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It’s been more than three decades since Lou Carnesecca was last on the sidelines at a St. John’s Red Storm game. But his presence is still felt.
“Looie” died last week at the age of 99, sparking an outpouring of tributes in the college basketball world and the tri-state area.
But St. John’s legend is still fresh in the minds of many, including current head coach Rick Pitino.
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St. John’s Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino wears a sweater in honor of the late Lou Carnesecca against the Kansas State Wildcats at Carnesecca Arena. (Wendell photo Cruz-Imagne)
During the Jonnies’ game against Kansas State on Saturday, Carnesecca wore a vintage replica sweater that Carnesecca made famous during his time at the school. It was the school’s first game since his departure.
The game is played in the stadium that bears the name Carnesecca. The stadium opened in 1961 and was named after the Hall of Fame coach in 2004.
Carnesecca coached St. John’s for 24 seasons during two stints, leading the team to 18 seasons in which the team won at least 20 games and 18 of them. ncaa tournament appearances, his teams produced star players like Chris Mullin, Bill Wennington, Mark Jackson and Walter Berry.
FILE – Lou Carnesecca, his Saints coach. John’s team is on the sidelines during a game against Niagara in New York on November 1, 23, 1991. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
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St. John’s won the NIT Championship in 1989, and Carnesecca was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992, the year he retired from the sport.
Carnesecca replaced Joe Lapchick before the start of the 1965-66 season. He became head coach of New York Nets of the American Basketball Association in 1970 and later returned to the team They were then known as the Redmen, replacing Frank Mulzoff.
His best team was the 1984-85 team, led by Mullin, Berry, Jackson and Wennington. They won 31 and were 15-1 in the Big East, making it to the Final Four. The last one before losing to Georgetown Hoyas led by Patrick Ewing
FILE – St. coach John Lou Carnesecca is on his team after the Redmen defeated Boston College in the Big East Championship at Madison Square Garden in New York on March 12, 1983 (AP Photo/G. Paul Burnett, File)
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Carnesecca is 526-200 in his coaching career. He was a three-time Big East Coach of the Year and two-time American Basketball Writers Association Coach of the Year.
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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