The prevailing rumor at the moment is that Mark Jackson is the front-runner to become the next head coach of the Knicks. If he doesn't take the Knicks job, there are several other teams, such as the Bulls, who would love Jackson behind their bench.
While expectations might be low (how could they get lower than the eras of Isiah Thomas and Larry Brown), Knicks fans would likely prefer any candidate to have some level of experience. Marc Jackson is likely one exception to that rule, as a former Knick, but it got me to thinking about where he might gain experience on a slightly lower level.
Then it hit me like an errant Stephon Marbury jumper to the temple.
A college team, one that the city of New York has gotten behind in the past, but has fallen on hard times. A school that has emerged from scandal, but has thus far struggled to re-establish a winning identity.
They are the fifth-winningest program in NCAA Men's basketball history, with 1673 wins, and own the 7th best winning percentage (.680). They also have the 7th most NCAA tournament appearances (27), two Wooden National Player of the Year Award Winners, 11 consensus All-Americans, and 6 members of the Hall of Fame.
They play their home games at the World's Most Famous Arena. And it is the school where Jackson spent his collegiate career.
Give up?
St. John's University.
Mark Jackson would be a perfect fit for the Red Storm. He knows the school as well as anyone else, knows it's history, knows the city and what it's like to play at MSG.
Norm Roberts can recruit them, but he can't get them to play at their peaks or even keep them at SJU for more than two years.
Jackson is one of the few guys who remember the success that St. John's University is capable of. He played for Lou Carnesecca during the peak of the St. John's program. He can bring them back to their former glories, and help to rebuild their identity, to establish themselves, once again, as one of the powerhouse squads in one of the top conferences in the nation.
The Knicks may need all the help in the world. But so do the Johnnies.
--Tim Fiorvanti