logo
St. John's men's basketball wins Big East for the first time since 1985, with Rick Pitino declaring Red Storm wants more

St. John's men's basketball wins Big East for the first time since 1985, with Rick Pitino declaring Red Storm wants more

Boston Globe02-03-2025

The celebration was modest because the Red Storm are eyeing other celebrations — such as their first Big East Tournament title since 2000 and a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
'This is the answer to a prayer,' said St. John's President the Rev. Brian Shanley. 'This is what I hoped when we hired Rick that we would get back where we are right now – contending for a national championship. This is just the beginning in my book.'
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Stormed to the top of the BIG EAST at The Garden 🔴🌩️ Congrats
📷: Emma Wannie / MSGE
— MSG (@TheGarden)
Advertisement
For the first time since Chris Mullin led St. John's to the Final Four when the team was nicknamed the Redmen and coached by Lou Carnesecca, the Red Storm are the outright regular-season champs. St. John's hadn't even won a share of the title since 1992, the final season of Carnesecca's storied career on the sidelines.
The drought was the longest in Big East history, though several schools exited without any conference titles before spending anywhere near 33 years in the league.
This year, St. John's achieved the title in the same season Carnesecca died just a few weeks short of his 100th birthday on Nov. 30.
'We're very proud of the fact that in the year that he passed, because he led a great life, we can honor him with this championship,' Pitino said.
The Red Storm won the regular-season title after being picked fifth in the preseason poll and adding Kadary Richmond to go along with returnees RJ Luis Jr. and Zuby Ejiofor, who emerged as stars.
'I came here to challenge myself and try to take my game to the next level and obviously try to win at the highest level, which coach Pitino knows how to do really well and trying to learn from him,' Luis said. 'I think it's just a surreal feeling.'
Advertisement
After transferring from UMass, Luis averaged 10.9 points in 23 games last season while dealing with shin splints. Following offseason surgery, he's a leading candidate for Big East player of the year and averaging 17.7 points.
Ejiofor backed up Joel Soriano last season and emerged as a force down low by averaging 14 points and eight rebounds as St. John's ascended to the top of the Big East. The Red Storm won 11 straight from Jan. 4 to Feb. 7, in a stretch that included consecutive wins over Marquette and UConn, and are 18-0 in home games.
'It was a really proud moment,' Ejiofor said. 'It was a testament of the work that we put in the whole season from preseason until now we all believe that we could get to this moment.'
Zuby what a finish 😮‍💨
— St. John's Men's Basketball (@StJohnsBBall)
Last season, the Red Storm reached the semifinals of the Big East Tournament for the first time since 2000. Pitino's first season ended with a 95-90 loss to UConn, which dominated opponents en route to its second straight national title.
After guaranteeing St. John's would return to national prominence at his introductory press conference in March 2023, Pitino's first season featured a viral rant during which he lamented the team's athleticism following a loss to Seton Hall in February 2024.
Since airing his frustration, St. John's is 32-5, with the losses coming by a combined 12 points.
'In my lifetime, I never looked at that until it was written and I said, 'I better get this thing going.'' Pitino said. 'It is a little different than the other places I've been the second year because you have eight and nine players back and everybody understands everything you teach and the culture and the system are there.'
Advertisement
The turnaround continued a trend in Pitino's long coaching career that also included two seasons with the New York Knicks in the early portion of Patrick Ewing's career.
At his first stop as a head coach, BU was 21-9 in his second season. Providence went from 17-14 to 25-9, Kentucky jumped from 14-14 to 22-6, Louisville from 19-13 to 25-7, and Iona improved from 12-6 during a pandemic-abbreviated season to 25-8.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Five takeaways from LSU baseball's super regional win vs. West Virginia
Five takeaways from LSU baseball's super regional win vs. West Virginia

