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TRY IT NOWThis has frequently been St. John’s time slot in the Big East Tournament over the last decade.
High noon on quarterfinal Thursday — except the circumstances were very different this time.
Play well in the out-bracket round and hope to pull a stunner in the opener the following day. Sometimes, the Johnnies were blitzed out of the gate. Other times, they suffered crushing last-second losses.
But this — the No. 1 seed — is not something this program is accustomed to. A lot has changed quickly since Rick Pitino arrived in Queens.
St. John’s seems to like this new position. It played the part of the favorite to a tee, leading from wire to wire in a thorough 78-57 throttling of ninth-seeded Butler.
Kadary Richmond of St. John’s shoots against Butler in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals on March 13, 2025. Robert Sabo for NY PostFriday night, it will play for a spot in the tournament title game against No. 5 Marquette, which won a classic, 89-87, over No. 4 Xavier after trailing by 14.
“We’re not satisfied with just the regular season. We have to keep going. We’re in phase two of our goals right now and we’re trying to get it done,” star senior guard Kadary Richmond said. “We need everything. We’re not trying to leave here with just the regular season [championship]. We’re coming for everything.”
Butler (14-18) pushed the Red Storm in two close games during the regular season, but this had a very different feel.
Unlike those matchups, St. John’s won the rebounding battle by seven. It was dominant inside, outscoring the Bulldogs in the paint, 42-18, and held a 15-0 edge in transition points.
The Johnnies raced out to an early 15-point lead and cruised to their 10th win in as many tries at the Garden.
St. John’s guard RJ Luis drives to the basket against Butler in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals on March 13, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostThey were hardly tested.
Butler was as close as eight early in the second half, but St. John’s answered with a 10-0 run, turnovers turning immediately into easy baskets on runouts.
It was extended garbage time, as Marv Albert would say, the rest of the way.
St. John’s coach Rick Pitino during the Big East quarterfinal against Butler on March 13, 2025. Robert Sabo for NY Post“Basically, I told the guys that a five-plus performance is a Michael Jordan performance, and we were a four-star tonight, which was good enough to win, which you expect,” Pitino said.
The Johnnies (28-4) led by as many as 23 points and Pitino went deep into his bench.
The reserves rewarded him with 20 points, six apiece coming from Vince Iwuchukwu and Lefteris Liotopoulos.
A day after he became St. John’s first Big East Player of the Year in 39 years, RJ Luis scored 20 points to go along with seven rebounds.
Richmond (nine assists, eight rebounds) and Aaron Scott (five steals) added 15 points apiece and the Johnnies piled up 20 second-chance points.
Butler’s star wings, Jahmyl Telfort and Pierre Brooks, were held to a combined 16 points on 4-for-20 shooting.
St. John’s Red Storm guard Kadary Richmond #1, guarding Butler Bulldogs forward Pierre Brooks II #21. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
A St. John’s Red Storm fan holding a sign that reads, “Madison Square Johnnies”, after the game. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post“The guys are locked in,” Luis said. “We really want to win this tournament.”
Said Scott: “We’re not coming here to play [around].”
It was a start that even the demanding Pitino was thrilled with. Just 7:35 in, St. John’s held an 18-3 lead. It scored 13 straight points.
Butler had more turnovers (four) than points at that juncture.
“We didn’t want this game to be close at all,” Scott said, “so the first four minutes we emphasized that.”
It set the tone for the afternoon, and possibly the Big East Tournament as well.
