Rick Pitino says Kadary Richmond would’ve stayed at Seton Hall “if the money was close.” The 6-foot-6 Brooklyn native transferred to St. John’s from Seton Hall last spring for an NIL bag that was more significant than what Seton Hall could offer. Top transfers in today’s market can get in the high six-figures or even low seven.

The boos rained down on Kadary Richmond from the moment he took the Prudential Center court Saturday night. Since last spring, when Richmond transferred from Seton Hall to St. John’s for his postgraduate season – the first Pirate basketball player ever to switch to another Big East program – this game was circled on Hall fans’ calendar.

Rick Pitino was right. The extra spotlight Saturday didn’t bother Kadary Richmond, even as Seton Hall fans inside Prudential Center booed him every time he touched the ball against his former team. Signs from the Pirates student section taunted Richmond.

RJ Luis went for 22 points and 8 rebounds and Zuby Ejiofor had 15 and 9 for St. John’s (16-3, 7-1 Big East), which has won five straight and is poised for the program’s first NCAA Tournament main-draw bid since 2015.