St. John’s Dominates Butler, Advances in Big East Tournament

NEW YORK, March 13, 2025 — St. John's Red Storm showcased their prowess at Madison Square Garden today, decisively defeating the Butler Bulldogs 78-57 in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals. With this victory, St. John’s, the top seed in this year’s tournament, moves on to play for a spot in the championship game.

St. John’s opened strong, racing to a 15-point lead early in the game. Operating under the strategy of their head coach Rick Pitino, the Red Storm maintained control throughout, responding effectively to any threats from Butler. The Bulldogs, who had given St. John’s a challenge in previous matchups this season, were not able to sustain their momentum.

Butler’s performance contrasted sharply with St. John’s dominant play. The Red Storm exploited their physical advantage in the paint, outscoring the Bulldogs 44-18 in that area. St. John’s guard RJ Luis, who had been named the Big East Player of the Year the day before, led the scoring with 20 points and added seven rebounds. His teammate Kadary Richmond contributed nine assists and eight rebounds while scoring 15 points.

“It was a start that even the demanding Pitino had to be thrilled with,” said a source close to the team. The Red Storm quickly established a commanding lead, with Butler struggling to find their rhythm. Just over seven minutes into the game, St. John’s had already secured an 18-3 advantage, leaving the Bulldogs in a precarious position.

The contest highlighted Butler’s challenges, particularly their inefficiency shooting, with star players Jahmyl Telfort and Pierre Brooks combining for just 16 points on 4-of-20 shooting. Despite trailing by as much as 23 points, Butler managed to close the gap at times but ultimately faltered, continuing to struggle with turnovers that plagued their performance.

At halftime, St. John’s maintained an 11-point lead and added more distance after the intermission, capitalizing on Butler’s missed opportunities. In particular, St. John’s tightened their grip with a decisive 10-0 scoring run early in the second half, effectively sealing Butler’s fate.

Citing the importance of staying focused, Pitino emphasized that this tournament is a critical phase for his team. “You got to stay focused on every little thing,” Pitino remarked regarding the upcoming challenges.

St. John’s finished the game with an impressive 28-4 record, a remarkable turnaround for the program that hasn’t been seen since their dominance in the 1980s. They will face the winner of the Xavier–Marquette matchup in the semifinals on Friday. Butler, whose postseason hopes have been diminished, ended their season at 14-19.

As excitement builds around the Big East Tournament, fans and analysts alike look forward to seeing whether St. John’s can continue their journey toward reclaiming the title they last won in 2000.