Rick Pitino surprisingly sits Theo Edema in St. John's opener

St. John's head coach Rick Pitino opted not to play freshman Theo Edema during Monday's 78-63 season-opening win against Monmouth. Pitino described the decision as part of an experimental phase to evaluate his roster depth before upcoming tournaments. Despite Edema's strong performance in the exhibition finale, the coach emphasized the need to assess other forwards, noting that the team is still adjusting its rotation early in the season.