Now, they wait to find out their fate.
It was fun for a half, and some brief moments after halftime, St. John’s hanging with defending national champion Connecticut.
But that didn’t last. The Huskies are too good, too talented, too well-coached.
So now, after this 95-90 defeat to the top-seeded Huskies in the Big East Tournament semifinals at a rocking Garden, the fifth-seeded Johnnies will wait to hear if their name will be called by the selection committee.
Most indications are they will, though depending on how everything shakes out, Rick Pitino’s team could wind up in Dayton in the First Four.
Even in defeat, as St. John’s had its six-game winning streak snapped, there was a lot to like.
It hung with UConn until the very end, trailing by eight at the under-4 media timeout. The backcourt of Daniss Jenkins and Jordan Dingle combined for 46 points, and the Johnnies out-rebounded the Huskies by four.
It just wasn’t enough.
UConn has too many weapons.
Whether it was Tristen Newton’s brilliant 25-point, nine-assist, six-rebound effort; Cam Spencer’s efficient 20 points and nine assists; or Alex Karaban’s 14 points, St. John’s couldn’t slow them down.
The Huskies shot 57 percent from the field and 50 percent from distance. They didn’t even get much out of standout center Donovan Clingan due to foul trouble.
Pitino’s eight-game Big East Tournament win streak, dating back to his time at Louisville, came to an end.
The first half was electric, a sold-out crowd on its feet for much of it. St. John’s (20-13) started strong, racing out to a 13-6 lead to quiet the large UConn (30-3) contingent.
The Huskies quickly settled down to take control. They ripped off a 16-5 run and went up 10 after a pair of Newton free throws.
St. John’s was stunned but didn’t break.
Freshman Brady Dunlap checked in and came up with a steal. He set up a Luis basket and hit a 3-pointer, bringing the crowd back into the game for the Johnnies.
It was a five-point game at the break, with both point guards carrying the respective loads.
Newton dazzled with 20 points, six assists and four rebounds. Jenkins had 16 points and three assists. The Johnnies were plus-two on the glass, while UConn had the edge in the paint, 22-16, despite foul trouble for Clingan and backup center Samson Johnson.
It was a two-point game early in the second half when Connecticut began to pull away.
A 13-2 run started with an uncontested Spencer 3-pointe,r and the Huskies then turned second opportunities into baskets, making it a 69-56 game with 13:48 to go, forcing a Pitino timeout.
St. John’s didn’t let go of the proverbial rope. A Dingle 3-pointer cut it to nine. Then Luis scored inside. It was a seven-point game with 6:43 remaining. The Red Storm never got closer.
Connecticut moved on to Saturday’s title game. Pitino and Co. will have to wait for Sunday night.
This story originally appeared on NYPost