Jaden Daly

St. John’s Looks To Bounce Back From Hard-Fought Loss, Faces Texas A&M

November 18, 2011 by Jaden Daly 1 Comment

Less than 18 hours after suffering their first loss of the season, St. John’s hits the court again, taking on Texas A&M in the consolation game of the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden.

Arizona will face Mississippi State immediately following, in the championship game. Below, JohnnyJungle.com gets you caught up on what will be the second game for the Johnnies in as many days.

Date: Friday, November 18, 2011
Location: Madison Square Garden; New York, New York
Time: 4:30 PM EST
TV: ESPN2 (Dan Shulman, Bob Knight)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)
Online: WSJURadio.org (Mike Rossillo)

St. John’s Red Storm (3-1)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin (2nd season, 24-13; 169-91 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Nurideen Lindsey (6-3 So., 16.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 52% FG, 62% FT, 4.0 APG, 2.8 SPG)
G Malik Stith (5-11 Jr., 6.0 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 56% FG, 50% 3pt, 71% FT, 1.0 APG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 14.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 42% FG, 37% 3pt, 79% FT, 2.0 APG, 2.3 SPG)
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 14.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 64% FG, 84% FT, 1.0 BPG)
F Moe Harkless (6-8 Fr., 15.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 50% FG, 55% FT, 1.5 APG, 1.8 BPG, 1.8 SPG)

Key Reserves:
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 3.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 55% FG, 50% 3pt, 29% FT, 1.0 SPG)
G Phil Greene (6-2 Fr., 4.8 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 35% FG, 33% 3pt, 63% FT, 1.5 APG)

Keys To Victory:
– Start fresh. For such a young team, a loss as close and as heartbreaking as the one St. John’s suffered last night against Arizona could linger in the memories of the players longer than the coaching staff would like it to. This team has already shown a maturity beyond their years both on and off the court, and today’s game will be Exhibit A since the Red Storm will technically be taking the court twice within a span of 19 hours.

– Don’t be afraid to shoot the three. Texas A&M fell into a hole early in their matchup Thursday night against Mississippi State, as the Bulldogs hit each of their first five triples and never looked back. The Aggies are also yielding a 33 percent clip from beyond the arc to their opponents, so there will definitely be a handful of open looks for the Red Storm, should they choose to capitalize on them.

– Survive and advance. This terminology is usually reserved for March, but St. John’s will have that mindset when they go up against a Texas A&M team that is as deep as the Arizona squad the Red Storm faced last night. The Aggies regularly play an eleven-man rotation, four more than St. John’s currently features, in a routine contest. The Red Storm would also like to come away unscathed from the Garden, as a potential trap game awaits them at Carnesecca Arena Tuesday night against a scrappy St. Francis College unit that nearly defeated Seton Hall at the Prudential Center.

And coming in from College Station, home of the 12th man…

No. 18 Texas A&M Aggies (2-1)
Head Coach: Billy Kennedy (1st season, 2-1; 213-180 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Dash Harris (6-1 Sr., 4.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 22% FG, 60% FT, 3.7 APG, 1.0 SPG)
G Jordan Green (6-4 Fr., 5.0 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 71% FG, 60% 3pt, 50% FT, 1.3 APG)
G Elston Turner (6-5 Jr., 13.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 48% FG, 100% FT, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG)
F David Loubeau (6-8 Sr., 12.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 46% FG, 50% 3pt, 81% FT)
F Ray Turner (6-9 Jr., 14.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 70% FG, 44% FT, 1.0 SPG)

Key Reserves:
F Kourtney Roberson (6-9 So., 8.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 69% FG, 43% FT)
G Jamal Branch (6-3 Fr., 7.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 71% FG, 67% 3pt, 4.0 APG)
G Naji Hibbert (6-5 Jr., 3.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 40% FG)
C Keith Davis (6-10 So., 1.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 50% FG, 33% FT)

Keys To Victory:
– Take control. The Aggies lost the opportunity to dictate the pace of the game last night after Mississippi State got off to a hot start from three-point range and used it as a launching point to their 69-60 victory. Going up against a young team who was just on the court no less than 18 hours prior to tipoff, Texas A&M will look to play their style from the opening tip, thereby forcing St. John’s to catch up on a day where fatigue is the last thing Steve Lavin wants to worry about.

