No need for apologies mjmaherjr but I do have to question your optimism here. Seton Hall has been beating all the ranked Big East teams at home this season and was in first place in the conference. Beyond that we have lost 15 of 17 away games to the Hall in the twenty-first century (see link below).
I was hopeful tonight but a loss was not really that unexpected.
Of course the Pitino being out factor probably should not be underestimated either. The team definitely seem to be effected by his absence.
The official St. John's University Red Storm Men's Basketball History vs Seton Hall University
redstormsports.com