USA Today

time2 hours ago

  • USA Today

Five takeaways from LSU baseball's super regional win vs. West Virginia

Five takeaways from LSU baseball's super regional win vs. West Virginia LSU baseball is headed to Omaha. After sweeping West Virginia in the Baton Rouge Super Regional, LSU punched a ticket to the College World Series. The Tigers erupted for 16 runs in Game 1 before plating 12 more in Game 2. It was just what we wanted to see from the LSU offense after the Tigers' bats were inconsistent at points this spring. Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson didn't pitch at the elite level they did in the regional, but both were good enough to get the wins. Anderson allowed six earned runs, but made it through seven innings in Game 1. Eyanson held WVU to three runs and struck out seven of the course of five innings in Game 2. Tigers' head coach Jay Johnson has now led LSU to Omaha in two of his four years in Baton Rouge. LSU's last CWS trip came in 2023, when the Tigers won it all with Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews. Before LSU continues its quest for another national title, here are five takeaways from LSU's Super Regional win. 1. LSU responded in the seventh inning LSU controlled the game early, scoring six runs in the first two innings. WVU began to stage a comeback. The Mountaineers scored three runs in the fourth and plated another in the fifth. Then, LSU had a response of its own. LSU scored six runs in the seventh inning, putting the game out of reach. It started with a two-run single off the bat of Chris Stanfield. Not long after, Derek Curiel scored on a throwing error. Steven Milam kept the rally going with an RBI double. Jake Brown capped it off with a two-run shot to center field. West Virginia had the momentum entering the seventh, and the Mountaineers were a couple of swings away from tying it up. Good teams respond like LSU did in the seventh. 2. Anderson and Eyanson were good enough Good pitchers find a way to do enough even when they don't have their best stuff. Neither Kade Anderson nor Anthony Eyanson had their best, but they combined to pitch 12 innings and both got the win. Anderson held WVU to one run through five innings, which allowed LSU to build a substantial lead. West Virginia put up some runs in the later innings, but Anderson hung in there and threw 109 pitches, keeping LSU's bullpen rested. On Sunday, Eyanson held WVU to three runs in five innings. Between the regional and the super regional, Eyanson allowed just three runs over 13.2 innings. LSU can't expect eight shutout innings from Anderson and Eyanson every night, but the Tigers proved they can win a different style of game vs. West Virginia. 3. Steven Milam was a star Steven Milam had ups and downs in the regular season, but he's been a star for LSU in the NCAA Tournament. He stayed hot vs. West Virginia. On Saturday, Milam came to the plate with LSU up 3-1 and the bases loaded. Milam put one in the bleachers to give LSU a 7-1 lead. Milam walked twice and scored two runs. On Sunday, Milam had two more extra-base hits with four RBI. Again, he walked twice and scored twice. If Milam is going to hit like this, it changes the outlook for LSU's lineup. It gives the Tigers another all-around bat in the middle of the lineup. "He will play baseball for a very long time if he takes the caliber of at-bats that he has," Jay Johnson said of Milam last weekend. 4. Potential emergence of Cooper Williams Aside from Casan Evans, LSU's bullpen has struggled in recent weeks. Even Zac Cowan has faltered after being one of the nation's most effective relievers for most of the year. LSU needed another bullpen arm to emerge -- it might just be Cooper Williams. Williams, a true freshman, was ranked as the No. 12 left-handed pitcher in the 2024 class by Perfect Game. He began his career without allowing an earned run in his first 12 appearances, but didn't see a ton of high leverage spots in the regular season. After LSU struggled to get outs last Sunday vs. Little Rock, Williams entered and pitched 3.2 scoreless innings. Then, a week later vs. West Virginia, Johnson called on Williams with the tying run at the plate. Williams delivered and gave LSU 2.2 innings, allowing just one run. That'll play. In 19.2 innings, Williams owns a 1.83 ERA this year. LSU will need a strong effort from the freshman in Omaha. 5. LSU looks like a complete team The Super Regional was LSU at its best. The Tigers have not played two straight complete games like vs. a quality opponent all year. Sure, the Tigers have found ways to win, but LSU was dominant in every phase of the game vs. the Mountaineers. This team is good enough to go all the way in Omaha. We had questions about the lineup entering the weekend. Those were answered. We know guys like Derek Curiel and Daniel Dickinson are going to produce, but when Milam, Brown, and Josh Pearson are showing off the power too, it's hard to find outs vs. this group. And Tiger fans should feel better about the bullpen now, too. LSU finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the polls for a reason. When this squad plays to its potential, it's the best in the country.

