Fight against cancer meaningful for Steve Lavin
St. John's head coach Steve Lavin, right, talks to assistant coach Rico Hines before facing Lehigh University at Carnesecca Arena. (Nov. 9, 2011) Credit: Kevin P. Coughlin
No one knew Steve Lavin had been diagnosed with prostate cancer just before he began his first season as St. John's basketball coach a year ago because he waited until after a season that ended in the NCAA Tournament to announce it. But it became clear in February that the fight against cancer was meaningful to Lavin.
Following a cancer awareness week when every coaching staff in the country wore sneakers to coach one game, Lavin and his staff continued the practice of wearing sneakers for every game. So the fact that Lavin underwent successful prostate surgery on Oct. 6 made his participation in the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches Vs. Cancer Thursday night at Madison Square Garden all the more poignant.
The Red Storm (3-0) was scheduled to meet Arizona (3-0) in the late semifinal after Mississippi State defeated Texas A & M, 69-60, in the early semifinal. The championship game is set for 7 Friday night after the 4:30 p.m. consolation game.
Lavin explained earlier in the week that his experience with cancer goes well beyond the treatment of his own condition. "I've always had an amplified awareness of how important it is to champion the cause of finding a cure for cancer," Lavin said. "My grandmother passed of pancreatic cancer; my father had prostate cancer and is a survivor for 21 years now and has also had skin cancer; and my niece, Sophia, my brother John's daughter, lost her right eye to cancer.
"So before I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I had a very tough personal awareness of how critical it is that we continue to support the fight against cancer. Going back 15 years to my days at UCLA, we would visit the pediatric ward at UCLA's hospital or take our team out to the City of Hope during the holidays to visit the patients that may not make it past a couple months."
Well before he was diagnosed with the disease himself, Lavin was involved with the V Foundation and Coaches vs. Cancer. The Arizona game is the fourth of the season for St. John's but only the third for Lavin, who missed the start of practice in October, two exhibitions and the home opener while recuperating from his surgery. Even now, he's on a limited media schedule because he's rebuilding his stamina.
But the coaching staff and players remained in constant contact with their coach during the recovery period. Now, Lavin is back on the bench with his usual optimistic outlook and, perhaps, an even greater appreciation for the opportunity he has at St. John's.
As Lavin said, "This week naturally has significance on a personal level because of the family history and because, across the board, it affects all people in this world when it comes to the dreaded disease."
In the early game, Mississippi State jumped out to a 31-9 lead with 10:12 left in the first half, and Texas A&M never got closer than eight points. Dee Bost led MSU with 20 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals, while Elston Turner topped the Aggies with 13 points.
