St. John’s University is honoring the late Kenny Klein throughout the 2026 basketball season by leaving the seat beside head coach Rick Pitino at the scorer’s table empty and wearing a black armband marked with the initials “K.K.” Klein, a Sports Information Hall of Famer, passed away on June 25 at the age of 66 following a tragic incident at a dinner several weeks earlier. Having retired from Louisville in 2022 after nearly four decades, Klein had spent the past two years assisting Pitino at St. John’s within the communications department.
Pitino, reflecting after St. John’s 104-99 victory over Rutgers in a quadruple overtime exhibition game at Madison Square Garden, described the loss as profoundly personal. “Not since 9/11 have I felt so sad, losing a person right in front of you who I love so much,” Pitino said, noting that Klein’s wife, Donna, would continue accompanying the team on the road and at home. He remarked on the emotional difficulty of the summer and pledged to keep honoring his close friend’s memory. Pitino also revealed that Klein had urged him to continue coaching as long as Klein remained with the staff, expressing his belief that Klein would have stayed involved if not for his untimely passing.
During Sunday’s event at the Garden, St. John’s introduced an updated Ring of Honor, which includes 10 past members recognized in its Legacy Honors established in 2006. Those enshrined include Lou Carnesecca, Chris Mullin, and Zuby Ejiofor, with a ceremony planned to officially add Ejiofor’s name this season. Athletic Director Ed Kull indicated discussions are underway about retiring jersey numbers, a first for the program.
As the Red Storm begin the 2026-27 campaign, Pitino has been candid about the team’s progression. Despite returning three of their top four scorers from last season, St. John’s is still working towards cohesion. After two exhibition games—against Drexel and Rutgers—it remains clear the team is a work in progress, lacking last year’s clear leader, Zuby Ejiofor, who has departed. The squad features several newcomers and less experienced players, with point guard Quinn Ellis and wing Babacar Sane adjusting to college basketball. Transfers Keyshawn Hall and Reed Bailey joined only at the start of the semester, contributing to a disrupted summer preparation.
The quadruple overtime contest against Rutgers illustrated both promise and challenges. The team trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half but responded with a significant run in the second half. The win highlighted the team’s ability to rebound from adversity, though struggles persisted in late-game execution. Pitino emphasized the fundamental issues related to lack of playing experience together, noting, “We make a lot of mistakes… The more we play with each other, the more trust is going to come on both ends of the floor.”
Defensive rebounding remains a critical weakness, with St. John’s conceding 29 offensive rebounds across two exhibition games, including 14 second-chance points against Rutgers. New starting center Ruben Prey has faced particular scrutiny, recording only four rebounds in the two contests. Meanwhile, Sane logged limited minutes after coach Pitino expressed dissatisfaction with his shot selection, particularly quick three-point attempts. Despite that, Sane contributed 13 points and six rebounds.
Ellis has emerged as the team’s leading contributor, showcasing a versatile presence with 13 points, nine assists, eight rebounds, four blocks, and two steals across games, though he has taken limited shots. The guard stressed the developmental nature of the exhibition phase and the importance of building chemistry as the season progresses.
St. John’s schedule remains relatively light until the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas over Thanksgiving week, providing time to develop on-court cohesion. Pitino remains optimistic about the team’s trajectory, anticipating significant improvement by January as the players build fundamental skills and defensive discipline.