· Web Release QUEENS, N.Y. (May 12, 2021) – The St. John’s University community mourns the passing of Lou Roethel, one of the great early big men in program history who helped propel St. John’s to the 1959 NIT Championship. As a senior in 1959 for Head Coach Joe Lapchick and Assistant Coach Lou Carnesecca, Roethel played in all 26 games and averaged 9.7 points per outing. A 6-foot-6 stalwart in the paint, Roethel also ranked second on the team with 10.3 boards per contest. His total trailed only Tony Jackson in that category, as Jackson set a then-school-record with 401 boards in 26 appearances. In the NIT, the Brooklyn native poured in 20-plus points twice, including a team-high 22 in the semifinal victory over Providence. He added 12 points in the team’s double-overtime win against Bradley in the championship game at Madison Square Garden. In 1957-58, Roethel suited up in 23 contests for the Redmen, averaging 9.3 points and 10.3 rebounds (236) per game. Despite making only nine appearances during his first year with the varsity in 1956-57, Roethel quickly established a reputation for his rebounding, grabbing 6.5 caroms per outing in limited minutes. St. John’s went 52-23 with a pair of NIT appearances, including the 1959 championship, during Roethel’s three-year varsity tenure with the program. Roethel currently ranks 40th on the Johnnies’ career rebounding list with 559 in three seasons.
