Iona faces St. John's with Sadiku Ibine Ayo against Rick Pitino

This Sunday, No. 13 St. John's will host Iona at Madison Square Garden. The matchup features Sadiku Ibine Ayo, a former captain at St. John's, who now plays for Iona. Coach Rick Pitino, who led Ibine Ayo in both programs, expressed pride in his former player, addressing his leadership role. Ibine Ayo transferred to Iona seeking more playing time and previously played under Pitino during his freshman season at Iona. Despite a lack of high statistics, Ibine Ayo's influence in the locker room was significant during his time at St. John's and is expected to bring energy to the Gaels as they prepare for this contest.

• 1:00 PMYahoo Sports — Rick Pitino ready to face former St. John’s captain Sadiku Ibine Ayo, now of Iona: ‘He’s like a son to me’