Lou Carnesecca, Chris Mullin, Walter Berry, Mark Jackson, Malik Sealy, and now Rick Pitino. Those are the names you think of when you hear St. John’s basketball.
The St. John’s Red Storm cut down the nets and bathed in confetti after snapping the 25-year drought since the last time the program won a Big East Tournament title, on the backs of RJ Luis Jr., the Big East Player of the Year and the Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Zuby Ejiofor, and Kadary Richmond.
Carnesecca is the biggest part of St. John’s history. He won five Big East regular-season titles and two Big East tournaments and made it to the Final Four in 1985 during his 24-year stint as head coach. He also holds a career collegiate coaching record of 526-200 and was named to the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Queens is home to the Red Storm, whose gym is named after the late Carnesecca. Whether the Johnnies are playing on campus or at Madison Square Garden, the standard isn’t only to win the basketball game but to dominate the opponent.
That’s the mentality that Pitino has brought back to St. John’s.
Pitino has been at the school for just two years but has completely turned the program around, which is not particularly surprising considering he has won everywhere he’s been. Just look at the pattern.
When he first joins a program, he has to change the culture, which comes with some growing pains. In Year 2, he expects to win and he has, everywhere he’s been. In Year 3, he takes his team to the next level.
- Year 1 at Providence: (17-14)
- Year 2 at Providence: (25-9)
- Year 1 at Kentucky: (14-14)
- Year 2 at Kentucky: (22-6)
- Year 1 at Louisville: (19-13)
- Year 2 at Louisville: (25-7)
- Year 1 at Iona: (12-6, shortened season due to COVID-19 pandemic)
- Year 2 at Iona: (25-8)
- Year 1 at St. John’s: (20-13)
- Year 2 at St. John’s: (30-4)
After the celebration ceremony of the Johnnies clinching the Big East title, Pitino was asked if he ever thought about Carnesecca and what he might’ve thought if he got to see him and his team accomplish this feat.
“No, he [Carnesecca] didn’t cross my mind during the game,” Pitino said. “He crosses my mind after the game. I’m thinking he would be so proud of this team. You know, I say it all along. St. John’s is Lou Carnesecca, Chris Mullin, Mark Jackson, Walter Berry, and all the greats from Joe DePre and Johnny Warren back in the day. That’s St. John’s. I’m just a caretaker of what all those guys built, and I’m a proud caretaker of that. After the game, you obviously think of Lou and how proud he would have been.”
The last time St. John’s won the Big East regular season title outright, Carnesecca was on the sideline. The last time the Johnnies won the Big East tournament, Mike Jarvis was at the helm. It’s been a long time for multiple generations of both St. John’s fans and students.
“Great win for the city,” Pitino said. “Great win for our university. You hear it all along, ‘this is New York’s team’ and it truly is. As a New Yorker myself, I’m very, very proud that St. John’s has gotten to this level.”
There were tears in the eyes of St. John’s fans at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. The ones that were there, the ones watching from home, or in a bar, or listening on the radio, will remember this moment forever. This fanbase has been starving for a taste of success, but they’ve gotten the whole pie.
Now comes the next test, as the Red Storm prepares for the NCAA Tournament with realistic sights set upon the Final Four in San Antonio.
“We wanted a Big East crown from the beginning of the year,” Pitino said. “That was our goal.”
The job isn’t finished. St. John’s isn’t done dancing — they’ll continue doing so into March Madness.
