Which Was the First St. John's Game You Went To?

room112

room112

Well-known member
2023 $upporter
To lighten up the mood, thought I'd create this thread. Had the pleasure of attending the game last night with the true gentleman Kevin aka JerseyShoreJohnny, and he was telling me about the first game he attended. It got me thinking of mine.

I was a freshman at UConn during the 01-02 season and of course grew up rooting for St. John's since they were NY's team. After watching on TV in previous years, my first game in person was when they visited UConn in January 2002. It was a loss unfortunately, but I've been a die hard ever since. We got our revenge later that year when UConn came to the Garden and we won in OT. I was there for that as well. I believe we fouled Caron Butler shooting a 3 and he hit the free throws to send to OT. That was a fun late night car ride back to campus with 3 UConn fans.

Curious to hear other's stories as well.
 
I was 10 years old when I attended my first game. It was back in the Felipe years early in '98 against UCONN. The Garden was buzzing that night and I just remember the team going on a big run that brought the house down..we had a nice squad that year
 
Ironically my first game was a home loss to Villanova. No not last night, it was at "Alumni Hall" and I think it was 1988.
 
I do not recall much about my first game, I think I was 5, but it was a Big East opponent in the mid to late 80s, and Darryl Strawberry was sitting in the seat in front of me at Alumni Hall.

edit: actually, that's only partially true. On second recollection, I'm pretty sure I went to a game against Marathon Oil or a Red-White scrimmage earlier that season, but I sat with Straw at my first regular season game.
 
I think it was in December 1984 against UCLA at the Garden, although it could have been the season before or after as my memory is not that great. Reggie Miller played for UCLA but was pretty quiet in that game. I remember a big dunk from Willie Glass. I know we won and I think it was easily.
 
1983 Holiday Festival at Msg vs Jordan's NC team. I was 12 , my uncle knew someone and I got to meet Mullin before the game and he signed my program. I have been hooked ever since.
 
As a 13 yr old went to MSG with some buddies in Dec 53 to see SJU play Santa Clara. In those days living in Queens there was no fear of taking the subway to see the Knicks , Rangers and college bb. Tickets were as low as 40 cents for end balcony and there were always seats available. Movie admission was a quarter so sport fans went to MSG often.
George Mikan,Maurice Richard and Gordie Howe for about a half a buck.
All I can remember about the game was Kenny Sears played for SC and a 6 ft 5 in SJU player pushed Sears all over the court and I think held him scoreless. Sears was a AAmerican and later became a Knick. He weighed about 180 lbs although he was about 6ft 9in.
 
Could not have picked a better game. St John's beats Number 1 ranked Michigan in the 1965 Holiday Festival. Actually went to the double header to see Bill Bradley who was incredible. Transferred to SJ the following year.
 
I'm sure I could look it up, but it was an Alumni Hall game vs. Army that my older brother took me to. The place was jammed, or appeared to be, and we lost when Richie Lyons dribbled a ball off his foot in the closing moments.

I was unaware that such exciting bball could be found at the college level, and certainly not aware it could be found in Queens.

The game that hooked me though, was SJU vs. Indiana at MSG Holiday Festival. I was already a fan, but that game was an epic slug-it-out where we nearly beat one of the all-time great teams.
 
My first game was against Holy Cross, in 1972, a loss.

Vividly remember going to all 4 NIT games at The Garden that year. Sat behind the basket. Student tickets were ridiculously cheap when the earth was cooling.

We lost in the semi's to Niagara and were upended by Jacksonville in the consolation game.

Had beaten Mizzou and Oral Roberts in the first 2 NIT games..

Remember the championship gaame between the Purple Eagles and Maryland (with Len Elmore and Tom McMillan).

It was a totally different world !

Those were days when only the conference champ could go to The NCAA's.

Like Sal, I was at The World's Most Famous Arena in 1975 for the game against Indiana.

Sat in the next to the last row in Blue Heaven.

One of the greatest events I ever been to. The Garden was never louder.

The game before, IU had beaten Manhattan (I think) by at least 30 and my Dad thought I was crazy for going to the game.

I'm sure glad I went.

Have no idea how many games I have attended over the years, but they are a very important part of my life.

Have met many, many GREAT people because of SJU basketball.
 
Chris Mullin's St. John's team versus Jay Murphy and BC at Alumni Hall in 1984. "Mano a mano" 2nd half performance from those 2. Big free throws by freshman Willie Glass sealed the close victory for us.
 
Thanks Room112 for a great topic. I feel bad for todays students, even guys that came on board in the last 10-12 years, because even with some great moments, nothing compares to those glory days that you guys are recollecting.

I remember at some point in the glory days, where Alumni Hall was just about sold out on season tickets and felt bad for students who would never be SJU fans because they couldn't get in the building. There's something amazing about being at Alumni Hall, and not being able to understand the person next to you trying to talk to you at the top of their lungs because the place is so loud. Many days I'd go to school or work hoarse from screaming.

Lots of common ground here for all redmen.com guys in our passion for the team, no matter what our expressed opinions are.
 
Marquette in spring 1964. We won. The next year, the Warriors brought in Al McGuire and the rest is history.
 
February 18, 1963: Loyola of Chicago, on its way a national championship, steamrolled over Joe Lapchick's only losing team, 70-49. Donnie Burks was star of the that 9-15 Redmen team, which included Bill O'Sullivan, a thin 6-6 center, and a soph named Ken McIntyre. The only reason I remember O'Sullivan is that he wore a big cast on one of his forearms and was totally dominated by Ramblers' Les Hunter. I was a junior in high school, and I remember thinking -- it sounds strange now -- what an impressive arena Alumni Hall was. And by the way, we didn't have another losing season until 31 years later, when we went 12-17 under Brian Mahoney ... 31 years!
 
1986, Freshman Year. Not sure who the opponent was?

Before Forums, websites, cell phones, tweets, Face-chat-grams... A simpler time (aside from Heather Locklear marrying Tommy Lee and breaking my heart in the process ;) )

Gantry's, JPOD's and Sly Fox wouldn't serve me... which did not matter b/c I had no money anyway...

Used to see Mark Jackson at the IHOP on Union Tpke.
 
Ive been to 7 SJU games. Im 0-7

Can anyone top that?
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You need to start wearing a lucky sweater at the games.
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hahah trust me ive tried it all.

funny story, first Johnny game I ever went to was at the carrier dome, went with a few friends and their parents who were all cuse fans. I wore a Syracuse shirt over my st johns gear up until the opening tip. When I took the cuse shirt off to reveal my johnnies gear I got a full water bottle thrown at my head from close to 20 ft away! I was 13 years old! How scummy can you get!!
 
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