St. John’s Aims to Make History Against Seton Hall

A year after head coach Rick Pitino criticized his team’s athleticism following a loss to Seton Hall, St. John’s now finds itself on the verge of history. A win on Saturday at Madison Square Garden would secure the program’s first outright Big East regular-season title since 1985.

With an impressive 31-5 record since their collapse against Seton Hall last year, the Red Storm have evolved into one of the nation’s top teams. Their dominance at home has played a major role in their success, as they are attempting to finish the season a perfect 18-0 at home, with 12 of those victories coming by double digits.

RJ Luis Jr. and St. John’s Home Dominance

The demand for tickets was so high that the game, originally scheduled for Carnesecca Arena, was moved to Madison Square Garden. Leading scorer RJ Luis Jr. is embracing the moment and knows how important the home crowd will be.

Luis has been a key player for the Red Storm, scoring 24 points in their latest win over Butler. After missing one game due to a groin injury, he returned with 14 points in the UConn win and has shot at least 50 percent in 13 games this season.

Kadary Richmond Faces Former Team

Adding another layer to this matchup, Kadary Richmond, who played three seasons with Seton Hall, is now a crucial part of St. John’s title-contending squad. Richmond contributed 13 points in the first meeting between these teams, when St. John’s dominated Seton Hall 79-51 on January 18.

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Seton Hall’s Struggles Continue

Seton Hall (7-21, 2-15 Big East) is enduring its worst season in over four decades. Since Richmond’s departure, the Pirates have fallen apart, marking their first 20-loss season since 1982-83.

Their latest setback, a 59-54 loss to Villanova, highlighted their offensive struggles. They blew a 16-point second-half lead, shot just 24.1 percent after halftime, and finished below 40 percent from the field for the 15th time this season.

Seton Hall’s depth has been further tested with the absence of Chaunce Jenkins, who has missed 10 straight games with a knee injury and is unlikely to play Saturday.

Key Factors to Watch

• Can St. John’s Finish the Job? A win seals the outright Big East title, something the program has been chasing for decades.
• Seton Hall’s Offensive Woes The Pirates have failed to reach 70 points in 11 straight games. Can they break the trend?
• Kadary Richmond vs. His Former Team The ex-Seton Hall guard has helped transform St. John’s into a contender. How will he perform against his old squad?
• Red Storm’s Defensive Pressure St. John’s held Seton Hall to 16 first-half points in their last matchup. Will the defense dominate again?
• Madison Square Garden Energy With the Red Storm on the brink of history, the home crowd could provide a significant boost.

Final Thoughts

St. John’s is on the cusp of a long-awaited Big East title, and with Seton Hall’s struggles, they are heavily favored to finish the job. The Pirates, dealing with a lack of depth and offensive consistency, will need a near-perfect effort to pull off an upset.

Can St. John’s take care of business and make history, or will Seton Hall play spoiler at Madison Square Garden? The answer comes Saturday afternoon in what could be a defining moment for the Red Storm.