NEW YORK -- An aggressive, hounding defense. Bully ball on the offensive end. A Hall of Fame coach walking the sideline. Chants of "Let's Go Johnnies!" filling Madison Square Garden in the final minute of No. 12 St. John's 70-64 win over No. 11 Marquette.
For a basketball program desperate to return to relevance -- and win its first Big East regular-season championship since 1992 -- it was hard to escape the feeling that Tuesday night was a turning point.
There have been false dawns for St. John's basketball before, but this season's Red Storm have won nine games in a row and 15 of their past 16 and sit atop the Big East standings at 11-1.