Defensive Intensity. Rugged Physicality. Timely shotmaking. St. John’s has the ingredients of a Big East champion, and Rick Pitino isn’t going to allow his team to let up.

St. John’s will not play the stylish basketball that has otherwise limited, even bogged down the game at the collegiate and professional levels. No, this is a throwback that most New Yorkers of an older generation fell in love with 30 years ago.