One week after the demise of Lou Carnesecca, Rick Pitino discovered the proper method to honor the legendary St. John’s males’s basketball coach.
Pitino had his tailor create a reproduction of the enduring sweater Carnesecca wore as a good-luck attraction throughout St. John’s 1985 Last 4 season.
When he stepped onto the ground earlier than St. John’s 88-71 victory over Kansas State on Saturday afternoon, a smiling Pitino opened his sports activities jacket to show the custom-made sweater for followers at Carnesecca Area. The gang liked the tribute, as did St. John’s followers on social media.
The garish crimson, blue and brown “V” sweater was initially a present to Carnesecca from an Italian Olympic crew coach. He first wore it all through a 19-game successful streak through the 1984-85 season, a streak that included a 66-65 victory at No. 1 Georgetown.
When Georgetown got here to Madison Sq. Backyard for the rematch on Jan. 26, 1985, Hoyas coach John Thompson had a shock for Carnesecca. He saved his jacket buttoned till simply earlier than tipoff when he revealed that he was sporting a reproduction of Carnesecca’s sweater beneath.
Patrick Ewing and Georgetown routed Chris Mullin and St. John’s 85-69 that day. Ever since, that has been referred to as “the sweater recreation.”
Carnesecca entered the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame in 1992, the identical 12 months that he retired from teaching. He led St. John’s to a 526-200 total document and to 18 NCAA match appearances in 24 seasons.
Carnesecca’s demise got here barely a month earlier than what would have been his a centesimal birthday. Saturday’s St. John’s recreation was this system’s first since Carnesecca’s passing.
St. John’s gamers paid tribute to Carnesecca with a particular jersey patch resembling his well-known sweater and with warmups bearing his title.
St. John’s additionally held a pregame second of silence for Carnesecca and performed a video tribute.
𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙨…
🖊️ A brand new decal celebrating Coach Carnesecca’s life below his iconic signature
🏀 526 pin obtainable for followers as they enter the sector together with a memento that incorporates a {custom} illustration and profession highlights
❤️ This “Lou” patch… pic.twitter.com/GwfZ1k4HEj
— St. John’s Males’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) December 7, 2024
Earlier within the week, Pitino described Carnesecca as “an iconic St. John’s man.”
“His teaching experience was pretty much as good as anybody in basketball,” Pitino stated, “however the man he was surpassed that. Relaxation in peace, Looie. We’ll miss you a lot.”
