St. John's University Athletics
Not Just Carnesecca Court, It's Now Carnesecca Arena
11/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 23, 2004
Queens, NY - Since it was announced during the summer, the St. John's University community had been looking forward to the night of Tuesday, November 23 more than most nights during the year.
Sure, their beloved Red Storm men's basketball team would play that night, but it was more than that.
This was the night when Lou Carnesecca, the legendary coach who guided the program to 526 wins in his 24 years at the helm, would be honored. It was the night when the floor at Alumni Hall - the long-time home for St. John's Basketball - would be named in his honor.
It was only fitting. Forever, the court that St. John's played college basketball on would be called "Carnesecca Court."
Before the halftime festivities were over however, Donald J. Harrington, C.M., University president, had a surprise announcement. The University's Board of Trustees met during the day and made the decision that not only would the court bear his name, but the arena would as well, welcoming the 5,149 in attendance to Carnesecca Arena.
As the crowd came to a standing ovation, WNBC sportscaster Bruce Beck, who served as the emcee during the ceremonies, said "Ladies and gentlemen, November 23, 2004, a night that will forever be remembered at St. John's. Welcome to Carnesecca Arena.
"It's unbelievable," Carnesecca said afterward. "I'm shocked, and it's just such a great honor."
Carnesecca spoke to the media during a press conference before the game about his career and what the honor meant to him.
"The 49 years (his association with St. John's) went like that," Looie said at a press conference during the day. "I can remember almost everything. I was here when they opened the gym up in 1962.
"I think of all the great coaches here, Buck Freeman, Joe Lapchick, Dusty DeStefano, Brian Mahoney, and it's nice to be in that group. To come here and see your name on the court, when I think of all the great teams and great players, it's just amazing. There was something about this place, that you knew you had a shot at winning."
And win he did. During his 24-year coaching career at St. John's, Carnesecca posted a 248-33 record at Alumni Hall, with seven unbeaten seasons.
