'Looie' Carnecca was originally from Spanish Harlem. His career led him to the heights of the sport of university basketball as coach of St. John's for almost two decades, reaching the Final Four of 1985, the second appearance of the school.
When Rick Pitino, a New York teammate, was appointed coach of the Red Storm last season, Carnecca described the rent “a home run with the bases loaded” and predicted great things for the Johnnies in the coming years.
If only Looie were here to see this. At this time, at the time its prediction came to fruition.
For the fourth time in the history of the school, St. John's Red Storm has won the Big East Championship. In doing so, they finished the longest drought among the titles in the history of the conference, claiming the prize for the first time in 25 years by beating Creighton 82-66.
RJ Luis Jr., an unnoticed prospect that was transferred from Umass two seasons ago, won the Award for the Conference's Year. He joined his hardware when claiming the honor of the most prominent players of Dave Gavitt for this tournament after leaving 29 points and ten rebounds in the championship game.
Pitino became the first coach in the history of the conference to win this title in two institutions, after having won it three times with Louisville. But here, tonight, in Madison Square Garden, in front of people like Alex Rodríguez and Spike Lee, in addition to some Red Storm and Bluejays fans who fought, the New Yorker took home a great achievement for his city.
Rick Pitino smiles after his St. John's Red Storm team won the 2025 Big East tournament
It is the fourth victory in the Big East tournament for the Johnnies, the first in 25 years.
Captain of the San Juan team and striker Zuby Ejiofor lifts the trophy in Madison Square Garden
“I am, as New York, as proud as anyone could be because, you know, when I hear that St. John's is the New York team and we are strong in New York and we represent New York, that makes me feel incredible inside,” Pitino said at a press conference after the game.
“Then, for New York, for St. John's, to see that crowd tonight, it is a very special feeling for me … there is an extra special feeling to be a New York that grew on 26th Street and grew in Queens and then Long Island.”
For Creighton's Bluejays, this game is its albatros. Now there are 0-6 all time in the match for the conference title.
After starting the game firing a 77 percent hot from the field, the Bluejays began to hesitate the stretch of the first half.
The Red Storm was able to keep Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth relatively silent, with the big man and the guard combining for seven points in the first half. Kalkbrenner finished the game as its top scorer, while Ashworth shot a miserable 3 by 19.
For St. John's, Zuby Ejiofor, the big one who dropped 33 unlikely points in his victory over Marquette, was the best dog in the first half. But the Johnnies went to the costume for three.
The red storm tied the game around the 12 -minute mark of the second half, but could not advance in an advantage, despite a pro -St overwhelmingly. John's multitude in the garden.
They finally took the lead approximately a minute and a half later when the Vincent Iwuchukwu transfer center put a float on Kalkbrenner to climb 43-41.
Alex Rodríguez and his girlfriend Jaclyn Cordeiro sit on the court in Madison Square Garden
The filmmaker Spike Lee, covered in St. John's Gear, gestures after a call on Saturday night
Ryan Kalkbrenner of Creighton ended as the best scorer of the team with 15 points at night
With Momentum, and the leader, on the side of San Juan, RJ Luis Jr knocked down a cube and made a celebration that imitated a gun. Referee James Breeding gave him a technical foul when the crowd roared his disapproval.
Luis gave them a lot to cheer up. After Kadary Richmond knocked down the consecutive tray, Big East Player of the Year hit one of his to disburse the garden roof.
Fans also unfold. A fan of St. John purses beer in a Creighton fan sitting three seats, causing a brief fight before the Bluejays fan was escorted.
The red storm rolled through the section. Despite being one of the worst 3 -point shooting teams in Power Five, they ended the night shooting 50 percent beyond the arch with seven daggers.
Even in the last minutes, while he was 14 with less than two minutes to the end, Pitino was still ordering his players. He barked Simeon Wilcher to stop talking to a referee while the Johnnies shot free throws with less than two minutes to the end.
The clock marked, the horn sounded, the nets were cut, confetti rained on the floor. The Johnnies had finally reached the peak of the conference in which they had fought for so many years.
St. John's became the first team since 2009 to overcome part -time deficits in the semifinals and the final of this tournament. The last squad to do it? Louisville team led by Rick Pitino.
RJ Luis JR, the Conference Year's player, also claimed the best tournament player
Rick Pitino smiles during the first half of the game against Creighton on Saturday
In the stands, a Creighton fan (black clothes) fought with a St. John fan near the media row
Confeti rains on the floor at Madison Square Garden after the game for the Big East title
With Lou Carneecca smiling on them from heaven, the red storm now March to March. The NCAA tournament signals, with the Johnnies projected to be one of the first two seeds in the supports that will be launched on Sunday night.
At the top of the mountain, Pitino had all the opportunities to gloat and declare that the Johnnies were destined for greatness.
He did not.
“Humility is a great part of my life at this time,” Pitino said in a question asked by Dailymail.com. 'It was not always the case. I don't believe in redemption, I believe in humility.
Pitino then reflected on the lost life of former Louisville Star Bridgeman Junior, who died only four days ago.
“I give my life one day at the same time,” Pitino reflected. 'I do not consider that people should be careful with us. I have lost in the first round, I have been in seven final finals.
A Four Four could well be in view of the Johnnies, 40 years since the last one. In a university basketball season defined by their uncertainty and lack of truly dominant team, you cannot rule them out.
Maybe this could be the time for the red storm to carve a path of destruction and domination, to San Antonio.