ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY 2008-09 SEASON PREVIEW 3333 2 0 0 9 - 1 0 ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY R E D S T O R M MEN’S BASKETBALL 2 0 0 9 - 1 0 ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY R E D S T O R M MEN’S BASKETBALL 22 0 0 0 0 9 9 - - 1 1 0 0 ST.ST. JOHN’SJOHN’S UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY REDRED STORMSTORM MEN’SMEN’S BASKETBALLBASKETBALL ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY 3434 2 0 0 9 - 1 0 ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY R E D S T O R M MEN’S BASKETBALL 2 0 0 9 - 1 0 ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY R E D S T O R M MEN’S BASKETBALL 2 0 0 9 - 1 0 ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY RED STORM MEN’S BASKETBALL Like the city he was born in, then No. 17 NC State, then No. 21 lives in and coaches in, St. John’s Pittsburgh and the championship of head coach Norm Roberts is the 2004 Holiday Festival at Madison always on the move. A coach Square Garden. The Red Storm also that personifies the qualities of defeated longtime conference rival hard work, passion and “doing Georgetown, as Roberts and his staff things the right way,” Roberts’ – made up almost exclusively of New determination, knowledge and Yorkers – began to return the luster to St. fervor has St. John’s poised John’s storied men’s basketball program. to take the next steps toward During Roberts’ second year success. in 2005-06, it was onward and A local product, Roberts upward for the Red Storm, as St. was born in Queens, N.Y., and John’s improved its overall and attended Springfield Gardens conference record and captured its High School before starring second-consecutive Holiday Festival on the hardwood for Queens championship. Two of the Red College. While some college Storm’s 12 wins came against ranked basketball fans grew up following opponents: a 55-50 win over then-No. Duke and North Carolina, Roberts grew up “always One year later in 2007-08, Roberts put the 9/9 Pitt (Jan. 21) and a 68-56 victory over No. dreaming of St. John’s.” pieces in place to make St. John’s a BIG EAST 17/15 Louisville (Jan. 17). That dream became a reality as Roberts was power once again. Featuring eight freshman, the After Roberts’ pair of signature wins over ranked named the 18th men’s basketball coach in youngest team in America was led by honorable opponents during the week of Jan. 15, 2006, St. John’s University history on April 13, 2004. Over mention all-conference selection Anthony Mason the accolades came pouring in for the St. John’s the last five seasons, Roberts’ attention to detail Jr., and the Red Storm posted key league victories men’s basketball team. The AP sportswriters gave and mind for the game helped the Red Storm regain over BIG EAST foes Cincinnati, USF, Rutgers, St. John’s votes in the Top 25 for the first time recognition and respect on the national scene. Providence and Seton Hall. since the 2001-02 season on Jan. 23. ESPN college Highlighted by a return to the BIG EAST The following season in 2008-09, the Red basketball analyst Dick Vitale named the Red Tournament in 2007 after a three-year hiatus, Storm slayed its biggest giant of the Roberts Era Storm his “Team of the Week” on his website, and St. John’s steady progress under Roberts has been in then-No. 7 Notre Dame, and posted a pair of ESPN.com’s Andy Katz bestowed the same honor. evident. The program reached several milestones landmark victories over traditional BIG EAST rival Roberts was named the national coach of the week in 2006-07, in addition to appearing in the Georgetown. St. John’s won three of its final five on FOXSports.com. Also, the BIG EAST Conference postseason: St. John’s notched its first winning games during the regular season and was selected selected forward Hamilton to its honor roll, and the regular-season record since 2002-03, amassed the to participate in the postseason College Basketball New York Metropolitan Sports Writers Association most victories since its 21-13 campaign that year, Invitational (CBI). (MBWA) named Hamilton its PrestoSports/MBWA and compiled its best conference record since that In his first season on the Red Storm sidelines Player of the Week. season as well. The Red Storm also saw its first in 2004-05, Roberts revitalized the basketball In a short amount of time, Roberts has begun player since 2003 be named to the All-BIG EAST program and made St. John’s once again a to make his