St. John’s rolls past rival Providence and into Big East semifinals

This wasn’t a fight. 

It was a bloodbath. 

It was over early, like one of those Mike Tyson bouts. 

St. John’s Red Storm forward Bryce Hopkins #23 slams the ball over Providence Friars forward Oswin Erhunmwunse (55). Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Round 3 between rivals St. John’s and Providence was no contest, almost nothing like the first two hotly-contested meetings. 

The Johnnies looked the part of the top seed and the Friars sure resembled an underachieving team that will be in the market for a new coach very soon. 

Unlike the previous encounter on Valentine’s Day, when a fight broke out after a dirty foul by Providence reserve Duncan Powell, there were no extracurricular activities. Just an on-court bludgeoning by the Red Storm, an 85-72 rout in this Big East Tournament quarterfinal that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated. 

Providence’s first field goal didn’t come until 5:56 after the opening tip and it didn’t hit a 3-pointer until after halftime. St. John’s led by 21 in that first half and blew the game open with a 16-5 burst after Providence had crept to within 11. 

Joson Sanon #3 of the St. John’s Red Storm reacts against Providence. Getty Images

This was a mismatch inside, St. John’s crushing Providence on the glass, 51-30, and outscoring them, 36-26, in the paint. After the Friars hit 14 3-pointers in a win over Butler on Wednesday night, they were held to 5-of-14 from distance. 

Winners of 17 of their last 18 games, the Johnnies (26-6) will make their third straight trip to the Big East semifinals. Before Rick Pitino’s arrival, they had last gotten there in 2000. They will meet the winner of No. 4 Seton Hall/No. 5 Creighton. 

Before tip-off, Providence fans booed Bryce Hopkins, the former Friar. They were hardly heard from again. Hopkins was terrific in notching 14 points and 13 rebounds, though the best Johnnie was as usual Zuby Ejiofor, the Big East Player of the Year. He started his final Big East Tournament in dominant fashion, tallying 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks. When he checked out for the final time, St. John’s fans chanted “Zuuuuuuby.”

Oziyah Sellers and Ian Jackson each added 14.