Is Local College Basketball Back?

Some recent scrappy play and gaudy records by a bunch of our local college basketball teams begs the question…..is college basketball back in the Tri State area?

A couple of performances as of late forced me to ask that question. Most recently (as I write this, in fact), I’m watching Rutgers give my beloved North Carolina Tar Heels all they can handle at the Dean Dome.

Before that Seton Hall took #6 (and undefeated) West Virginia to overtime over the weekend.

And the granddaddy of them all – St. John’s – has beaten a pair of ranked teams in Temple and Sienna this season and are earning votes in both national polls weekly.

Entering tonight’s play, those team’s records are:

St John’s: 10-2…..Seton Hall: 9-2…..Rutgers: 9-2.

Not bad for a trio of programs that for the last couple of seasons have been after thoughts, if not laughing stocks.

I know those records are pre-Big East play - and the conference is a beast this year – but something has to be said for the winning ball they’ve been playing and some of their non-conference wins.

Is college basketball back in the New York – New Jersey – Connecticut area?

We’ll know in the next couple of weeks if these teams are for real, but count me as someone who hopes the resurgence is for real.

Especially St. John’s.

College sports have always struggled to gain traction in New York City, particularly if St. John’s is struggling.

But when the Johnnie’s are good, college basketball is relevant again in the Big City.

So far it seems like they and a few other local teams could be legit.

Here’s to hoping they keep it up.

Matt Estreich for The Huddle