The St. John’s Red Storm basketball team made a spectacular appearance on “The Tonight Show” on Thursday night, with host Jimmy Fallon singing a parody of the sea shanty “Soon May the Wellerman Come” reflecting their aim of cutting the net down at the end of the Big Dance.
Coach Rick Pitino even appeared in the reenactment, as both he and Fallon wore Pitino’s signature white suit.
St. John’s Red Storm Turns Hoops into Harmony on Jimmy Fallon
“Soon May the Wellerman Come” is a New Zealand folk ballad about a whaling ship looking for a right whale.
It was created to reflect the Red Storm’s journey and goals. The lyrics humorously described their fruitful season, culminating with the line –
“One day when the winning is done, we’ll cut the nets and go,”
It symbolizes their desire to win the NCAA championship. Pitino and Fallon’s distinctive white suit added a comedic tone to the performance.
During his conversation with Fallon, Pitino told entertaining memories about his legendary career. One memorable story had him tripping away from his wedding night to interview for an assistant coaching position at Syracuse University under Jim Boeheim.
He hilariously described how he notified his wife about the position and the immediate start, leading to the delayed honeymoon.
A Red Hot Season
Under Pitino’s guidance, the Red Storm won its first overall Big East regular-season title in 40 years, finishing 26-4 and ranked sixth nationally.
Their outstanding performance has positioned them as top candidates in the upcoming NCAA tournament, with predictions placing them as the third seed in the South Regional.
Also Read: Rick Pitino’s Salary, Contract, and Net Worth
As the NCAA Tournament approaches, the Red Storm hopes to sustain its winning streak. Their presence on “The Tonight Show” highlighted not only their lighter side but also their unity and energy.
Fans and experts are eager to see if St. John’s will transform their regular-season excellence into a deep tournament run.
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