St. John’s Suffers a Major Blow with Donnie Freeman’s Injury

Offseason injuries can be devastating for teams, and St. John’s is no exception. The Red Storm has been dealt a significant blow with the loss of Donnie Freeman to a torn Achilles. The non-contact injury occurred during a workout, and surgery has already been performed.

St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino expressed his support for Freeman on social media, stating, ‘Donnie is an awesome young man. We will get him back better than ever!’ However, even if Freeman makes a full recovery, his injury is a major setback for next season’s roster. The Syracuse transfer was projected to be a starter after averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds as a sophomore.

Impact on College Basketball Rankings

The injury has forced a change in the CBS Sports preseason Top 25 And 1 rankings. St. John’s has dropped to No. 17 in Version 19 of the 2026-27 rankings. The Red Storm was previously ranked higher due to Freeman’s expected contributions.

Another factor that contributed to the change in rankings is the departure of Dusty May from Michigan to the Dallas Mavericks. May’s departure has resulted in a five-spot drop for Michigan, which is now ranked No. 8. His influence on the team was undeniable, and his absence will be felt.

Florida remains the top-ranked team in the preseason Top 25 And 1, with a projected starting lineup that includes Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Boogie Fland, Rueben Chinyelu, Urban Klavzar, and Isaiah Brown. These six players are expected to return from a team that won the SEC by three games and was a No. 1 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Lessons from the Departure of Dusty May

The departure of Dusty May serves as a reminder that even though getting fired can be devastating, it doesn’t have to be the end of a coaching career. May’s departure has led to a new opportunity for Jim Boynton, who will be in charge of a preseason top-10 team less than three years after being fired at Oklahoma State. This development highlights the resilience and adaptability required in the coaching profession.

Reasonable minds can disagree on the extent of the impact of May’s departure, but it is clear that his influence on the team was significant. His departure has left a void that will be difficult to fill.