Now, they wait to find out their fate. 

It was fun for a half, and some brief moments after halftime, St. John’s hanging with defending national champion Connecticut.

But that didn’t last.

The Huskies are too good, too talented, too well-coached. 

After this hard-fought, 95-90 defeat to the top-seeded Huskies in the Big East Tournament semifinals at a rocking Garden, the fifth-seeded Johnnies will wait to hear if their name will be called by the selection committee. 

Most indications are they will, although depending on how everything shakes out, Rick Pitino’s team could wind up in Dayton in the First Four. 

“Tonight was a step forward for St. John’s,” star point guard Daniss Jenkins said after the Red Storm’s first trip the conference’s semifinals in 24 years. “But there’s a lot more work to do and we’re looking forward to the tournament.” 

Even in defeat, as St. John’s (20-13) had its six-game winning streak snapped, there was a lot to like.

It hung with UConn until the very end, trailing by eight at the under-4 media timeout.

The backcourt of Jenkins and Jordan Dingle combined for 46 points, and the Johnnies out-rebounded the Huskies by four.

Connecticut coach Dan Hurley was impressed. 

“I don’t know what seed they’ll be, but that’s one of the better teams we’ve played, one of the more talented teams, and clearly an NCAA Tournament team,” Hurley said after the Huskies yielded a season-high in points. 

His team belongs in its own tier.

Connecticut has too many weapons.

Whether it was Tristen Newton’s brilliant 25-point, nine-assist, six-rebound effort, Cam Spencer’s efficient 20 points and nine assists, or Alex Karaban’s 14, St. John’s couldn’t slow them down.

The Huskies shot 57 percent from the field and 50 percent from distance.

They didn’t even get much out of standout center Donovan Clingan due to foul trouble. 

“Connecticut is Connecticut and they’re just a machine,” said Pitino, who saw his eight-game Big East Tournament win streak, dating back to his time at Louisville, come to an end. “They can beat you 100 different ways.” 

There were just too many mistakes, Jenkins felt.

Possessions St. John’s didn’t finish at both ends of the floor. Little things that, against a team like this, cannot happen. 

It was a two-point game early in the second half, when Connecticut (30-3) began to pull away.

A 13-2 run started with an uncontested Spencer 3-pointer and the Huskies then turned consecutive second opportunities into baskets, making it a 69-56 game with 13:48 to go, forcing a Pitino timeout. 

St. John’s didn’t let go of the proverbial rope.

A Dingle 3-pointer cut it to nine. Then Luis scored inside.

It was a seven-point game with 6:43 remaining. The Red Storm never got closer. 

“The effort was great, but as far as execution, I don’t rate it that high,” Jenkins said. “You have to play perfect, mistake-free basketball [to beat them].” 

He added: “We played pretty good, but it wasn’t our best. We could’ve played a whole lot better.” 

Connecticut moved on to Saturday’s title game.

Pitino and Co. will have to wait for Sunday night.

Disappointed with the result as they were, the Johnnies remain in a good position.

Less than a month ago, it looked like a lost season.

Now, they likely will play in the tournament for the first time since 2019. 

“We think we’re in, we should be in,” Jenkins said. “If we keep playing the way we’re playing, take away the little mistakes, I think we’re capable of doing anything.”