picks

Are the Johnnies are Back?

St. John’s in the Sweet 16. Could this be the year?

I should mention Vitale, known for his electric commentary and 41 year stint with ESPN, is a proud graduate of Seton Hall University. The same Seton Hall that St. John’s plays twice a year during Big East Conference play. And the same Seton Hall that will have to watch their former star Kadary Richmond suit up for the Red Storm this season. 

Therefore, I think it’s reasonable to assume he knows all about Richmond. And from what he wrote, it seems he holds Richmond in high regard. He claimed that Richmond and Deivon Smith will be “one of the best backcourts” in college basketball next year.

Is he just a biased Seton Hall alum? Maybe. 

But Seton Hall finished 4th in the Big East last year, largely in part to Richmond’s ability to score and to defend. He’s going to be a force to reckon with alongside Smith, who was averaging 13.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 7.1 assists for the Utes last season. Smith also recorded five triple-doubles, the most ever by a PAC-12 player in a single season.

The roster in Jamaica, Queens, definitely has fans buzzing this offseason. And with a vote of confidence from Dickie V, maybe they will be able to squeak out some quality wins from a tough non-conference schedule.

Who knows, maybe we’ll even get to see them in the tournament this year.