St. John's Wins Back-to-Back Big East Tournament Titles

Coach Rick Pitino fulfills promise to wife with repeat championship victory

Mar. 15, 2026 at 6:12am

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St. John's University men's basketball team won the Big East Tournament championship for the second consecutive year, defeating the University of Connecticut Huskies. Head coach Rick Pitino had vowed to win the title again for his wife Joanne, and the Johnnies delivered the repeat victory at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Why it matters

This championship repeat solidifies St. John's status as a national powerhouse under Pitino's leadership, and the victory at the iconic Madison Square Garden arena serves as a symbolic reminder of the program's resurgence in the Big East Conference.

The details

In a hard-fought championship game, St. John's defeated UConn 72-68 to claim their second straight Big East Tournament title. The Johnnies were led by standout sophomore forward Zuby Ejiofor, who scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Coach Rick Pitino, in his third season at St. John's, had promised his wife Joanne that he would win this tournament again for her, and the team delivered on that promise with the victory.

  • The Big East Tournament championship game was played on March 14, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
  • This was St. John's second consecutive Big East Tournament title, having also won the championship in 2025.

The players

Rick Pitino

Head coach of the St. John's University men's basketball team, who has led the program's resurgence and promised to win the Big East Tournament title again for his wife.

Zuby Ejiofor

Sophomore forward for St. John's University, who led the team with 20 points and 12 rebounds in the Big East Tournament championship game.

Dan Hurley

Head coach of the University of Connecticut men's basketball team, whose Huskies fell to St. John's in the Big East Tournament final.

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What’s next

St. John's will now await their seeding and opponent for the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, where they will look to make a deep run and compete for a national championship.

The takeaway

Rick Pitino's promise to his wife Joanne has been fulfilled, as his St. John's team has now won back-to-back Big East Tournament titles. This sustained success has elevated the program to new heights and positioned them as a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.