si
The St. John's Red Storm opened their season with a decisive victory over the Monmouth Hawks, meeting expectations with a comfortable win. The game provided one major takeaway for the team: the standout play of point guard Quinn Ellis.
Entering the season-opener, expectations for St. John's were sky-high, as the team possesses the talent to contend for a Final Four berth. Monday night marked the first step toward that goal. While the performance was not flawless—typical for a season opener—the Red Storm's start was impressive. They built a double-digit lead before the first media timeout and never allowed Monmouth to threaten.
Quinn Ellis, one of the top offseason additions, lived up to the hype. Good point guard play had been a struggle for St. John's last year, but Ellis's presence in the backcourt resolves that issue. On a team with many capable scorers, Ellis serves as the facilitator. In exhibition games, he showcased his ability to distribute the ball while protecting it, and against Monmouth, he totaled seven assists with just one turnover.
Beyond his playmaking, Ellis stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, five rebounds, and five steals. His defensive pressure helped fuel St. John's hot start, as the team's full-court defense created turnovers, aided by Ellis's length. In his official regular-season debut, Ellis clearly demonstrated the type of player he will be for the Red Storm—a true point guard who will be exciting to watch this year.
Key Analysis
Ellis's performance underscores his importance to St. John's. His ability to facilitate and protect the ball addresses a critical need, and his defensive contributions add another dimension. If Ellis continues to develop, he could be the catalyst that propels the Red Storm to a deep postseason run. The team's fast start and defensive intensity, led by Ellis, set a promising tone for the season.