NEW YORK -- Rick Pitino and St. John’s did their part to hold up the all-Northeast final in the Big East Tournament, but Dan Hurley and UConn could not. The No. 3 Huskies were overwhelmed by the wings of No. 2 Creighton and lost, 71-62, in the Big East Tournament semifinals at Madison Square Garden.

This led head coach Dan Hurley to declare that he would never again participate in a tournament format like that. UConn finished third in the Big East this year, which surprised many, but Rick Pitino had his team on a mission.

Could a Rick Pitino-led St. John's squad, red-hot after winning its first Big East Tournament championship in 25 years, make it back to the Final Four for the first time since 1985 and go even further with a victory in the national championship?