The resurgence of St. John’s under legendary coach Rick Pitino has been building for some time, but Wednesday night marked a defining moment in its revival.
With a hard-fought 76-70 road victory over Butler, No. 7 St. John’s clinched at least a share of the Big East regular-season championship for the first time since 1992 — solidifying its highest AP Top 25 ranking since 1991.
The win, their fourth straight, improved the Red Storm to 16-2 in conference play, their most victories in a Big East regular season since 1979, while boosting their overall record to 25-4. Yet, despite securing a piece of the title, Pitino made it clear that his team is far from satisfied.
“We are not interested in sharing,” Pitino said, via The Athletic. “Although I love Creighton and I love their coach, we are not interested in sharing anything. I’ll share other things in my life. Not championships.”
St. John’s will have the chance to seize the Big East crown outright on Saturday when it returns to Madison Square Garden to face Seton Hall. A victory would secure the program’s first outright regular-season championship in 40 years, adding another milestone to its historic campaign.
Already locked into their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019, the Red Storm have emerged as a legitimate contender. Their elite defense — one of the best in the country — has fueled their success, while Pitino’s leadership has reinvigorated the program.
With momentum on its side, many expect St. John’s to make a deep run in March Madness, with analysts pointing to its defensive intensity, veteran experience and Pitino’s postseason pedigree as reasons it could be a national title threat.
Before turning its full attention to the NCAA Tournament, St. John’s will look to add more hardware in the Big East Tournament — also held at Madison Square Garden. A conference tournament title would mark its first since 2000, further cementing its return to prominence and setting the stage for a potentially historic postseason run.
