March 26, 2026
The St. John’s University community gave a rousing send-off to the Men’s Basketball team on March 25, gathering on the plaza outside Carnesecca Arena to cheer on the Red Storm ahead of its National Collegiate Athletic Conference (NCAA) Tournament Sweet 16 game against Duke University.
Head Coach Rick Pitino, who has led the Red Storm to a 30–6 season climaxed by a buzzer-beating win over Kansas on March 22, thanked fans for the support shown to the team all season. As the St. John’s Pep Band played “Johnny B. Goode,” the team paraded past a gathering of students, faculty, alumni, employees, and others before leaving for Washington, DC.
The Red Storm play on Friday, March 27, at 7:10 p.m. A victory over Duke advances the Red Storm to the Elite Eight against the winner of the University of Connecticut-Michigan State matchup.
“It has been a great year for St. John’s,” Coach Pitino said. “This is a special group of guys, and we are super excited to get to Washington, DC. Thank you all for coming out and for all the support this year.”
The send-off rally attracted hundreds of St. John’s faithful eager to watch the team compete in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999 and, with two more wins, its first NCAA Final Four since 1985. Longtime fan and season ticket-holder Ralph Iannarelli ’80SVC believes in the team and made the trip to the Queens, NY, campus from Franklin Square, NY, to demonstrate it.
“Coach Pitino is the only one, in my opinion, who can put the puzzle together so quickly with so many new pieces,” Mr. Iannarelli said. “That is why we are in this position.”
Fans young and old gathered to celebrate another memorable season for the Red Storm, who won the BIG EAST Conference regular-season and tournament championships for the second consecutive year. Fans formed a two-sided line as the team strolled past, snapping pictures and recording video of their favorite players, including Zuby Ejiofor, Bryce Hopkins, and Dillon Mitchell.
Phil Impastato, assistant director and saxophone player for the Pep Band, had a seat directly behind the basket for Dylan Darling’s buzzer-beater against Kansas.
“That was one of—if not my very best—moment in college,” Phil, a senior, said. “When I saw there were only four seconds left in the game, I said this might be a moment to remember, so I set my phone up to record it. It was just amazing.”
Next to Phil, Courtney White ’13SJC, ’14M.A., Pep Band Director, reflected on what a Sweet 16 spot means to her young musicians. “I have been cheering this team on for 15 years,” she said. “It is such a thrill to watch these kids experience something I never did.”
First-year students Jacqueline Aylward and Mackenzie Crimmins celebrated with their roommates, fully aware that they are witnessing a special time in St. John’s basketball history. “My mom graduated from here about 30 years ago, and she said they were never as good then as they are now,” Jacqueline said. “It is very exciting.”
“We were all watching the game the other night and when Dylan hit the buzzer-beater, we all exploded, screaming and celebrating,” Mackenize added. “I feel like we can win Friday night and again Sunday.”
Amber J. Steiger ’18M.S., Director of Graduate Admission, exchanged a high-five with Dylan Darling as he paraded by, wishing him and the rest of the team luck in DC. “We recruit students who want to be part of something bigger than themselves, and that is exactly what this team represents,” Ms. Steiger said. “Watching the Red Storm head off to the Sweet 16 reminds me of why every day I am proud to be part of this University.”