Part 6/9:
As St. John's gains momentum, the energy in New York City has mirrored the team’s rise. Pitino remarked on the transition from nearly empty seats last year to selling out Madison Square Garden like the Knicks. Winning consistently has rekindled interest, but so has the discovery of diverse, engaging players who are easy to root for, like Zubie Ejiofor and Kadary Richmond.
Frell points to this winning culture and player charisma as key reasons behind the fans’ revival. The infectious personality of the players, combined with their performance, has drawn the basketball community back into the fold.