by Kaitlyn Rey

Last week, St. John’s Men’s Basketball claimed it’s first outright Big East league title in forty years! The Red Storm earned its first conference crown way back during the 1984-85 season making their drought the longest in Big East history. The Red Storm also completed their first undefeated season at home since 1931-32 with an 18-0 record before taking their talents to MSG beating Seton Hall 71-61 to bring the Big East regular season trophy back home to Queens.

Last season, the Red Storm reached the semifinals of the Big East tournament for the first time since 2000 but lost 95-90 to UCONN. They were led to their win by one of the winningest coaches in NCAA division 1 history, Rick Pitino. Pitino has been a head coach for thirty six seasons, and during his time he has made twenty three NCAA tournament appearances and has advanced to the Final Four seven times. Pitino was the first coach to take three different schools to the Final Four, and the only coach to win an NCAA Championship at two different schools. Pitino holds the third-highest winning percentage in NCAA tournament games among all active coaches. Pitino has coached many collegiate teams such as Kentucky, Louisville, Iona, Providence, Boston University and has also coached two NBA teams- the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks.

St. John’s, with an impressive 27-4 record and ranked 6th in the nation, is playing in the Big East tournament this weekend before they embark on a National Championship run in the NCAA Tournament beginning March 20th. Good luck to the Johnnies!