St. John’s is no longer the scrappy underdog it once was. Not after last spring’s stunning turnaround that saw the Red Storm claim their first outright Big East regular-season and conference tournament titles in decades. They earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, a testament to the program’s remarkable progress under Rick Pitino. Sure, their big dance run came to an abrupt end in the second round against Arkansas, but expectations around Queens are sky high heading into the new season. Yet, if you ask their Hall of Fame head coach, he’s not entirely convinced his team is where everyone thinks they are.

When John Fanta of NBC Sports asked Rick Pitino about how he plans to take the next step with this roster, he said, “It’s been a grind a little bit. I’ve got 10 to 15 awesome guys, but they’re all new to each other. And we sort of run a pointless offense. I mean, Oziyah Sellers may be the point guard, but Zuby handles the ball just as much as him. So, we run a lot of motion. Everybody handles the basketball. And that takes time. That takes a lot of hard work, getting to know each other.”

Rick Pitino’s side enters the new season ranked No. 5 in the AP Preseason Poll, the highest mark in program history! That’s thanks to a stacked transfer class built around Big East Preseason Player of the Year, Zuby Ejiofor. Five-star prospect Joson Sanon, who averaged nearly 12 points per game at Arizona State, brings an instant scoring threat. Senior guard Oziyah Sellers adds another offensive spark after putting up close to 14 points a night at Stanford. These two will provide the perimeter threat that the Red Storm lacked last season.

Then there’s Dillon Mitchell, the 6-foot-8 forward who arrives from Cincinnati, not far from averaging a double-double, and Dylan Darling, the reigning Big Sky Player of the Year, who lit up the offense at Idaho State with almost 20 points and six assists per game.

Of course, there are the prized additions in Ian Jackson and Bryce Hopkins. Two players that Rick Pitino will be counting on to anchor his team and help him chase another championship. But with 11 new players (seven transfers and four freshmen) in the mix, building rhythm and chemistry right out of the gate will be a challenge for the Red Storm.

That’s not the only concern, though. With Simeon Wilcher transferring to Texas and Kadary Richmond heading to the pros, St. John’s begins the season without a true point guard. Instead, the Red Storm will rely on Oziyah Sellers, who’s a natural wing, to bring the ball up the floor and defend opposing guards.

As Rick Pitino pointed out, Sellers will share ball-handling duties with Zuby Ejiofor. But building that chemistry without a traditional floor general takes time, which is why the HC refers to his system as a “pointless offense.” Pitino, though, isn’t leaving any room for doubt.

Rick Pitino has his goals set for the upcoming NCAA season

Last season ended in disappointment for Rick Pitino and his squad. Yes, he further strengthened his case as a turnaround guru by becoming the first coach to take six different schools to an NCAA tournament. But watching his Big Dance run end in the second round against a struggling Arkansas side wasn’t what anyone expected. This time around, Pitino has made his ambitions crystal clear…

“I told them it’s the goal of every big-time program to be a Final Four contender, and if we’re going to get there, this is what we have to do defensively and offensively,” Pitino said. “So, I really didn’t talk about us trying to be a Final Four program. I told them these are the things you have to do to be a Final Four contender.”

Even Zuby Ejiofor’s words have proven that this team is gearing up for a big year ahead. “You know, it being our last year, it’s Final Four, it’s national championship or bust,” the Red Storm ace said.

Rick Pitino has already laid out the blueprint for what it’ll take to reach the Final Four. St. John’s is chasing its third trip to the national semifinals, and its first since 1985. While many expect the Red Storm to once again dominate the Big East, the path won’t be easy. UConn, ranked just above them in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, looms large as their rivals. The question now is: Can Rick Pitino help deliver the championship? Only time will tell.