Arizona Wildcats head to College World Series after Super Regional comeback
Arizona Wildcats head to College World Series after Super Regional comeback

Yahoo

time7 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Arizona Wildcats head to College World Series after Super Regional comeback

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Baseball mitts and navy caps were strewn about the infield at Boshamer Stadium. Players jumped for joy and embraced one another. The Arizona Wildcats had pulled off a miracle. And now they're headed to Omaha. Advertisement With its season on the brink of expiration, Arizona rallied past No. 5 national seed North Carolina in highly improbable fashion Sunday. Down by two runs in the eighth inning, the Wildcats dug deep and defeated the Tar Heels 4-3 in the third and deciding game of their Super Regional series. Arizona's Casey Hintz shows off the championship trophy after the Wildcats defeated North Carolina in Game 3 of their NCAA Super Regional series on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Arizona will be making its 19th appearance in the College World Series, its first since 2021 and its first under UA alum Chip Hale, who won the CWS as a player in 1986. The Wildcats will be seeking their fifth national championship. They will open CWS play Friday or Saturday against Coastal Carolina, which defeated Arizona in the CWS final in 2016. Junior shortstop Mason White — a Salpointe Catholic High School graduate whose father and grandfather played for the UA — delivered the winning hit in the top of the eighth, lining a two-RBI single to center field with the bases loaded and one out. Advertisement After the game, White — a lifelong UA fan — barely could comprehend what had just transpired. 'This is just unbelievable,' White said. 'It's almost like a dream. I just can't believe it.' White was Hale's first recruit when he took over the program in July 2021. Hale has guided his alma mater to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Leading the Wildcats to the College World Series for the first time conjured a range of emotions for the 60-year-old coach — empathy for North Carolina, relief for himself and joy for Arizona's players and supporters. 'I'm just so happy for these kids,' Hale said. 'I'm happy ... for these families. They have grinded so hard, spent so much money coming here and raising these kids, putting them in travel baseball and high school baseball. Advertisement 'And now they get a payoff to go to Omaha. We're going to go there, put our best foot forward and try to win our fifth national championship.' It didn't look promising for the longest time Sunday. Arizona got a badly needed quality start from freshman right-hander Smith Bailey, but the Wildcats couldn't solve his counterpart, freshman righty Ryan Lynch. Lynch pounded the zone with a mid-90s fastball and a sharp slider, landing first-pitch strikes against 19 of the 26 batters he faced. After compiling 10 runs Saturday and 26 hits in the first two games of the series, the Wildcats managed just one run on two hits against Lynch entering the eighth inning. Sophomore Andrew Cain — another Tucson-area product, via Ironwood Ridge High — had one of those two hits. He led off the eighth with a single. Advertisement Then came one of two critical North Carolina errors. Tommy Splaine hit a grounder to second base that had all the makings of a 4-6-3 double play. But UNC's Jackson Van De Brake — whose three-run homer off Bailey in the third inning had given the Tar Heels a 3-1 lead — booted the ball. Cain and Splaine were safe. 'The way this game was going, we just needed a crack,' White said. 'Chip said it before it happened. 'They gave us a crack. That's what this team was looking for. It happened, and we took advantage of it.' Lynch's velocity was diminishing by that point, so UNC coach Scott Forbes summoned another freshman right-hander, Walker McDuffie, to face No. 9 hitter Easton Breyfogle. Advertisement Hale called for a sacrifice bunt. Breyfogle dropped the ball down the third base line. UNC's Gavin Gallaher charged it and fired to first base. The ball, Breyfogle and hulking first baseman Hunter Stokely arrived at the bag at the same time. Breyfogle collided with Stokely's left arm. The ball bounded past the first baseman. Cain scored, Splaine advanced to third and Breyfogle — who was safe — lay injured on the ground. Breyfogle had to leave the game after experiencing concussion-like symptoms. TJ Adams pinch-ran for him. Brendan Summerhill walked to load the bases. Aaron Walton then popped out, setting the stage for White. Advertisement UNC brought in senior righty Aidan Haugh. The Tar Heels shifted their infield to the right side. White swatted the third pitch he saw through the vacated shortstop hole, scoring Splaine and Adams. 'I was just trying to put the ball in play — specifically in the air just to get the guy in, tie the game,' White said. 'They'd been shifting me the whole weekend. So I knew: Just stay middle of the field, and it'll find a hole.' Suddenly ahead 4-3, Arizona turned to junior right-hander Casey Hintz for the bottom of the eighth. Hintz had allowed a go-ahead home run Saturday, and he got himself into trouble Sunday by issuing a pair of walks. But Hintz induced an inning-ending groundout to send the game to the ninth. Closer Tony Pluta had thrown a season-high 52 pitches Saturday but was willing to go again with a trip to Omaha on the line. He retired the side 1-2-3, ending the game by striking out No. 9 hitter Carter French with a changeup. Advertisement Pluta set the UA record with his 14th save of the season. Arizona improved to 38-0 when leading after the eighth inning. After the final out was recorded, Pluta looked skyward. He flung his glove to the grass. The celebration was on. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Wildcats head to College World Series, downs North Carolina

