NEW YORK — The resurgence of St. John’s basketball is complete. Under the leadership of Rick Pitino, the Red Storm have reclaimed their place atop the Big East, sealing a dominant 82-66 victory over Creighton on Saturday night to win their first conference tournament title in a quarter-century.
RJ Luis Jr. led the charge with a stellar 29-point performance, scoring all but two of his points in the second half. His electrifying play was part of a historic shooting stretch, as St. John’s hit 14 consecutive shots from the field to pull away from the second-seeded Bluejays.
“This is surreal,” Luis said. “The transformation from last year to now—it’s all because of Coach P. He’s a mastermind, and we just followed his vision.”
Pitino’s Magic Restores St. John’s Basketball:
In just his second season, Pitino has brought the Red Storm (30-4) back to prominence. The Hall of Fame coach, now the first to lead six different programs to the NCAA Tournament, celebrated with fans in a raucous Madison Square Garden.
“This is New York’s team,” Pitino said. “To see St. John’s rise again in this city, it means everything. It’s a special moment.”
Pitino, who previously won three Big East Tournament championships with Louisville, became the first coach to capture titles with two different schools.
“I saved the best for last,” Pitino declared, pausing to brush confetti from his lips amid a deafening ovation.
A Historic Night for St. John’s:
Kadary Richmond contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Zuby Ejiofor added 20 points in a game that felt like a coronation for the Red Storm. The team clinched its 30th win for just the third time in program history, sending the sold-out MSG crowd into a frenzy.
For Luis, who was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, the night was particularly emotional. Draped in the Dominican Republic flag, he soaked in the chants of “MVP! MVP!” from the adoring crowd.
“This has been the happiest, most emotional week of my life,” Luis said.
Creighton’s Struggles Continue:
Creighton (24-10) remained winless in Big East championship games, falling to 0-5 since joining the conference in 2013. Despite a 15-point effort from Ryan Kalkbrenner, the Bluejays couldn’t keep up with St. John’s second-half barrage.
“We’ve made it to this stage multiple times, but finishing the job has been the challenge,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott admitted.
Breaking the Drought:
Earlier this month, St. John’s secured its first outright regular-season Big East title in 40 years but opted not to cut down the nets. The job wasn’t finished.
Saturday night, the Red Storm made sure to savor the moment. Players climbed the ladder, one by one, snipping pieces of the net as a message flashed on the big screen above center court: “For Looie.”
The tribute honored legendary coach Lou Carnesecca, who passed away late last year just shy of his 100th birthday.
“I know he’d be proud of this team,” Pitino said. “This program is built on character, not just talent.”
A Dominant Finish:
The Red Storm’s second-half explosion was nothing short of remarkable. After trailing early, they stormed ahead with a streak of 14 straight made field goals over a seven-minute stretch, turning a tight contest into a runaway victory. They finished the game shooting 72% in the second half, an astonishing 23-for-32 from the field.
“We fed off the crowd, the energy—it was unbelievable,” Luis said.
With the victory, St. John’s extended its winning streak to nine games and completed an undefeated season at home, including a perfect 12-0 record at MSG.
Looking Ahead:
For Creighton, the loss stings, but the Bluejays are still NCAA Tournament-bound, earning their fifth straight bid.
As for St. John’s, their first NCAA Tournament victory in 25 years remains the next hurdle. A likely No. 2 seed awaits them on Selection Sunday, but the Red Storm aren’t satisfied yet.
