UConn, St. John’s coaches pushing to bring women’s hoops back to MSG

UConn’s Geno Auriemma and St. John’s Joe Tartamella want to bring women’s college basketball back to Madison Square Garden.

Speaking Tuesday at Big East media day while seated at tables set up on Madison Square Garden’s court, each coach discussed the exciting possibility of one day again playing a game in the world’s most famous arena.

“We used to do that, you know. We played St. John’s here,” Auriemma said. “And I would hope that we could do it again.”

St. John’s played Butler at Madison Square Garden in February as part of a Johnnies Day doubleheader.

The women’s team isn’t scheduled to play at MSG this season, though Tartamella didn’t necessarily rule out the opportunity.

St. John’s March 1 game against UConn has its time and location listed as “to be determined,” but it’s unclear whether that game could be moved to Manhattan.

The St. John’s men’s team doesn’t have a game that day and the only event scheduled at MSG that day is the Knicks at 1 p.m.

Auriemma and Tartamella have discussed “a lot” of avenues to bring women’s basketball to MSG, including hosting a four-team event similar to the second annual Champions Classic, which is scheduled to take place at Barclays Center in December.

Auriema and Tartamella also said there could be an opportunity to host another men’s and women’s doubleheader at MSG.

“I do think we should aspire to play a game or two here every year, whoever it is,” Auriemma said. “And I think it’d be great for the exposure for St. John’s… There’s a lot of options, but I know the people here have been very positive in their response. So I’m [hoping] that it happens sooner rather than later.”

Tartamella, who’s starting his 14th season at St. John’s, said he’s coached more than a dozen games inside the Garden. He said he uses the historic venue as a recruiting tool, too.

“For us, personally, it’s a home site so for St. John’s. It’s massively important,” Tartamella said. “We do have that to sell, we’d be stupid if we didn’t do that. But also, every time we’re in here, listen… I still get the chills.”