A 20-game win streak? Billerica boys' lacrosse built for a trip to Division 2 semifinals
A 20-game win streak? Billerica boys' lacrosse built for a trip to Division 2 semifinals

Boston Globe

time15 hours ago

  • Boston Globe

A 20-game win streak? Billerica boys' lacrosse built for a trip to Division 2 semifinals

Billerica's set defense was nearly impenetrable with Caden Canney, Daniel Kinsella, and senior captain AJ Parrella holding down the back line in front of junior goalie Nolan Heffernan (8 saves). Walpole (17-4) came in averaging over 13 goals per game, but could never get rolling, with five of its six goals coming unassisted. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'We knew defensively, we had to minimize their guys and did a really good job on that end,' said Parrella, 'It was just a really good team win.' Advertisement When Walpole started to chip away at a 6-2 halftime deficit in the third quarter, Gearin provided the response. The electric middie, who missed the majority of the season with a broken tibia, scored three times in the frame and provided the first four goals for his squad in the second half to keep the Wolves at bay. Gearin also provided an early spark with three assists in the first quarter. Advertisement '[Gearin has] been itching to go,' said Nickerson. 'He had some pent up energy and tonight was a big release for him. We knew it would be a good matchup for him against their defense, but I didn't think it would be this good. He was awesome tonight.' Division 1 Lincoln-Sudbury 14, Concord-Carlisle 5 — With a decisive third-quarter surge, the third-seeded Lincoln-Sudbury boys' lacrosse team pulled away from No. 6 Concord-Carlisle quarterfinal. Junior Brady Malo paced Lincoln-Sudbury (15-4) with three goals, and seniors Rex Friedholm, Nolan Martindale, and Will Fosnot added two apiece. 'Our seniors really stepped up today,' Lincoln-Sudbury coach Brian Vona said. Lincoln-Sudbury built a 3-2 edge through one quarter and 6-3 halftime advantage after a slick behind-the-back pass from Friedholm to Malo in the final seconds. The Harvard-bound Friedholm dictated the action throughout the night, and senior Dante Venuto was sharp at the face-off X. Senior Jason Swaim (3 goals) helped the Patriots (17-4) stay within striking distance, then Fosnot spearheaded a 6-2 third quarter for Lincoln-Sudbury to make it 12-5. The Patriots made some noise in the fourth, but the outcome had already been sealed. After quarterfinal exits each of the past two seasons, the Warriors are back in familiar territory. They'll face No. 2 St. John's Prep in the semifinals Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Burlington High. 'I've never been to a Final Four game,' Friedholm said. 'A lot of these guys have never been. We were dying, we were dying. We were just clawing, scratching, everything we needed to do.' Division 2 State Advertisement Westwood 9, Longmeadow 8 — Senior Troy Fredrickson fired in the winner with 2:15 remaining (and assisted on another) to propel the 10th-seeded Wolverines (16-4) to the first semifinal appearance in program history. 'Today is one of the best days of my life,' an ecstatic coach Todd Zahurak said after the win. While there's not a singular star on the roster, 'we have a bunch of 'A' players that nobody really knows about,' said Zahurak. Junior attackman Sam Cochran had a trio of goals and classmate Jaden Pollack had 12 saves as the Wolverines completed a nearly 200-mile trip to upset No. 2 Longmeadow (17-4). Zahurak credited his defense, including junior Ryan Williams and senior Kyle Harvey for keeping a solid Longmeadow attack off the board. 'This group just really believes in each other, and they play for each other,' said Zahurak. Corresponents Lenny Rowe and Chloe Wojtanik contributed. Nate Weitzer can be reached at

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store