– High-percentage shots. The Aggies come into this contest shooting 54 percent from the field as a team, and three of their players have field goal percentages of 70 percent or higher, with reserve forward Kourtney Roberson close behind at 69 percent. Coming from a physical and offensively gifted, Big 12 Conference, Texas A&M is disciplined enough to know which shots they should be taking, and when to back off for a better look. If the Aggies can hold the ball long enough to find the play that is best suited for them on each possession, St. John’s will be attempting to erase an even bigger deficit than the ones they have fought back from in their three victories.

– Two for the price of one. Not every team is blessed with two point guards, but the Aggies are not “every team.” Freshman Jamal Branch has come out of the gate strong to start his collegiate career, averaging just over seven points per game, to go along with four assists per night as the understudy to senior Dash Harris. Branch has also shot the ball well, missing only four field goal attempts while making two of three from beyond the arc. Since Jordan Green only averages around 15 minutes per game, it would not be surprising to see head coach Billy Kennedy use both his point guards at the same time, letting his elder statesman Harris run the offense while Branch plays off the ball, or the other way around.

So, Who Wins?
This game will be the first of many where St. John’s can really prove themselves for what the team will ultimately become, as they will be taking the court for the second time in as many days, gaining experience that will serve them well for Big East play, and ultimately, the Big East tournament on this same Madison Square Garden court. For the Aggies, it is an opportunity to show that they are the team some critics are predicting could win the Big 12, as they will get the chance to go up against a team from what still is regarded as the best basketball conference in the nation. St. John’s will most likely play beyond their years once again, but the depth and intelligent shot selection they will be facing, coupled with the short turnaround between games, will be the nails in the proverbial coffin. Texas A&M will prevail, but not without overcoming a fight.

Final Score: Texas A&M 77, St. John’s 67

Valiant Effort Not Enough For St. John’s In 81-72 Loss To Arizona

November 18, 2011 by Jaden Daly 1 Comment

For a team on which all but one player was making their Madison Square Garden debut, the youngest group in program history looked like a bunch that had been on the big stage before, or at least they did for the first thirty-six minutes.

Through those first thirty-six minutes, St. John’s held their own against the first ranked opponent Steve Lavin‘s squad has faced this season, but the Red Storm (3-1) ran out of gas, falling to No. 15 Arizona (4-0) at Madison Square Garden by the final of 81-72.

Four Johnnies provided double-figure scoring efforts, led by Nurideen Lindsey‘s 18 points. Despite the strong performance, Lindsey fouled out with 4:01 remaining in regulation, depriving St. John’s of their offensive sparkplug. Once Lindsey exited the game, Arizona reeled off a 16-4 run to take the lead for good, giving head coach Sean Miller a birthday present on the night he turned 43.

“Tonight, we showed our experience from some of our guys, having been in the winner’s circle from last year,” said Miller after the game. “When you go on the road for the first time; and you’re down in your first road game like we were, you can self-destruct. St. John’s has a very underrated team. They have so many players who could really put the ball on the floor, and we fell into that.”

In addition to Lindsey, D’Angelo Harrison also had an impressive Garden debut, finishing with 16 points, but his second-half productivity was hindered after picking up three fouls before the intermission.

Despite the loss, the leader of the Red Storm is still happy with what his players brought to the court. “Tonight demonstrated that we have a long way to go,” said Steve Lavin, “but there are a lot of positives to take away from this game.”

As St. John’s prepares for their second game in as many days, (later today against Texas A&M) we recap the key points inside last night’s matchup in our latest edition of “Lasting Impressions.”

Lasting Impressions
– First and foremost, last night’s game proved once and for all that Nurideen Lindsey is the “hub of the wheel” in the Red Storm offense in much the same way that D.J. Kennedy, and ultimately Dwight Hardy, were a year ago. Lindsey did a great job attacking the basket and driving inside the paint for most of the night, but St. John’s was a different team after the Philadelphia native fouled out with 4:01 left in regulation. The Red Storm were already in the midst of a 9-0 Arizona run when Lindsey departed, and the team only managed four points in his absence.

