We might have a situation here, but there’s still a lot of time left. Denis Badalau knocking down a three after Rutgers went down 11 helps the home side. Central Connecticut still leads by eight at the U16, 42-34, with 15:09 to play in regulation. #HardHittin #RHoops

Silence has befallen the RAC after a first half that Tariq Francis carried for Rutgers, but not much else has gone right on the part of the hosts. Through 20, the Scarlet Knights trail Central Connecticut, 32-28. #RHoops #HardHittin

Central Connecticut is on a 13-0 run. This is not a mirage. The Blue Devils are up nine with 7:32 to play before halftime, 26-17 on Rutgers. #HardHittin

Not sure how much I’ll update because I’m running on auto pilot here, but I’m at the RAC for Rutgers and Central Connecticut. Game #17.

I wasn’t doing these quick hitters 18 years ago. Join me as I celebrate college basketball media adulthood with this quick postgame hitter from the alma mater. #sjubb

It was on this night in 2007 that my college basketball media journey began in this building with my first-ever broadcast on WSJU. And the opposing team tonight (Bucknell) only scored 49 points, just as it did 18 years ago (Sacred Heart). Thank you for letting me share my blessings with you.

Pitino: “We’re a deep team with a great attitude. If we go 3-0, we’re not gonna embrace it, if we go 2-1, we’re not gonna be disappointed. We’re just gonna play and get better.” #sjubb

Pitino: “Connecticut had two players out and played awesome (against Arizona), we played great against Alabama, Alabama came back and beat Illinois. What takes place between the lines of college basketball could not be better.” #sjubb

Pitino: “I’ll judge performance by Iowa State, not tonight.” #sjubb

Pitino: “I thought they played together. Our 40-something deflections are unheard of…we were very active defensively. They picked it up in the second half and they did a great job.” #sjubb

Pitino: “What we’re trying to do is we’re staying away from turnovers that are not caused by us.” #sjubb

Pitino: “I thought (Jackson) did a really good job, defensively as well as offensively. He didn’t force things, he took what was there. I’m really, really pleased with his play.” #sjubb

St. John’s allowed just four field goals in the second half, and replicated its Saturday effort with a thorough obliteration of Bucknell, coasting to a 97-49 pasting of the Bison. The Red Storm didn’t even run up the score either, it was just that much better tonight. #sjubb

And Pitino has given the crowd what it wants. Konstantinidis with some Andrew Hurley time for the final 110 seconds. #sjubb

They’re going down the stretch on the corner of Union and Utopia, and St. John’s will most likely yield its lowest opposing point total unless Bucknell can score 18 in the final 3:56. It’s an 83-43 game with exit polls firmly in hand. #sjubb

We want Fotis chants have begun. Fotis, for those unfamiliar, is Greek freshman Fotis Konstantinidis, the 15th and final player added to the St. John’s roster over the summer. He’s become to Red Storm fans what James Carey was for Iona fans. #sjubb

St. John’s has forced 19 turnovers, and is up 29 at the U12. Hopkins looks like the Hopkins of old with 20 points, but only has three rebounds and three assists. In fairness, he doesn’t really need to get more boards on this night. It’s 63-34 with 11:31 to go. #sjubb

The alma mater has a 6-7 cam. This shit is officially on a Kars 4 Kids level now.

St. John’s played maybe its B-minus game in the first half. It leads Bucknell by 16, 41-25 the score. Hopkins (13) and Jackson (10) have nearly outscored the Bison by themselves. After the first nine minutes, order was restored. #sjubb

There’s the big run that was only a matter of time away. St. John’s is on an 11-2 since the first half U8, and now has a more expansive 31-20 cushion as a result with another three minutes to play before the break. Dillon Mitchell has an understated six rebounds. #sjubb

Dylan Darling now has TWO fouls for St. John’s, and Pitino isn’t exactly thrilled with Eddie Corliss. He’s worked him, casually but emphatically, for a good 15 seconds. #sjubb

Not entirely. It's their fight song. www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7U-...

St. John’s has earned its 20-18 edge with 7:53 left in the first half, establishing some control in the last couple minutes as the five starters have returned to the floor. Two more Bucknell fouls will have the Red Storm shooting the rest of the way here. #sjubb

Ruben Prey is in the game for St. John’s now, and every time I see him, it feels like he’s the old man at the Y taking on the college kids in a pickup game. That’s how much of a grown man he resembles. Reminds me of former Canisius forward Jermaine Crumpton in that sense.

