Tyrone Grant stood on the Madison Square Garden court in awe.
After more than two decades of waiting, the proud alum has a team he believes can make the kind of March noise his team did 26 years ago.
“I can almost say they’re better than us at this point,” he said. “I told [Deivon] Smith, for you to think about being better than us, just win the championship.”
The 1998-99 St. John’s team was the program’s last one to reach the Sweet 16.
Those Johnnies went all the way to the Elite Eight, before losing to Ohio State.
They were a No. 3 seed. This group is likely going to be a No. 2.
“This is a hard team to play against and match up with, because not only do they switch, they switch hard,” Grant, the starting center in 1998-99 under coach Mike Jarvis, said. “The intensity is always there for 40 minutes. I have nothing but high expectations. I’ll be on the road with them for the tournament.
“What was so emotional is I know how it feels to win in New York,” he added. “It’s a whole different ballgame.”
Grant said he is working on bringing other members of the 1998-99 team with him on the road, including Metta Sandiford-Artest (formerly Ron Artest).
He is excited to see how far this group can go.
“I think they can win it,” Grant said. “I’m saying that honestly. I haven’t said that in 25 years. I think they can win it.”
Deivon Smith took another shot to his ailing right shoulder and missed the final 5:46.
He, however, said he told coach Rick Pitino he could return if needed.
“Everybody was attacking my shoulder. It was getting pulled all game,” the 6-foot point guard said. “But like I’ve said, I’m not missing any more games. I’m going to fight through it. I was ready to go back in there, but the guys handled the win. We’re just going to rest up and get ready for the next one.”
Smith initially hurt the shoulder on Jan. 11, and has been in and out of the lineup ever since.
He did play in all three Big East Tournament games.
The senior had four points and four assists in 20 productive minutes on Saturday.
