VALPARAISO, Ind. -- Get those loud sweaters out of the closet. There's good college basketball being played again in the Big Apple.
Lou Carnesecca can once more walk the New York streets with pride. St. John's is back!
The Red Storm (10-4, 3-1 Big East) hasn't been relevant in hoops since Carnesecca and his colorful sweaters last patrolled the sidelines in 1992. Since then coaches Norm Roberts, Fran Fraschilla and Mike Jarvis have come and gone with varying degrees of success. Now Steve Lavin sits in the first chair and it looks like St. John's is being revitalized.
Already this season Lavin, the former UCLA coach and ESPN broadcaster, has led his team to wins over Arizona State, Northwestern, West Virginia, Providence and No. 13 Georgetown.
The Red Storm has a top 20 recruiting class coming next season that that includes former Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary standout JaKaar Sampson, a 6-7 forward.
St. John's can make a national statement Wednesday night on ESPNU when it hosts No. 4 Syracuse (16-0, 3-0).
http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2011/01/red_storm_rising_--_st_johns_m.html