NEW YORK — RJ Luis Jr. propelled No. 6 St. John’s to a decisive 78-57 win over Butler in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, putting up 20 points in a commanding performance.
Kadary Richmond, who recently achieved the program’s first triple-double this century, contributed significantly with 15 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds for the Red Storm (28-4). Aaron Scott also added 15 points as St. John’s celebrated its seventh consecutive victory and 17th win in 18 games since the start of the new year.
Fresh from capturing the school’s first outright Big East regular-season title in four decades, St. John’s occupies the top seed in the conference tournament for the first time since 1986. In the upcoming semifinal on Friday night at Madison Square Garden, they will face off against No. 25 Marquette, who advanced after a comeback victory over No. 4 seed Xavier in an 89-87 thriller.
After a long 23-year absence from the Big East semifinals, the Red Storm has reached the semis in consecutive seasons under the direction of 72-year-old Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino. St. John’s aims to capture its fourth Big East Tournament title, a triumph they haven’t achieved since 2000.
Butler, seeded ninth, was led by Patrick McCaffery with 16 points. Fresh off a 75-69 win over eighth-seeded Providence in the first round, Butler witnessed Finley Bizjack score 10 points before an apparent ankle injury forced him out early in the second half.
Observing from behind the scorers’ table clad in a Butler baseball cap, WNBA star Caitlin Clark was a supportive presence during the game. Her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, serves as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs and is the brother of Patrick McCaffery.
Overcoming significant personal challenges, including thyroid cancer as a teenager and a leave of absence to address anxiety while playing for his father at Iowa, Patrick McCaffery showed resilience through his final college game. The redshirt senior forward poignantly embraced his brother on the sidelines as he exited.
Reflecting on their journey, the Bulldogs have only reached the Big East semifinals once since joining the conference in 2013-14, achieving that milestone in 2018. On the other hand, St. John’s showcased their dominance at home, boasting a 19-0 record inclusive of a perfect 10-0 at Madison Square Garden. The last time the Johnnies finished an undefeated season at home was the 1931-32 campaign.
During the game, Luis, crowned Big East Player of the Year, delivered eight early points during a 15-0 run that built an 18-3 advantage with 12:29 left in the first half, leaving Butler struggling to narrow the gap.
St. John’s maintained control throughout, holding Butler to a mere 34.5% shooting efficiency while outshining them in the paint 44-18, including a 15-0 margin in fast breaks.
With eyes set on continuing their winning stride, St. John’s prepares to encounter Marquette again, following their regular season sweep that included a thrilling 86-84 overtime win courtesy of Zuby Ejiofor’s buzzer-beater in Milwaukee.
