When you look at it, that St. John’s found itself where it found itself Friday night in Newark, N.J., was among the least surprising aspects of the New York sporting calendar in recent years. 

The Johnnies beat Seton Hall 72-65 in the regular-season finale at Prudential Center, wrapped up at least a share of a second straight Big East regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament next week. 

But let’s be clear about something: This is exactly the place where St. John’s expected to be when it decided to fire Mike Anderson and hire Rick Pitino almost three years ago. Rev. Brian Shanley, the St. John’s president who made both decisions, put it bluntly on the day Pitino was officially hired in March 2023: 

“I’ve got to talk to Rick,” he said. “It would be criminal not to explore things with him.”