St. John’s Eyes Big East Championship Against Seton Hall on Saturday

NEW YORK, N.Y. — St. John's basketball team is on the verge of history as they prepare to face Seton Hall on Saturday afternoon. With a victory, the seventh-ranked Johnnies (25-4, 16-2) can clinch their first outright Big East regular-season championship since the 1984-85 season.

The stakes are high for the Red Storm as they aim to solidify their place as a dominant force in the Big East. This pivotal match at Madison Square Garden is expected to be a raucous affair, attracting a passionate crowd eager to witness this momentous occasion.

“This is what we spoke about when we all came together in July,” said guard Kadary Richmond, reflecting on the team’s commitment to their goals. “It’s nice to have this feeling that it’s right there for us to take. Nobody is giving it to us. We’re not hoping or wishing for it. It’s all up to us to go out there and take it.”

If the Johnnies secure the win, an on-court celebration will follow, complete with confetti, a trophy presentation, and photographs. However, the team plans to skip the traditional cutting down of the nets at the Garden. Coach Rick Pitino noted that his teams have never participated in that celebration after winning a regular-season title, and the players unanimously agreed to forgo it.

“It was a collective decision; everybody agreed it’s not really the end of the season,” said tri-captain Zuby Ejiofor. “We haven’t really accomplished a lot as of yet. Saturday is a great opportunity, obviously. We still got Marquette to worry about [after this game]. That’s where our mind is at, just taking care of business Saturday and moving on.”

This disciplined mindset has been integral to the team’s success, allowing St. John’s to maintain their focus despite their national ranking and the most wins the school has achieved in 25 years. Players consistently emphasize the importance of looking ahead to their next opponents even after hard-fought victories.

The Red Storm have not lost at full strength since New Year’s Eve and are projected to receive a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, according to BracketMatrix.com. This would signify their highest seeding since achieving a No. 2 slot in the 2000 NCAA Tournament, the same year they last won a tournament game.

The groundwork for this successful season was laid last year during Pitino’s inaugural campaign as head coach. Though the team fell short of an NCAA Tournament bid, they are now poised to capitalize on their momentum.

“It was a pretty sad moment, not just for us, but everybody [at the school] as well,” Ejiofor said of last year’s disappointment. “Obviously, the seniors who didn’t get a chance to come back to college again. Now to see where we’re at, at this moment in our collegiate careers, being able to play for an outright championship, [feels great].”

St. John’s resurgence has turned them into a national story, becoming New York City’s sole high-major basketball program under the leadership of the Hall of Fame coach, Pitino. The team has sold out its last two games at Madison Square Garden, and Saturday’s match could mark a third full house.

The season began with high expectations, though the outside world did not anticipate this level of success. The Johnnies were unranked in the preseason and were predicted to finish fifth in the Big East by the league’s coaches. However, they have exceeded those expectations and are now considered by some experts as contenders for the Final Four. Yet before any thoughts of the NCAA Tournament, a regular-season championship awaits.

“It’s a great feeling to know we’re right there, it’s so close we can grab it,” said leading scorer RJ Luis Jr. “It’s been a great ride, it’s been a great season, and we just want to continue building on to that.”