St. John's Defeats Butler 78-57, Advances to Big East Semifinals

St. John's Red Storm triumphed over Butler with a decisive 78-57 victory in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals, showcasing a strong performance led by RJ Luis, who scored 20 points. The Red Storm, under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, have now won seven straight games and are aiming for their first conference title since 2000. Kadary Richmond contributed significantly, finishing with 15 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. St. John's established an early lead with a 15-0 run and maintained control throughout the game. With this win, they advance to face Marquette in the semifinals, seeking to capitalize on their momentum and solidify their position as the top seed in the tournament. This marks a notable turnaround for the program, which is enjoying its first outright Big East regular-season title in 40 years.