NEW YORK (PIX11) -- It was mid-February, and St. John's had just lost to Seton Hall 68-62. Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino tore apart his team after the game, saying in part that this was the most unenjoyable experience of his lifetime.
Pitino eventually backed off those comments, and his team has responded. They have won six straight games after their 91-72 victory over Seton Hall this afternoon in the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden.
They will now have a date Friday night in the semi-finals at msg. It has been 24 years since St. John's appeared in the Big East semi-final.
You might not have agreed with Pitino's message on February 18th, but he has certainly gotten the result she wanted. This shows you that no matter what we say in reaction to it, he knew it would get the best out of his team, and it has.
The victory should also punch a ticket for St. John's in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. For the Johnnies, four of their five starters scored in double figures today, and Pitino also got 37 points off the bench.
RJ Luis led the way with 18 points. Joel Soriano and Jordan Dingle each dropped in 14 points as well.
Think about what Pitino has been able to do in year one. Imagine what he can do when given the time to get his type of players in the building.
At 71, Pitino's age is just a number. He came to St. John’s supremely motivated. He wants to win, rebuild his legacy, and do it in this city for a program that, at one point, was a foundational program for the Big East.
He has started that process. St. John's is back in the Big East semi-finals. They will be an at-large team in the NCAA tournament.
In this city, people care about NCAA basketball when St. John's is really good. They cared when Lou Carnesecca and Mike Jarvis coached them, and they cared once again. The players deserve the credit.
The orchestrator is the head coach Rick Pitino.
Until next time, New York, I'm Marc Malusis.