St. John's Names New Coach

The once proud St. John's basketball program named Queens-native Norm Roberts to be their new head coach. Roberts, who played college ball at Queens College, went to Springfield Gardens High School, where he played with former-Knick Anthony Mason. The real question is if he can actually get some talent onto the team. It certainly looks like he will try:

"It pains me to see guys from New York City wearing other uniforms. It pains me to see guys winning national championships that should be playing at St. John's. We're not going to get them all. It's impossible to get them all. But there won't be one kid in New York City that will say St. John's didn't bust their tail recruiting."

The 38 year-old Roberts was formerly an assistant coach at Kansas, Illinois, Tulsa, and Oral Roberts. Last season, the Red Storm was 6-21 and finished the season with eight players (four were walk-ons) after eight other players were suspended, expelled, or withdrew. Other serious candidates for the position were Matt Doherty, the former North Carolina and Notre Dame coach, and Dave Leiato at DePaul.

Gothamist hopes that this will mean a return of college basketball in the city. Until then, we'll always have Manhattan.