The top five moments from St. Johns magical run to Big East Tournament championship game
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It has been a magical year for St.John’s, a season of so many firsts.First outright Big East regular season title since 1985.
First 25-win season and trip to the Big East Tournament championship game since 2000.First time a Johnnie won Big East Player of the Year honors since 1986.The Post’s Zach Braziller counts down his top-five favorite moments:The night before, Zuby Ejiofor missed two free throws with 4.1 seconds left in double-overtime that enabled Baylor’s Jeremy Roach to beat St.
John’s at the buzzer.It was as crushing as a loss can get in November.
Ejiofor took it very hard, breaking down on the court like he had just cost St.John’s its season.The following night in The Bahamas tournament, the strong contingent of Red Storm fans were there for Ejiofor.
Before, during after the one-sided win over Virginia, they chanted his name.It was a heartwarming moment.“Sometimes when you’re only at a place for one year, you search for things you love about a place, and tonight I found out what I love about St.
John’s since being here,” coach Rick Pitino said that night.A sad week ended with a celebration.On Nov.
30, Lou Carnesecca died at the age of 99.A week later, St.
John’s honored him with a 17-point pasting of Kansas State in the arena named after the Hall of Fame coach.Pitino wore a tailor-made sweater similar to the one Carnesecca was known for, and his players performed like one of Carnesecca’s teams.
The sold-out crowd included Felipe Lopez and Walter Berry, and saw Ejiofor explode for 28 points and 13 rebounds.“I don’t think I would have ever forgiven myself if we lost this game,” Pitino said.“It was really, really important that we get a win for Lou.”This was the first real sign this team was unique.
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