NEW YORK - In his first season at St. John’s two years ago, Rick Pitino won 20 games and led the Red Storm to a fifth-place finish in the Big East Conference.

In his second season a year ago, the Red Storm won 31 games and captured Big East regular-season and tournament titles. Pitino led his sixth different program to the NCAA Tournament and was named Big East Coach of the Year and The Associated Press co-Coach of the year.

Now heading into Year 3, Pitino, 73, has a team ranked No. 5 in the AP Preseason Poll and with a legitimate chance to contend for the Hall of Famer’s eighth Final Four and third national championship (the Louisville title in 2013 was vacated by the NCAA.)

“I already think Rick is the greatest of all time to do it at this level, and he’s done it so many different pl

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