Overview
- The Red Storm opened on a 10-0 run, never trailed, and smothered UConn with defense at Madison Square Garden.
- The program secured its fifth Big East tournament championship and Pitino's second at St. John's.
- According to the Associated Press, it is Pitino's 16th conference tournament title and fifth in the Big East, making him the first league coach to win back-to-back tournament crowns at two different schools.
- UConn head coach Dan Hurley credited St. John's fast start as decisive, saying the Red Storm "jumped us to start the game."
- Pitino's emotional postgame included a profanity on the broadcast, capping a turnaround that saw St. John's finish 19-1 after a midseason lull.