Dillon Mitchell had 14 points and 13 rebounds as No. 25 St. John’s blew out Butler 92-70 at Madison Square Garden for its seventh consecutive victory.

“Unfortunately the FOX agreement prevented [St. John’s] from playing in the CBS Classic,” said a source close to St. John’s leadership. FOX holds major Big East broadcast rights as the lead network partner under a six-year deal that began this season, extending through 2030-31.

Why FOX blocked St. John’s from participating in a major college basketball event originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

NEW YORK (AP) — Celebrated at home for reaching 900 wins, Rick Pitino couldn't help but think back about where it all began. Pitino was honored Wednesday night by St. John's after achieving the rare milestone last weekend,

St. John's basketball head coach Rick Pitino got his 900th win against his son, Richard, and Xavier which vaulted him into the Top 25.

"I do feel like some people do have a clutch gene in them, yes . . . I think I do have a little bit of clutch in myself," Hopkins said.

Following a missed free throw by St. John’s sophomore guard Liam Farniok with 17 seconds left, Concordia’s 6-foot-8 senior Jackson Loge grabbed the rebound, hit the outlet to Justin Courneya and he found a streaking Schell down the left side of the court.

A 22-point deficit heading into the final quarter was just too much. In the end, Villanova found themselves on the tail end of a 71-58 final against St. John’s on Saturday in New York City. For St. John’s,