Almost a calendar year later, history repeated itself.
St. John’s No. 1 had a big one.
Last year, he outscored Villanova by 17 points.
This year, it was a 14-point spurt against Marquette.
The results were the same: painful losses.
And the latter, a crushing 72-70 overtime loss, could spell the end of Mike Anderson’s era as the Johnnies’ coach after going his fourth straight season without a postseason berth.
AJ Storr drives to the basket for St. John’s in the Big East Tournament.Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
After going scoreless in the first half, Big East Player of the Year Tyler Kolek scored 19 points, including seven in overtime.
His two free throws with 15.8 seconds left were the game-winners.
AJ Storr and Posh Alexander both missed potential 3-pointers and Marquette survived.
Oso Ighodaro’s consecutive offensive rebounds gave Marquette the lead with 1:01 left in regulation after San Juan failed to increase its lead on the previous two possessions.
At the other end, Dylan Addae-Wusu missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and Kam Jones sank a 3-pointer to extend the lead to four.
Storr was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 19.6 seconds left and hit all three free throws.
After an Alexander steal, David Jones put his head down driving to the basket and was taken away with 12.9 seconds left.
After Olivier-Maxence Prosper hit one from the line, Addae-Wusu pulled one for the Johnnies with 4.6 seconds left.
Kam Jones celebrates MarquetteCharles Wenzelberg / New York Post
David Jones celebrates in San Juan against Marquette.AP
The defeat featured familiar themes: ball-care issues, a lack of structured midcourt offense and an inability to get key stops.
The 63-year-old Anderson, who has never had an undefeated season, won’t be able to hit 20 games in any season barring a surprise NIT invite at the Queens school.
San Juan led by 10 at halftime, but Marquette turned up the defensive pressure, and the Johnnies’ disorganized offense fizzled in the second half.
He shot 24 percent from the field and committed 22 total turnovers.
Mike Anderson (right) and Posh Alexander at the Big East Championship on March 9, 2023.Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
St. John’s was projected to compete for the NCAA Championship the last two years, but didn’t come close.
3-22 and 2-14 against ranked opponents in Quad 1 games over the past two years.
It finished eighth in the Big East this season, and the program’s top players – David Jones, Andre Curbelo and Alexander – have taken a step forward.
There have been disciplinary problems.
Curbelo was suspended for several games and Rafael Pinzon has ended the season with an indefinite suspension.