St. John’s just got called for a goaltend, and Pitino wants a 30. He’s conversing with his starting five on the bench while making a Tricia Fabbri-esque line change. Bucknell is up 8-2 with 3:15 gone. #sjubb

Zuby missed two free throws after the three combined misfires as a team, and St. John’s is in a 4-0 hole with two minutes gone by. #sjubb

Off and running at Carnesecca, where Darling misses a lefty mid-range jumper from the left elbow, and Bucknell gets on the board first at the other end. The Johnnies are uncharacteristically 0-for-3 to open. #sjubb

There’s a late-arriving crowd, but here’s the pregame Zub call as Zuby Ejiofor was introduced by public address announcer David Gildea. #sjubb

Starters for both sides: Bucknell — Jayden Williams, Brandon McCreesh, Archie Spadone, Ruot Bijiek and Amon Dorries. St. John’s — Dylan Darling, Oziyah Sellers, Joson Sanon, Bryce Hopkins and Zuby Ejiofor. Bucknell assistant Branden McDonald was once on Masiello’s staff at Manhattan, by the way.

ZEBRA ALERT — Tonight’s officials for St. John’s/Bucknell: John Gaffney, Eddie Corliss and Michael Luckie. Gaffney comes down here after being the lead whistle at Gampel last night for UConn/Arizona. And for the second time, I’m the answer to #WhoGotLuckie. #sjubb

After two trips to Philly this week, it’s refreshing when your road trip is a 15-minute uber. Game #16 comes from just out the window of the home base as St. John’s hosts Bucknell in the Johnnies’ last game before flying out to Vegas for the @Players_Era Festival. #sjubb

Shaka has Trump’s concepts of a plan, but he’s running a worse campaign than Kamala Harris. Double yikes on that front. #mubb

Villanova is one step closer to playing for a #Big5 championship two weeks from Saturday, having wrapped up a 70-55 victory over La Salle. Once again, the Wildcats led from start to finish. Old Dominion is next on Tuesday night at The Finn. #NovaNation

La Salle knocked down a three, which means those of us here got to see the “POW” call from Kale Beers live and in living color. Doesn’t have the same impact in a 20-point game, but still pretty awesome to finally watch firsthand. @coleadamss.bsky.social @mid-majormadness.bsky.social

They’re going down the stretch in North Philly, and Villanova is up 20 going into the final 3:26. La Salle will be a lot better than this in the A-10, but the Wildcat small ball and physicality is too much for this group at this stage in a 66-46 game.

Villanova is up 18 and playing arguably its best defense of the year against a La Salle team that has tried to slow the Wildcats down, but is mismatched against a smaller look from Willard. Nichols’ timeout becomes the U8 at 6:59, with the Explorers trailing, 58-40.

La Salle just got hit with a basket interference call. Eric Acker was a little overzealous trying to push the tempo, and it nullified a layup that would have cut the deficit to 12. Cassell actually made a good call there. With 10:41 to go, Villanova’s in control, up 51-37.

La Salle doesn’t go away. I’ll defer to @sportsmatters.bsky.social to tell us how often Nice’s Radford teams did this, but the Explorers got it back down to six before Hodge drilled another three dead center leading into the horn. After 20: Villanova 37, La Salle 28.

This is where Villanova has to be careful, as Brennan just picked up his second foul to trigger the U4. Lindsay also has two with a 12-point lead, so this is an opportunity for La Salle with 3:17 to get through before the break. Wildcats 32, Explorers 20 at this juncture.

Flagrant-1 on Brennan. Justin Archer is one tough dude. La Salle gets two shots and possession.

O’Connell just went #ToTheMonitor after calling a foul on Brennan, presumably to review whether or not it was a flagrant when he made contact with Justin Archer as Archer ripped the ball out of his hands. Villanova’s up 23-16 here, with 7:11 left before halftime. #Big5

Noted Good Referee Pat Driscoll

La Salle has fought back over the last couple minutes, getting within five with 11:59 remaining in the opening stanza. Josiah Harris, who came with Nichols from Radford, has done a better job on Brennan than anyone I’ve seen thus far this year. Villanova still leads, 15-10.

There’s a lot to like from Villanova over the first 5:30, with the Wildcats building a 13-4 advantage on La Salle. Brennan and Hodge have had their way with the Explorers inside, but I like the depth Darris Nichols has available to him. That’ll make a difference in short order.

Breeding AND Double T Patty D?!?! And Roger too? Strap in, #mubb fans. @anonymouseagle.bsky.social

That was Matt Hodge on the corner triple. He’s been pretty adept at that these first couple weeks.

Off and running on 20th & Olney, where Duke Brennan capitalized off a La Salle miss and turned in a right corner three and lay-in to put Villanova ahead by a 5-0 tally with a minute gone. Haven’t seen Darris Nichols since I called a game against him in 2008 at West Virginia.

La Salle was introduced to 50 Cent’s “Many Men.” Back where I come from, that would be an instant win.

Starters for both sides: Villanova — Acaden Lewis, Bryce Lindsay, Tyler Perkins, Matt Hodge and Duke Brennan. La Salle — Ashton Walker, Eric Acker, Jaeden Marshall, Jerome Brewer and Josiah Harris. #Big5

ZEBRA ALERT — Tonight’s officials for La Salle/Villanova: The Notorious BOC, Brian O’Connell, along with Lee Cassell and AJ Desai. This is an insanely good whistle name-wise, but we’ll see how it actually goes.