St. John's basketball secured a thrilling 86-84 victory against Marquette in a classic Big East showdown, showcasing the team's resilience under head coach Rick Pitino. Zuby Ejiofor's clutch floater in overtime sealed the win, sparking widespread excitement and March Madness-themed reactions on social media.

This win contributes to an impressive 27-4 record for St. John's, highlighting a significant turnaround orchestrated by Pitino. In only his second season, Pitino has guided the Red Storm to clinch the regular season Big East title. Notably, this achievement marks a historic milestone for Pitino, making him the only head coach to win a conference championship in five different conferences. His consistent success underscores his coaching prowess, now vividly on display at St. John's.

Pitino emphasized the team's toughness and preparation, stating, "You don’t just show up in March and say, ‘OK, this is what we are going to do,’” Pitino said via Zach Braziller of The New York Post. “You prepare for it now, you prepare for it at the Big East Tournament. They did a fabulous job, just a tough-a** team. Toughness like you can’t believe.” He highlighted that this wasn't an overnight success but the result of sustained effort and dedication.

Despite initial expectations favoring UConn, St. John's demonstrated dominance, securing the Big East title with a remarkable 17-2 conference record, including two victories against UConn. Pitino’s coaching masterclass has been pivotal, proving that age is just a number for the 72-year-old coach.

Looking ahead to the conference tournament, St. John's, as the No. 1 seed, faces tough competition from teams like UConn, Marquette, and Creighton. Nevertheless, the core principles of toughness and grit, instilled by Pitino, position them as a formidable contender. Even with some offensive challenges, their strong defense and overall resilience compensate effectively.

Claiming the Big East title has elevated St. John's to a true national championship contender. With Pitino's extensive experience and strategic preparation, the team is well-equipped to maintain its dominance and make a deep run in the postseason.