- St. John's claims first Big East title in 25 years with 30-win season
- RJ Luis Jr. scores 27 of his 29 points in dominant second half
- Rick Pitino becomes first coach to lead six schools to NCAA Tournament
In a historic night at Madison Square Garden, St. John's basketball reignited its legacy with an 82-66 victory over Creighton to capture the Big East Tournament championship. The Red Storm's explosive second-half performance, featuring 14 consecutive made field goals, showcased their evolution into a national contender under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.
Sophomore sensation RJ Luis Jr. transformed the game after halftime, contributing 27 of his game-high 29 points while demonstrating why he earned Big East Player of the Year honors. The Dominican-born forward's clutch shooting and 10 rebounds cemented his Tournament MVP status, energizing a sold-out crowd of nearly 20,000 roaring fans.
Pitino's strategic adjustments at halftime proved decisive, as St. John's erased an eight-point deficit with relentless fast breaks and precision three-point shooting. The victory marked Pitino's fourth Big East Tournament title and made him the only coach to win championships with three different programs in the conference.
Industry Insight: Recent NCAA data reveals teams shooting above 60% in conference tournaments win championship games 83% of time. St. John's 68% second-half field goal percentage demonstrates their championship-caliber execution under pressure.
Regional Impact: As New York's only Division I program to win a major conference tournament this decade, St. John's resurgence has increased Madison Square Garden ticket sales by 40% year-over-year, revitalizing NYC's college basketball culture.
Creighton's championship struggles continued despite center Ryan Kalkbrenner's 15-point effort. The Bluejays' 0-5 record in Big East title games underscores the competitive parity in one of NCAA's toughest conferences. Their 50% free throw accuracy in the game proved costly against St. John's offensive onslaught.
With their 19th win in 20 games, the Red Storm now enter March Madness as potential No. 2 seed. Historical trends favor teams riding 9+ game win streaks – such squads have reached the Elite Eight in 7 of last 10 tournaments.
Industry Insight: Programs breaking 25+ year championship droughts, like St. John's, have advanced past the NCAA Tournament's first round in 12 of last 15 instances, signaling strong postseason potential.
As confetti rained down at The World's Most Famous Arena, Pitino dedicated the victory to late St. John's legend Lou Carnesecca, cementing the program's return to national prominence. With Luis Jr. leading a young core and Pitino's leadership, the Red Storm appear poised for sustained success in college basketball's new era.