The roar of the crowd echoed through Madison Square Garden, drowning out the buzzer. Tears streamed down the face of a grown man in the stands, and the sea of red-clad fans collectively rose to their feet. It was a moment decades in the making, a triumph that transcended the basketball court. St. John’s University had done it: they secured a historic victory in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals.
This is MARCH. pic.twitter.com/Jhrl1UGn1g
— St. John's Men’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) March 14, 2024
The Long-Awaited Breakthrough for St. John’s
For years, St. John’s had been the butt of jokes, the team that couldn’t win the big games. But on that Thursday afternoon, everything changed. RJ Luis, with a team-high 18 points, and Joel Soriano, who added 14 points and 12 rebounds, led the Red Storm to a memorable 91-72 win over Seton Hall.
The hometown team, playing on their turf at The World’s Most Famous Arena, advanced to the Big East Tournament semifinals for the first time since 2000.
The last time St. John’s University clinched the Big East Tournament title, NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” topped the music charts, and “Erin Brockovich” premiered as the No. 1 movie. Now, in 2024, the private Catholic university in Queens, New York, had their moment.
Tarik Turner, a Red Storm alum who played for the Johnnies from 1994-98, summed it up: “This is the biggest win in St. John’s Basketball history in 24 years – bar none.”
Pitino kept his Promise given to St. John’s
Rick Pitino, the man who vowed to put St. John’s back on the map. Pitino, no stranger to overcoming odds, had declared that New York had no patience. He delivered on his promise. The Red Storm transformed from a 14-12 group criticized for a lack of athleticism to a team that reeled off six straight wins. Their combined 10 victories over Quad 1 and 2 opponents caught the attention of bracketologists, including FOX Sports’ Mike DeCourcy.
As the final buzzer sounded, Pitino sat in the press room, surrounded by metropolitan press members. “This feels like the 80s this afternoon,” he said. The pure joy unleashed by the St. John’s fan base was nostalgic, and it resonated with the 71-year-old coach. Friday night plans at 34th and 8th in New York City were set: a Big East Tournament semifinal clash with top-seeded UConn awaited.
Read More- Cavinder Twins’ Subtle Jibe at NCAA Amidst Washington DC Invitation
