New York — Rick Pitino, who’s from New York and once coached the Knicks, felt at home in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

In his first season in charge of St. John’s, Pitino is attempting to rebuild a struggling program.

“I’m looking forward to this year as much as any time in my coaching history because it’s back home,” Pitino said. “I still remember my New York Knick press conference. The Garden has changed immensely, about two billion dollars added to it. But still the same freight elevator to get to the locker room.

“There are a lot of changes but there’s still a great history to the place. I’m excited to be back part of it.”

Pitino, a Hall of Fame coach, drew a big crowd during Big East media day.

His hiring already has given St. John’s a jolt.

Big East coaches picked the Red Storm to finish fifth in the league preseason poll despite a revamped roster. Returning center Joel Soriano is an All-Big East preseason first team pick.

Pitino is determined to return St. John’s to national prominence.

“St. John’s has fallen on hard times mainly because the competition is so great and they had difficult time recruiting locally as well as nationally,” Pitino said. “I’ve found that to be relatively easy, the recruiting part.

“... St. John’s is special. For me, ending my career building St. John’s up to a national power would just be an incredible experience for everybody that I call a friend or family member.”

Former UConn guard Nahiem Alleyne, a key member of a productive bench for the national championship team, is expected to be a key contributor for Pitino’s program.

“He’s a tremendous young man,” Pitino said. “He’s a little inconsistent offensively. He’s a very good defensive player. Right now, he’s the starting two-guard because (Jordan) Dingle has been hurt. So, we’ll probably open the season with him playing a lot.”

Cooley expects angry reception at PC

Ed Cooley, who left Providence College after a long and successful coaching stint to take over at Georgetown last spring, expects an emotional homecoming game this season.

Georgetown visits Providence, where he was born and raised, on Saturday, Jan. 27.

Let’s just say the Friar fan base is unhappy that Cooley left.

“It will be an overwhelming feeling, I’m going to anticipate,” Cooley said. “I can feel the anger. And I get it. I understand it. I can internalize that. But in our world of change, it’s okay.

“Change is okay. I don’t think you should be villainized or victimized. Change is just okay. But I’ll always be from the state of Rhode Island. I’ll always be a kid from Providence. I’ll always cheer for Providence College. … Providence College gave me an incredible opportunity to be on this stage and be in this seat right here.”

Cooley says he plans to support Kim English, the new PC coach, “in every way possible.”

Kalkbrenner vs. Clingan

The Big East is loaded with talented big men this season.

“Across the whole Big East, they have great bigs on every team,” UConn sophomore Donovan Clingan said. “That’s something that I look forward to every day.”

Clingan and Creighton veteran Ryan Kalkbrenner, a two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, are two of low post forces.

An All-Big East preseason first team pick, Kalkbrenner had some memorable battles with UConn’s Adama Sanogo last season. With Sanogo gone, it’s Clingan’s turn to hold down the low post.

“Clingan is a little different type of player but he’s still a great player,” Kalkbrenner said. “It’s going to be fun. Any time as a competitor you get to play against other great players, you look forward to it and you want to do your best against them.”

UConn and Creighton, selected third and second respectively in the Big East preseason coaches poll, are both considered contenders for the league and also the national title. The two teams will meet for the first time this season on Jan. 17 in Storrs.

“I have a lot of belief in this team that we can win a lot of games,” Kalkbrenner said.

Injury update

Clingan, who’s sidelined with a foot strain, is making progress. While he still hasn’t returned to full practice mode, he hopes to do so in the next week and a half.

“I’m just trying to get back on the court as soon as possible,” Clingan said. “I’ve been doing a lot of conditioning. I’ve been on the bike a lot, been on the elliptical and been in the pool doing pool workouts. I’ve been lifting an hour every morning, just all upper body trying to get stronger. I’m starting to be able to get hook shots, touch shots around the rim, stand-still shots and threes. Just slowing working to get back on the court.”

News and notes

UConn redshirt sophomore Alex Karaban will miss a few days of practice this week after having some wisdom teeth removed. … The Huskies will play a closed door scrimmage against Harvard on Saturday. They faced Virginia last weekend. … Cam Spencer, who transferred to UConn from Rutgers, on playing for coach Steve Pikiell, a former UConn guard: “Similar to coach Hurley. He has that UConn background as well, The intensity that he brought every day, competitive fire that he would bring to practice and games is similar to the UConn style.” … Sanogo, who signed with the Chicago Bulls as an undrafted free agent in June, made the opening night roster.

g.keefe@theday.com