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UConn Rival Suffers Big Blow with Major Injury News
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- UConn Rival Suffers Big Blow with Major Injury News
(© Bob Donnan-Imagn Images)
When headcoaches Dan Hurley of UConn and Rick Pitino of St. John's restocked their rosters this spring following transfersand graduations, many thoughts undoubtedly crept into their minds – including thisone.
We need a high-impactbig man if we are going to beat that other Big East team.
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And both coacheslanded that player: 6-foot-9 Donnie Freeman of Syracuse chose Pitino'sprogram over a serious overture from Kentucky, and 6-10 Na'jai Hines decided tohead to Storrs, Conn., from Seton Hall.
Pitino delivereddevastating news to St. John's fans on Wednesday
"Donnie Freemanhad successful Achilles tendon surgery performed by Dr Martin O'Malley," Pitinoposted to X on Wednesdag. "Donnie had a non contact injury in a workout and will miss theseason. Donnie is an awesome young man, we will get him back better than ever!"
Iniury impactfor Red Storm-Huskies series
UConn and St.John's, longtime foes, have seen the temperature of the rivalry rise sincePitino took over the program in advance of the 2023-24 season.
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St. John'sdefeated UConn twice in the 2024-25 season, and the teams split the two regular-seasongames in 2025-26.
In the Big East tournament in March, St. John's bested UConn to win its second consecutive tournament title and earn the direct entry into Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament, where the Red Storm reached the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 1999. The Red Storm also won the regular-season title.
Before Pitino'sarrival, the Red Storm had been to the tournament just twice since 2002.
One of the mostsignificant additions to any program across the country was Freeman, a 6-foot-9forward expected to fill the shoes of Zuby Ejiofor at St. John's. The unanimousBig East Player of the Year, Ejiofor was selected in the first round of the 2026NBA Draft last week by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 23 overall pick.
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For a 15-17 Syracuse team last season, Freeman averaged 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds in 23 games (21 starts), both leading the Orange. He missed nine games due to a foot injury.
His numbers compare to those put up by Ejiofor -- 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds. Ejiofor also led St. John's in assists (3.5) and blocks (2.1) per game.
Looking down the road
The matchup between Ejiofor and UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. was a good one in all three games last season, an evenly matched pair of players giving their all.
IReed scored a combined 49 points and added 24 total rebounds in their three games. Ejiofor countered with 45 points and 23 rebounds.
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Freeman will return after the injury season as a junior, as Hines will be. They could have two fantastic seasons of competitio,
Pitino does have some options on his roster, but they are lesser known than Freeman.
The include two highly regarded international players: 6-8 Babacar Sane of Senegal, who played professionally in Germany last season, and Djordjije Jovanovic, a 6-7 wing from Monenegro, who has been playing the Adriatic Basketball Association.
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