100 YEARS OF HOOPS SJU celebrates historic season

As the only Big East school in Queens and in the city, the St. John’s University’s men’s basketball team has been “the New York team” for 100 years now, thrilling countless fans and creating numerous memorable moments along the way.
The program, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary during the 2007-2008 season, made its debut on December 6, 1907 when the school played its first varsity game. Pitted against New York University, they lost that first game 34-13. However, less than a month later, on January 3, 1908, the team beat Adelphi, 18-17, to log in their first varsity win. Reverend J. Chestnut coached the inaugural season, and it completed the year with an overall record of 4-8.
During its 100-year history, St. John’s has seen many high points. It first played in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) on March 15, 1939. It went on to win the NIT championship in 1943, 1944, 1959, 1965, 1989 and 2003.
The team made it to the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four twice, in 1952 and 1985, with a total of 26 NCAA Tournament appearances.
The men’s basketball team has also been Big East champions eight times. Some of these wins include beating Boston College 85-77 in 1983, Syracuse University 70-69 in 1986 and Connecticut 80-70 in 2000.
Former head coach Lou Carnesecca, who spent 24 seasons in the position, said that his earliest memory of the team is from 1942 when he was a junior at St. Ann’s Academy. It was then that he saw his first game.
“I fell in love with St. John’s,” he said.
Carnesecca coached the team from 1965 to 1970 and 1973 to 1991. In 1992, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. The school’s Queens campus athletic facility was recently named Carnesecca Arena in honor of the coach.
Current head coach Norm Roberts, who started during the 2004-2005 season, grew up 20 minutes from campus and watched the players constantly. A graduate of Springfield Gardens High School and Queens College, Roberts even played some of his high school playoff games on the campus.
Some of the talent that has gone through the St. John’s men’s basketball program has been seen on the professional courts. A total of 59 St. John’s players have been drafted into the NBA, beginning with first round draft pick Dick McGuire in 1949. Other players who went on to the NBA include Alan Seiden, Sonny Dove, Bill Schaeffer, Mel Davis, Chris Mullin, Walter Berry, Jayson Williams, Ron Artest, Erick Barkley, and most recently, Omar Cook.
Davis, a native of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, played on the St. John’s team from 1969 to 1973. He said that it was a fantastic moment for him the first time he stepped on the court wearing the school’s uniform.
“It was magical just to be part of the program, the legacy and enjoying meaningful relationships. You wear a St. John’s uniform with much pride, and an air of superiority,” said Davis, who returned to his alma mater a year ago to work as Director of Leadership Gifts, Carnesecca Initiative Institutional Advancement.
Davis was a first-round draft pick in 1973, going to the New York Knicks. He said that his time at St. John’s benefited him in his NBA career in that it built his character and helped him with relationships with others. He also said that it gave him a “broad sense of my skills.”
St. John’s plays its home games at Carnesecca Arena, formerly Alumni Hall, and at Madison Square Garden. During a February 9 game in Carnesecca Arena, they beat Providence, marking their 400th win in their cozy home facility.
“I think it’s great for the borough of Queens,” Roberts said. “I think it’s something that New York City can be proud of.”
Current player Larry Wright, a sophomore guard, said that playing during the 100th season has not added any extra pressure on the team.
“The Big East is probably the toughest conference in America,” Wright said. “We just come out and take it one game at a time.”
Fellow teammate and Forest Hills native Mike Cavataio grew up rooting for St. John’s while going to games with his father. He said he thought it would be a big accomplishment for him if he could play for the team.
“It feels great because of all the tradition that St. John’s has. It’s a great feeling to play for a school with that much prestige, especially from watching it as a kid,” said the freshman forward/guard. “Being a New York kid and playing for a New York team…definitely means something to me.”
Bellerose resident Larry Callahan, a fan for 25 years, began following the team while he was a student athlete. Callahan is a long-time season ticket holder, along with friend Bill O’Reilly, a resident of Floral Park.
“Through the years, it’s just (been) a great program and it’s a good family place,” said Callahan, whose 18-year-old daughter has been to many games.
O’Reilly, who grew up in Woodside, became a St. John’s fan when his sister, who is 13 years older, began attending the university. He said one of the most memorable game moments was seeing Tony Jackson score a jump shot at the buzzer during a game against NYU in the old Madison Square Garden.
Although the program has had many successes, it has also gone through some troubles. Members of the 2003-2004 team were involved in a scandal during a road trip to Pittsburgh that involved players going to a strip club and being falsely accused of rape. The team suspended several players and needed to use walk-ons to finish the season 6-21.
“When we took over the program, it was in disarray,” Roberts said. “We had to come up with a whole different philosophy and try to build it from there.”
As Roberts has worked to rebuild the team, it completed last season with a 16-15 record. Callahan said that he is curious to see what the future holds for the program.
Davis and Carnesecca both expressed confidence in this year’s team.
“This year we are young and having difficulties, but I believe our future is bright,” Davis said. “We have some great talent. I just hope that our alumni and our friends and fans are patient with the program.”
Carnesecca added, “I’m very impressed with these young people. I like what I see. I think they’re going to be good.”