Posh Alexander was announced as a starter inside Carnesecca Arena for the visiting team for the first time in his career, but it didn't matter the St. John's basketball fans still roared.
The fan favorite during his three seasons with the Johnnies made his return to Queens with Butler on Tuesday night and there's no hard feelings between the two sides.
"It felt good just knowing that I still have love around here," Alexander said after his team fell 86-70.
The former Big East Freshman and Defensive Player of the Year was motivated in the first half, talking trash on the floor with St. John's point guard Daniss Jenkins and leading an inspired effort from the Bulldogs.
"I was glad (Alexander) got an ovation, he was great for this program," Jenkins said.
The ex-Johnnie went into halftime with 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting but the Red Storm held Alexander scoreless in the second half on just two shot attempts.
"I didn't leave on any bad intentions or bad blood...I just wanted of scenery," he explained of his decision leave in the transfer portal.
It had been reported that Posh Alexander was invited to remain with the Johnnies by Rick Pitino but both parties ultimately bevelived that going their separate ways would be for the best.
"Rick Pitino is a great guy, a great coach. I felt like I would be okay ."
Alexander is putting up numbers that rival his freshman season with the Johnnies at 10.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 2.1 steals per game on 44-percent shooting, but still has a lot of room to improve on his 3-point numbers, sitting at 21.4-percent, which would be a career-low.
"It was nothing personal. I played the game like it was any other game."
Posh Alexander and St. John's captain Joel Soriano still talk often and remain good friends but didn't talk before Tuesday's matchup.
"I will always have love for . I just want to wish them nothing but the best moving forward."
Alexander will always remember the ovation he got from the crowd pregame. "That's love," he said.
St. John's and Butler will play again on February 28 (8:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network) in Indianapolis.