It was a one-year cameo for St. John’s in the CBS Sports Classic.
The Johnnies will be replaced in next year’s event by Kansas.
St. John’s took UCLA’s spot and lost to Kentucky in the showcase in Atlanta this past December.
Coach Rick Pitino confirmed that Fox, one of the Big East’s television partners, was against St. John’s taking part in the event. There is reportedly a “footprint clause” that makes games in the states of Big East schools Fox properties.
Next year’s CBS Sports Classic is slated to be played at the Garden.
“They control it. We’ve asked them to succumb and let us play in it, but they didn’t,” Pitino told The Post after No. 25 St. John’s crushed Butler 92-70 at the Garden for its seventh consecutive win. “It’s the TV contract that’s there. Can’t fight city hall when it comes to that.”
For now, St. John’s schedule next year includes three games in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas and a road game against Alabama.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Before the game, St. John’s recognized Pitino’s 900th career on-court victory Saturday with a video montage of his career. The school also gave Pitino a framed St. John’s jersey with No. 900 on it.
“It’s been a long journey. My wife’s shaking her head back there. We’ve moved a lot,” Pitino said. “I started at Hawaii. I was Jim Boeheim’s first assistant coach, lived in Syracuse. … From there to today, it’s been a long journey and getting 900 is a nice thing certainly, but getting to 1,000 would be a lot better. That means I have to be blessed with good health, good allergies and just keep recruiting. The better you recruit, the better coach I am.”
Asked if he envisioned getting to 1,000 at St. John’s, Pitino just said, “I’m going to be coaching.”
Zuby Ejiofor scored 15 points, giving him 999 for his career at St. John’s. The last Johnnie to reach 1,000 was Joel Soriano, in the 2023-24 season.
