Happy but not satisfied! That has been the mantra of Rick Pitino’s squad. Now, calling them a Cinderella story might feel a little odd—they’ve got a Hall of Famer running the show and arguably the biggest brand name in the Big East. But given they hadn’t won a Big East regular-season title in 40 years? Yeah, it felt right. Not anymore, though. The Johnnies broke the curse. While Dan Hurley might still be recovering from UConn’s loss to St. John’s, this latest blow hit a lot of places.

We know for a fact that coaches rack up bonuses depending on team performance. Last year, Hurley pocketed at least $1.8 million in bonuses alone, with a nice $100,000 check (per USA Today) coming his way for winning the Big East regular season title. But St. John’s took the crown this year, and that $100K just slipped through his fingers. 

The team that was last on the floor a week ago against Seton Hall practiced like they hadn’t eaten in a week, as Pitino said. And that’s what they showed as they now enter as the No. 1 seed locked at Madison Square Garden in the Big East Tournament. It was in 1985 that the team last posed for pictures as the regular-season winner. Notably, St. John’s is the outright regular-season champion for the first time since Chris Mullin carried the team to the Final Four under coach Lou Carnesecca. The program hadn’t claimed even a share of the title since 1992, Carnesecca’s last season as head coach. However, they have big things ahead, like the Big East Tournament they last won in 2000.

But the team has now proved just how much they thrive under pressure. They block shots, force turnovers, and bring that classic Pitino chaos to every possession. For much of their regular-season finale, it looked like St. John’s might fall short. The moments had everyone holding their breath when RJ Luis Jr.’s shot long, and it fell straight into the hands of Marquette’s Chase Ross. But then St. John’s went to work. 

Kadary Richmond tipped the ball away. Simeon Wilcher grabbed it, took a dribble, and found Zuby Ejiofor. One quick motion, one clean release—buzzer, basket, bedlam. And not to forget, they did it all without Deivon Smith and with a brutal 17,983-strong Marquette crowd. The Johnnies can now set their sights on a potential No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. With an 18-2 record in Big East play, they matched UConn’s conference record for most league wins in a season.

But was that $100,000 bonus the only thing Pitino and the Johnnies took from the Huskies?

Well, not quite.

Is Dan Hurley about to lose another trophy?

Big East Coach of the Year is another title up for grabs, and Hurley won it last year, banking an extra $25,000. But at this point, it’s looking like Pitino, who is already one of the highest-paid coaches, might just snatch that, too. St. John’s is ranked in the top 10 of the AP poll for the first time in what feels like forever. Their defense is the best in the Big East, and honestly, you could argue it’s the best in the country. 

The thing is, St. John’s has had “false dawns” before, moments where fans thought the program was back—only to be let down. But not this time. A year ago, they didn’t even make the NCAA tournament.

Now, they’ve got their highest national ranking since Lou Carnesecca’s glory days in 1990-91. And the way they’re making it happen is classic. Brooklyn’s own Kadary Richmond is leading on the floor. A Hall of Famer is barking on the sidelines. There is aggression and relentlessness on both ends of the court.

Last season, St. John’s allowed more than one point per possession in 20 of 33 games. This year, the story is different. And if you know Coach P’s track record, this isn’t surprising. Ten of his Louisville teams ranked in the top 10 nationally in defensive efficiency, including three that finished at No. 1. His final Kentucky squad was also No. 1 and every single one of his Iona teams finished first or second in MAAC defensive efficiency. 

It’s what he does.

And it’s just his second year here. So, it’s safe to say that it’s Pitino’s trophy. Now, heading into the postseason, the St. John’s Red Storm, Creighton Blue Jays, UConn Huskies, Marquette Golden Eagles, and Xavier Musketeers have their first-round byes.

It’s clear that the Johnnies are back. And they might not be done making history just yet.