St. John’s coach Rick Pitino, 72 and dapper as ever in a navy blue suit with white pocket square, appeared from the tunnel that led to the floor. The scene played out on the videoboard above the court for all to see as the chorus hit its crescendo. This is the Pitino Effect.

St. John's improved to 20-3 this season following a win over No. 11 Marquette, matching the program's best start since the 1985-86 campaign.

St. John’s was one of college basketball’s premier programs in the 1980s and ’90s but has been largely mediocre over the last two decades. It has made only three NCAA tourna