After months of intrigue, hype and build-up, the Rick Pitino era began in earnest Tuesday night.
This performance added to the fascination with Pitino’s first team at St. John’s.
It wasn’t perfect.
There were issues Pitino will undoubtedly address.
But for the regular season opener, nine days after an exhibition loss to Division II Pace University following an uneven preseason marred by injuries to key players, St. John’s looked the part.
It showcased its depth and its senior firepower.
It was cohesive, organized and, for the most part, disciplined.
It won the battle on the glass by 13, shot 50 percent from 3-point range and was potent in transition.
It opened with a commanding 90-74 victory over Stony Brook at sold-out Carnesecca Arena.
As expected, St. John’s relied on its most experienced players: Returning star Joel Soriano and seniors Daniss Jenkins, Chris Ledlum and Jordan Dingle.