No. 7 St. John’s will look to increase its successful streak to 4 video games on Wednesday evening when the Pink Storm journey to Indianapolis to tackle Butler.
This can be a key recreation for your entire Large East, because the Pink Storm (24-4, 15-2) can clinch a share of the convention regular-season title with a victory. In addition they can achieve this with a Creighton loss to DePaul on Wednesday.
St. John’s, which has received 13 of its previous 14 video games, has not secured a share of the Large East title since 1992 and has not received the convention outright since 1985.
“We wish this Large East crown badly,” coach Rick Pitino mentioned. “Not just for the gamers but in addition for the followers who got here again.”
The Pink Storm are coming off one in all their higher wins of the season as they dominated UConn 89-75 at Madison Sq. Backyard on Sunday.
The win allowed St. John’s to comb UConn within the season collection for the primary time since 2000. It additionally improved the Pink Storm to 17-0 at residence.
“This was our greatest recreation offensively and defensively all season,” Pitino mentioned. “I believe they get higher day-after-day and each recreation.”
Zuby Ejiofor and Kadary Richmond every led the way in which with 18 factors, with Ejiofor additionally gathering 9 rebounds and 6 assists.
Butler (13-14, 6-10) is taking part in nicely as of late, having received 4 of its final 5 video games, together with an 84-72 victory on the street at DePaul on Saturday evening.
Pierre Brooks recorded 24 factors and 7 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who closed the sport on a 17-4 run.
Jahmyl Telfort boasts team-leading averages in factors (16.1) and assists (3.5). Andre Display screen leads down low with 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per evening.
RJ Luis Jr. leads St. John’s with 17.4 factors per recreation. Ejiofor averages a team-high 8.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, whereas Richmond averages 5 assists and a pair of steals.
On the harm entrance, Richmond is taking part in via ache for St. John’s.
“Kadary Richmond is extra injured than any participant I’ve coached proper now, he is bought double groin pulls, bought issues throughout his anatomy, and he performed and performed onerous. He wants day without work, as a lot as we can provide him.”
His standing has not been determined for Wednesday. Jaiden Glover (wrist) and Brady Dunlap (hand) will miss the remainder of the season for St. John’s whereas Evan Haywood (sickness) is questionable for Butler.
St. John’s leads the all-time collection 14-11, with all however a type of matchups going down after 2014. The Pink Storm have taken the final 4 and can search for their eighth win over Butler within the final 9 matchups.
The final matchup was tight, with St. John’s surging forward late to win 70-62 at Carnasecca Area on Jan. 4. Luis Jr. led St. John’s with 20 factors and 11 boards, whereas Brooks paced Butler with 17 factors.
On the prime of the record for the Bulldogs going into this one will probably be turnovers. They dedicated 21 within the final matchup, resulting in 19 factors for St. John’s. The Pink Storm had 27 fast-break factors as nicely.
–Area Stage Media
