St. John’s has been in this spot before.
Six of the previous seven years to be exact.
It performs well on the first day of the Big East Tournament, putting together a strong performance, only to wilt the following day.
It finds itself in the same position again now, after a thorough 76-63 victory over No. 9 Butler at the Garden Friday afternoon.
The victory sends eighth-seeded St. John’s into a quarterfinal meeting with No. 1 Marquette, five days after the Johnnies nearly toppled the Golden Eagles in Milwaukee.
In what has been a second straight disappointing season that may cost coach Mike Anderson his job, St. John’s at least has given itself one last chance to turn this year around by making a run in the conference tournament.
It hasn’t reached the semifinals since 2000.
It was dominant for most of this win, building a 21-point lead.
It crushed overwhelmed Butler on the glass, 53-28, and outscored it in the paint, 40-28.
It held off a furious Butler run in the final minutes.
Joel Soriano, the Big East’s Most Improved Player and this team’s MVP, had the game’s biggest basket.
His offensive rebound and follow ended a 20-9 Butler run that had sliced the lead to nine.
Posh Alexander then found Dylan Addae-Wusu for a 3-pointer and the lead was never really in jeopardy the rest of the way.
Soriano led St. John’s with 19 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks, AJ Storr had 15 and Alexander chipped in 13. Addae-Wusu notched 10 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.