St. John’s season of high expectations will begin with a lofty number next to its name.

For the first time since the 1991-92 season, the Johnnies will start the year ranked in the Top 10 of the Associated Press poll.

In Monday’s preseason poll, Rick Pitino’s program was slotted in at No. 5, its highest ranking going into a season.

The Red Storm was last ranked in the preseason prior to the 1999-2000 campaign. Their highest ranking was No. 7, ahead of the 1984-85 Final Four campaign. They are one of three Big East teams ranked, behind No. 4 Connecticut and ahead of No. 23 Creighton. Three nonconference opponents, No. 9 Kentucky, No. 15 Alabama and No. 16 Iowa State, are also ranked.

St. John’s will take on No. 7 Michigan in an exhibition at the Garden on Oct. 25, part of a 13-game slate at MSG, the most games St. John’s has ever played at the arena’s current location.

Joson Sanon drives around Dillon Mitchell during a St. John’s scrimmage at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 8, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

This only adds to the excitement around St. John’s, which is coming off Big East regular-season and postseason titles, and its first NCAA Tournament victory since 2000.

It also won 31 games, equaling a program record. The program has already sold roughly 9,000 season ticket Garden packages despite a 30 percent increase in prices, a sign of major demand from an energized fan base.

Pitino and his coaching staff had a big offseason, bringing in the No. 1 transfer portal class in the country, according to 247 Sports.

That haul included Ian Jackson (North Carolina), Dillon Mitchell (Cincinnati), Oziyah Sellers (Stanford), Bryce Hopkins (Providence) and Joson Sanon (Arizona State). That group, along with star returnee Zuby Ejiofor, will face an elite nonconference schedule that is by far the most difficult of the Pitino era.

Rick Pitino gives instructions during a St. John’s scrimmage at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 8, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

They will have a bull’s-eye on their back following last year’s big season, the major names that were added to the roster and now the preseason ranking.

“I think ESPN had us five. AP [will] have us whatever the number may be,” Pitino said last week after an open practice at the Garden. “I don’t think it’s really important because you’re going to find out with Michigan and Alabama [on Nov. 8 at MSG] if we’re for real. … We could do what St. John’s has done in past years and open up 10-0 and you would have no clue whether we’re [great]. But you’re going to find out with Michigan and Alabama.”

Ian Jackson when the St. John’s Red Storm held an open practice Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at St. John’s University in Queens, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Pitino was encouraged by what he saw at the open practice, which included a lengthy scrimmage.

He started Ejiofor, Sanon, Jackson, Hopkins and Sellers, and that quintet crushed the backups 103-64. On Saturday, St. John’s will face its first opponent when CAA preseason favorite Towson visits Carnesecca Arena.