NEW YORK — Among the many issues St. John’s targeted on in its renaissance throughout coach Rick Pitino’s second season was successful a Massive East event championship.
Creighton made it a aim to win an elusive Massive East championship in chief Ryan Kalkbrenner’s ultimate season, at the same time as accidents and different elements compelled some changes.
The 2 goals collide Saturday as top-seeded St. John’s makes an attempt to win the convention event for the primary time since 2000, whereas second-seeded Creighton is looking for its first title in 5 tries since becoming a member of the convention within the 2013-14 season.
The Purple Storm (29-4) have been picked fifth within the preseason ballot by Massive East coaches however received 10 straight from Jan. 4-Feb. 7 on the best way to their first outright regular-season title since 1985 and the No. 6 rating within the nation.
On Friday, the Purple Storm erased an early 15-point deficit and pulled away within the second half for a 79-63 victory over No. 25 Marquette, the fifth seed, due to a strong exhibiting from Zuby Ejiofor.
A backup to Joel Soriano final season, Ejiofor scored 23 of his career-high 33 factors within the second half and was 11-for-15 capturing on the night time. It was probably the most factors in class historical past in a convention event sport and probably the most within the semifinals since Kemba Walker scored 33 in 2011 for UConn.
“It has been loopy,” stated Ejiofor, the Massive East’s Most Improved Participant this season. “It has been a loopy trip. Final 12 months did not go as deliberate. We need to be in these moments. We need to go into the NCAA Match. This 12 months we’re placing ourselves in an awesome place to try this.”
The Purple Storm held Marquette to 39 % from the sphere and compelled 17 turnovers.
“This was a superb night time for us, and now we’re within the championship sport,” Pitino stated.
Creighton (24-9), which misplaced Pop Issacs to season-ending hip damage in early December, superior because it gave Kalkbrenner had loads of assist in a 71-62 victory over third-seeded UConn on Friday. Kalkbrenner was held to 12 however Jasen Inexperienced was 8-for-10 capturing and scored a career-high 19.
“We have had numerous adversity this 12 months,” Bluejays coach Greg McDermott stated. “I’ve heard coaches speak all 12 months lengthy. that we misplaced as a result of we did not have this participant or that participant. We misplaced our second main scorer eight video games in, and right here we’re within the Massive East championship sport and completed second within the league.”
Jamiya Neal (19 factors) helped to key an offense that shot 52 %, together with 75 % within the first half because it took a 46-35 lead.
The groups cut up their conferences within the common season. Creighton earned a 57-56 residence win on Dec. 31 when Steven Ashworth scored 18 . St. John’s recorded a 79-73 residence win on Feb. 16 when Massive East Participant of the Yr RJ Luis and Ejiofor mixed for 41 factors and Kalkbrenner tweaked his proper foot within the second half and completed with 12.
“They simply come at you in waves, they usually put on into you with their tenacity and their bodily nature of their play,” McDermott stated of St. John’s.
–Larry Fleisher, Area Degree Media