mark in the annals of one of the first team in senior Wooden and Naismith National formidable competitor. First-year accomplishments proudest programs in NCAA history. For example, Player of the Year candidate Lamont Hamilton. for Roberts and his staff included victories over by capturing the 2004 and 2005 Holiday Festival championships, Roberts became the first coach to win back-to-back titles in that prestigious event since St. John’s Hall of Famer Lou Carnesecca in 1986 and 1987. UP THROUGH THE RANKS A longtime assistant under current University of Kansas head coach Bill Self, Roberts arrived at St. John’s after serving one year as the associate head men’s basketball coach for the Jawhawks. Kansas posted a 24-9 record during the 2003-04 season and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Roberts served under Self at three different institutions, with one year at Illinois as the associate head coach (2002-03) and two years as an assistant coach (2000-01 to 2001-02), three seasons on staff at Tulsa (1997-98 to 1999-00) and two years at Oral Roberts (1995-96 to 1996- 97). During his Division I coaching career, Roberts- assisted teams compiled an overall record of 215-76 for an impressive .739 winning percentage. At Kansas, Roberts’ primary duties included recruiting and scouting, as well as perimeter player development. The Jayhawks signed New York City and Rice High School star Russell Robinson the year Roberts was with KU. 35 2 0 0 9 - 1 0 ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY R E D S T O R M MEN’S BASKETBALL 2 0 0 9 - 1 0 ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY R E D S T O R M MEN’S BASKETBALL During his time in Champaign, Ill., Roberts and Self led the Fighting Illini to three NCAA appearances, including the 2001 Elite Eight and a 27-8 record that season. Reputed as one of the top recruiters in the nation, Roberts was the driving force behind a Top 10 recruiting class in 2002 that included McDonald’s All-American Dee Brown, James Augustine, Aaron Spears, Deron Williams and Kyle Wilson. At Tulsa, Roberts was part of two NCAA Tournament teams, including the 1999-2000 squad that posted a 32-5 record and made an improbable run to the NCAA round of eight. Tulsa posted a combined record of 74-27 during Roberts’ three seasons THE NORM ROBERTS FILE on the bench. His tenure with the Golden Hurricanes YEAR-BY-YEAR COACHING RECORD followed a two-year Year School Position Record Postseason stint with Oral Roberts, 2008-09 St. John’s Head Coach 16-18 CBI 2007-08 St. John’s Head Coach 11-19 during which he helped 2006-07 St. John’s Head Coach 16-15 lead the Golden Eagles 2005-06 St. John’s Head Coach 12-15 to an appearance in 2004-05 St. John’s Head Coach 9-18 the 1997 Postseason 2003-04 Kansas Associate Head Coach 24-9 NCAA Elite 8 NIT. With Self, Roberts 2002-03 Illinois Associate Head Coach 25-7 NCAA Second Round helped guide Oral 2001-02 Illinois Assistant Coach 26-9 NCAA Sweet 16 Roberts to a combined 2000-01 Illinois Assistant Coach 27-8 NCAA Elite 8 39-16 record over two seasons. 1999-00 Tulsa Assistant Coach 32-5 NCAA Elite 8 1998-99 Tulsa Assistant Coach 23-10 NCAA Second Round BIG APPLE ROOTS 1997-98 Tulsa Assistant Coach 19-12 A 1987 graduate of Queens College with a bachelor’s degree in 1996-97 Oral Roberts Assistant Coach 21-7 NIT 1995-96 Oral Roberts Assistant Coach 18-9 health and physical education, Roberts is the local school’s third all- 1994-95 Queens College Head Coach 6-21 time leading scorer with 1,719 points. He also is the career leader in 1993-94 Queens College Head Coach 4-23 steals (253) and is second in assists (460), and had his number (15) 1992-93 Queens College Head Coach 8-19 retired by his alma mater in 1993. 1991-92 Queens College Head Coach 6-21 Roberts attended Queens College after commencement from Springfield Gardens High School, where he led his team to the PSAL Division I Head Coach (5 seasons) 64-85 (.430) Championship as a senior in 1983. Former New York Knicks standout Division I Assistant Coach (9 seasons) 215-76 (.738) Anthony Mason Sr. was a part of that team as well, one year behind Roberts. Division II Head Coach (4 seasons) 24-84 (.222) Roberts’ first job out of college was under legendary high school OVERALL CAREER RECORD (17 seasons) 292-226 (.564) coach Jack Curran at Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens, where he spent three years as the head freshman coach and an assistant on COACHING AFFILIATIONS the varsity squad.