Sports

Gushing Carnesecca: St. John’s ‘only 1 or 2 players away’

The game was over, long over, and the only question that remained was whether the UConn women might have put up a better fight against St. John’s. So when Red Storm forward Justin Brownlee hit a 3-pointer with just 46 ticks remaining to create the biggest margin of the game, 25 points, the team celebrated and the little guy in the second row arose and pumped his fist.

“I like to see that and I like to enjoy myself,” said 85-year-old Looie Carnesecca, the most recognizable name and mug in St. John’s basketball history.

“That was one of the best games I’ve seen a St. John’s team play in I don’t know how long. Both ends of the court. Offense, defense. Tremendous, tremendous intensity,” Looie gushed. “You couldn’t ask for anything more. I’m telling you, we’re only one or two players away. I mean these kids played hard. It’s just one or two guys that can get us up in the upper echelons.”

So for one day, talk of Norm Roberts’ job security took a back seat. Looie, along with another former St. John’s coach, Fran Fraschilla, saw the good that’s possible with the struggling program.

“It slipped away when they stopped recruiting New York City Catholic League players,” said Fraschilla, who worked the game as a color commentator for ESPN. “I jokingly tell the people at Pittsburgh they built St. John’s West. Norm is trying his darndest to get it back. They only need one player to decide to stay home, like a Ron Artest or a Felipe Lopez.”

But others doubt the Red Storm is as close as Carnesecca and Fraschilla believe. One NBA scout who handles a lot of college duty for his team gave a laundry list of failings for St. John’s that led him to note, “it’s just not a destination school” that will attract top-tier recruits.

“Getting rid of Fran Fraschilla was a mistake, he had them on their way,” the scout said. “Then Mike Jarvis, I don’t think he got along with the New York City basketball people. It’s been an uphill battle. And they haven’t maintained tradition. Villanova and Georgetown have maintained their tradition in the league.

“St John’s, they’re lost in the 80’s.”

But all those problems seemed as distant and meaningless as UConn’s final basket that got the Huskies within 22. This was a day when everybody shot like Chris Mullin, passed like Mark Jackson, rebounded like Billy Paultz. It was a reminder of the glory. At least for one day.

fred.kerber@nypost.com