St. John’s Defeated Creighton on Saturday night to serve the school’s first Big East Tournament title of 25 years thanks to the Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino and he plans to celebrate in a big way.
After overturning Blue Jay’s 82-66 behind the stars’ performances from RJ Luis Jr. And Zuby Ejiofor, Pitino sat down with Fox Sports to discuss what the victory meant to him.
St. John’s Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino after winning the Big East Championship against Creighton Bluejays at Madison Square Garden on March 15, 2025. (Robert Deutsch-Misted Pictures)
“We just wanted to play every game in Big East Tournament As if it were the first round, second round and third round [of the NCAA Tournament]”Said Pinito.
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“We did it. The pressure was increasing on us, but we got through in a big way.”
Despite having pulled at the end of the first half, St. John in the second half and made 14 straight shots off the field. Luis all scored except two of his 29 points after the break, and Ejiofor added 20 points to earn the Big East title on Saturday.
“At the beginning of the year we had our goal, but we were just hoping to make the tournament – to come in,” Pinito added.
St. John’s main coach Rick Pitino is moving after defeating Creighton Bluejays to win the Big East Tournament in Madison Square Garden on March 15, 2025. (Brad Penner-Preferred Pictures)
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But before St. John’s teacher about his fate on Election Sunday, The legendary coach revealed for Fox Sports his plans to celebrate the historic victory.
“I drink a liter of Jamesons,” he said with a laugh.
Pitino is the first coach in the story to come to the NCAA tournament with six different teams. The victory sealed St. John’s automatic bid for the big dance for the first time since 2019.
“Great victory for the city. Fantastic victory for our university. You hear it all the time that it’s New York’s team, and that’s really,” Pitino said. “Like a New Yorker myself, I am very, very proud that St. John’s has reached this level.”
St. John’s Red Storm -Fer Zuby Ejiofor is greeted by head coach Rick Pitino as the game ends against Creighton Bluejays in Madison Square Garden on March 15, 2025. (Robert Deutsch-Misted Pictures)
St. John’s is expected to earn # 2 seeds on Sunday.
