Thursday is day two of the Big East men’s basketball tournament, and there’s a full slate of games on tap at Madison Square Garden.

First up: No. 1 seed St. John’s taking on No. 9 seed Providence. Tipoff is at noon.

For the second year in a row, the Johnnies are Big East regular season champions, and now, they’re looking to follow it up with back-to-back Big East tournament championships.

What You Need To Know

Rev. Richard Rock is the campus Minister for Athletics at St. John’s University, offering spiritual guidance to student-athletes on all 17 Red Storm teams — but he never misses a men’s basketball game

Father Rock grew up in Astoria, Queens as a big sports fan, and dedicated his life to giving back to the homeless and poor. He travels with the team, sits with them on the bench, and before every game, leads a pre-game prayer 

Off the court, Father Rock goes with student-athletes to soup kitchens and shelters, inspiring them to give back to their communities

And they’re turning to the extra edge on their bench: their “Rock” in the Red Storm.

Rev. Richard Rock is the campus Minister for Athletics at St. John’s University, offering spiritual guidance to student-athletes on all 17 Red Storm teams — but he never misses a men’s basketball game. 

“Whether they’re religious or not religious, I think the thing is, it’s spirituality that kind of grounds them in what we do,” Father Rock said. 

Father Rock grew up in Astoria, Queens, and has devoted his entire life to giving back, especially to the homeless and the poor. 

Now, he inspires student-athletes to do the same. 

For senior Zuby Ejiofor, his message resonates.

“It’s not always about yourself, but it’s about what you leave behind and how you make others around you better as well,” Ejiofor said. 

“It’s trying to pass on an experience of what faith is all about,” Father Rock said. “There’s something about faith, no matter what faith a person has, it needs to ground their lives, it gives them meaning, it gives them value.”

Players say his role on the team is invaluable, and it all begins in the locker room, where before every game, he leads a pre-game prayer that always mentions the homeless and always ends the same way: with four “Amens.”

Then, it’s game time, and he takes his seat on the Johnnie’s bench, where from tipoff on he’s locked in, keeping spirits high no matter the score. 

“Some people get upset and angry at different things,” Father Rock said. “Well, how do you bring them back to life? There’s a good cop and a bad cop — I’m the good cop. And when they’re down, it’s just saying, ‘Things are gonna work out.’ Somehow, there is a connection between life, spirituality and sports.”

In his 13 years with St. John’s, nothing can top celebrating last year’s Big East championship, when the team picked him to cut down the net at MSG. 

“I was totally shocked when that happened,” Father Rock said. “All of a sudden I heard my name over the loudspeaker, and somebody said, ‘They want you to cut down the net!’”

“He took my turn because I’m afraid of heights,” joked St. John’s men’s basketball head coach Rick Pitino. “No, I wanted him to have that moment, because he deserves it.”

“I still have it in my room. I’ll never let go of it,” Father Rock said. 

Nor will he forget it. But as the team looks to defend its title, he’s sure hoping — praying — to repeat it.