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SAN DIEGO — Laughter and excitement filled the corridor as they eagerly prepared to step onto the Viejas Arena court for their March Madness rehearsal.
The scoreboard prominently displayed a bold red “SJ,” accompanied by a blue “March Madness” logo. As the 27-member St. John’s band set the scene with lively tunes, six cheerleaders and an equal number of dance team members gracefully entered the arena, while Johnny, the mascot, showcased his dance moves.
St. John’s is set to return to the dance floor Friday night against Northern Iowa, marking a significant milestone after Rick Pitino first rallied them together, speaking of the ultimate prize— a national championship— at the conclusion of their challenging journey through the Survive and Advance marathon.
Just outside the St. John’s locker room, before joining his team in a white sweatsuit, I inquired about Pitino’s mention of a national title on that memorable day. The Hall of Fame coach explained to The Post: “I told them, ‘I’m not going to coach forever, so I’m dreaming big. If you want to be part of my dream, give it your all.’”