St. John's Captures First Big East Tournament Title in 25 Years

RJ Luis Jr exploded with a dazzling 29 points, nearly all of them coming after halftime, as No. 6 St. John’s found their groove in the second half, sinking 14 consecutive shots to defeat Creighton 82-66 on Saturday night. This victory clinched their first Big East Tournament title in a quarter of a century.

Playing at the iconic Madison Square Garden, filled to capacity with fervent fans, the top-seeded Red Storm (30-4) saw crucial contributions from Zuby Ejiofor, who chipped in 20 points, and Kadary Richmond, who delivered a robust performance with 12 points and 12 rebounds. This monumental win brought St. John’s to a 30-win season for the third time in their storied history.

The triumph earned them an automatic ticket to the NCAA tournament, marking their return to the stage for the first time since 2019. This achievement also secured a unique milestone for 72-year-old Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, who became the first to lead six different teams to the NCAA tournament, having previously done so with Boston University, Providence, Kentucky, Louisville, and Iona.

In just his second year at St. John’s, Pitino also became the first coach to claim Big East tournament titles with two different teams. His impressive track record includes three championship victories with Louisville in 2009, 2012, and 2013.

“They’ve had an extraordinary season, truly dominating the league, and reserved their finest form for this tournament,” remarked Creighton coach Greg McDermott about the relentless Red Storm. “They gradually wear you down… we faced an exceptional team. I believe they’re set to positively represent the Big East next week.”

For Creighton (24-10), Ryan Kalkbrenner was a standout, notching 15 points. Unfortunately for them, they fell to 0-5 in Big East championship games since entering the conference in the 2013-14 season.

This victory marked the fourth Big East tournament title for St. John’s, who hadn’t reached the championship game since securing the trophy in 2000 under coach Mike Jarvis. The team’s other two wins came during the 1980s under the legendary Lou Carnesecca, who passed away on November 30, just shy of his 100th birthday.

Following the win, Pitino spoke about their success, likely hinting at achieving three goals: claiming the Big East regular-season title, winning the conference tournament, and ultimately aspiring for the national championship. With their latest win, the Red Storm has already accomplished the first two milestones.