No. 7 St. John’s Eyes Big East Title in Pivotal Matchup Against Butler

St. John’s on the Brink of History as Big East Crown Beckons

For the first time in over three decades, No. 7 St. John’s is within reach of a Big East regular-season title.

With a win against Butler on Wednesday, the Red Storm (24-4, 15-2 Big East) will clinch at least a share of the conference championship—something they haven’t done since 1992.

A Creighton loss to DePaul would give them the outright title, a feat they last accomplished in 1985.

Head coach Rick Pitino knows exactly how much this moment means to the program.

“We want this Big East crown badly,” Pitino said. “Not only for the players but also for the fans who came back.”

With 13 wins in their last 14 games, St. John’s has been on a tear, and they’re coming off one of their most impressive performances yet—an 89-75 domination of UConn at Madison Square Garden.

That swept the season series against UConn for the first time since 2000 and improved St. John’s to a perfect 17-0 at home.

Now, they need to prove they can close the deal on the road.

Red Storm’s Key Players Stepping Up at the Right Time

St. John’s depth and star power have been driving their success.

RJ Luis Jr. leads the team with 17.4 points per game and is the go-to scorer in crunch time.
Zuby Ejiofor was a force against UConn, posting 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. He also averages a team-high 8.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.
Kadary Richmond, despite playing through painful injuries, runs the offense with 5 assists and 2 steals per game.

But Richmond’s health remains a major question mark.

“Kadary Richmond is more injured than any player I’ve coached right now,” Pitino admitted. “He’s got double groin pulls, got problems all over his anatomy, and he played and played hard. He needs time off, as much as we can give him.”

His status for Wednesday is uncertain, which could impact St. John’s offensive rhythm and defensive pressure.

The Red Storm will also be without Jaiden Glover (wrist) and Brady Dunlap (hand) for the rest of the season, while Butler’s Evan Haywood (illness) is questionable.

Butler Looking to Play Spoiler & Continue Late-Season Surge

While St. John’s is focused on the Big East title, Butler (13-14, 6-10 Big East) has other ideas.

The Bulldogs have quietly won four of their last five games, including an 84-72 win at DePaul on Saturday.

Pierre Brooks led the way with 24 points and 7 rebounds, helping Butler close the game on a dominant 17-4 run.

“We finished strong and played with toughness,” Butler coach Thad Matta said. “That’s the type of effort we’ll need against a team like St. John’s.”

Key Players to Watch for Butler

Jahmyl Telfort leads the Bulldogs in scoring (16.1 PPG) and assists (3.5 APG).
Andre Screen is their inside presence, averaging 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.
Brooks has been the X-factor, and he’ll need another big performance for Butler to compete.

The Bulldogs want revenge after falling to St. John’s 70-62 on Jan. 4.

In that game:

RJ Luis Jr. had 20 points & 11 rebounds for St. John’s
Brooks led Butler with 17 points
Butler’s 21 turnovers led to 19 St. John’s points & 27 fast-break points

Keeping turnovers under control will be the biggest key for Butler if they want to pull off the upset.

What’s at Stake?

For St. John’s:

Clinch a share of the Big East title for the first time since 1992
Continue momentum heading into March Madness
Keep pressure on Creighton for an outright title

For Butler:

Play spoiler against a Top-10 team
Continue strong finish to the season
Get revenge after losing earlier in the season

St. John’s leads the all-time series 14-11 and has won the last four matchups. They’ve also won seven of the last eight against Butler.

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Prediction: Can St. John’s Take Care of Business?

On paper, St. John’s is the better team, and their dominant win over UConn showed just how dangerous they can be.

But winning on the road is a different challenge—especially with injuries piling up.

If Richmond can’t play, Butler has a real chance to keep it close.

But if St. John’s brings the same energy & defensive intensity they showed against UConn, expect them to clinch at least a share of the Big East title and move one step closer to history.

Butler Bulldogs vs St. John’s Red Storm Picks and Predictions February 26th 2025