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From the time Rick Pitino took the St. John’s job two years ago this past March, he has harped on the lost brand of the program after more than two decades of mostly irrelevance.&nbsp;

Among other needed improvements, the most important thing was to build it back up, to where St. John’s basketball really mattered.&nbsp;

The first indication was the Johnnies selling out Madison Square Garden during their best season in 25 years. Then came appearances on CBS’ “Inside College Basketball” and NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” 

St. John’s rose to the Top 10 in national polls this season and was the premier team in the Big East. Still, Pitino was surprised at how fast fans came back, filling up the Garden like the school h…{ai:summary}Rick Pitino has focused on revitalizing St. John's basketball since taking the job two years ago, emphasizing the need to restore the program's brand. Progress is evident, with the team selling out Madison Square Garden and gaining national media exposure. #sports

St. John’s return to relevancy came quicker than anyone expected

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