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Throughout the season, the spirit of St. John's basketball was never far from Pitino's mind. When asked about the legendary coach Lou Carnesecca, who has left an indelible mark on the program, Pitino expressed that he felt fortunate to be a caretaker of the legacy established by previous greats such as Chris Mullin and Mark Jackson. It was after the championship game that he felt Carnesecca's pride in the current team, highlighting the deep-rooted tradition of excellence associated with St. John's.