– Sir’Dominic Pointer got the start in place of God’sgift Achiuwa, who was benched at the start of the game for missing the team bus on the way to the game. Pointer provided an underrated seven rebounds, but Achiuwa had the least productive game to date in his young career, with just four points and two rebounds, while shooting 2-of-6 from the field.

– Just as hot outside shooting dug the Red Storm into a hole in each of their first two games, the same held true Thursday night. Arizona shot 48 percent (14-for-29) from three-point range, compared to the 3-of-8 effort managed by the Red Storm. For what it’s worth, St. John’s did do a much better job than anticipated against the Arizona frontcourt, outscoring the Wildcats 36-20 in the paint.

– Finally, Thursday night’s game ball will be distributed collectively to the Arizona team, who placed five players in double figures, led by Solomon Hill, who had 15 points. Jesse Perry posted a double-double, chipping in with eleven points and ten rebounds. The Wildcats also got contributions from their deep and talented bench, led by Nick Johnson (11 points) and Bronx native Kevin Parrom, who had six points and five assists in his second game back since the death of his mother and an offseason incident in which he was shot. Arizona’s biggest contribution to the box score was forcing 17 St. John’s turnovers and turning them into 22 points, while only committing just ten miscues of their own, six below their season average, to that point.

St. John’s Makes Madison Square Garden Debut Against No. 15 Arizona

November 16, 2011 by Jaden Daly 2 Comments

After two games that went closer to the wire than most had hoped, St. John’s got the comfortable win it was looking for this past Sunday, erasing an early seven-point deficit to defeat UMBC in a victory that proved the Red Storm were more than just a second-half team.

The hangover from a rout has worn off, however. Standing in their way is the 15th-ranked team in the country, one who poses as much a challenge as the several Top 25 programs the Red Storm toppled on the way to the NCAA Tournament. Below, JohnnyJungle.com prepares you for the semifinal matchup of the 2K Sports Classic, pitting the Red Storm against Sean Miller’s Arizona Wildcats.

Date: Thursday, November 17, 2011
Location: Madison Square Garden; New York, New York
Time: 9:30 PM EST
TV: ESPN2 (Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale, Andy Katz)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)
Online: WSJURadio.org (Tim Dimas, Mike Rossillo)

St. John’s Red Storm (3-0)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin (2nd season, 24-12; 169-90 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:

G Nurideen Lindsey (6-3 So., 16.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 50% FG, 56% FT, 4.7 APG, 3.3 SPG)
G Malik Stith (5-11 Jr., 6.3 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 62% FG, 50% 3pt, 67% FT, 1.0 APG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 14.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 42% FG, 38% 3pt, 79% FT, 1.7 APG, 2.7 SPG)
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 17.7 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 73% FG, 91% FT, 1.0 BPG)
F Moe Harkless (6-8 Fr., 16.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 50% FG, 50% FT, 1.7 APG, 1.7 BPG, 2.0 SPG)

Key Reserves:
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 3.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 44% FG, 50% 3pt, 40% FT, 1.0 SPG)
G Phil Greene (6-2 Fr., 2.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 18% FG, 50% FT, 1.7 APG, 1.0 SPG)

Keys To Victory:
– Force rookie mistakes. Arizona is a young team in much the same vein as the Red Storm, despite starting two seniors and two juniors. However, the Wildcats have already committed 48 turnovers through their first three contests, which gives St. John’s a window to introduce their press defense early and often. Arizona can shoot, too, so don’t be surprised to see this game turn into a track meet between an Arizona team that averages 71 points per game and a St. John’s group that puts up 78 a night, while yielding only 64.

– Close to the three-point line Arizona’s shooting strength lies within its guards, and St. John’s will be introduced to Kyle Fogg and Jordin Mayes from the opening tip. Freshman Nick Johnson has also proven himself as a gifted scorer off the bench for head coach Sean Miller, and the Wildcats will also have Kevin Parrom again after the New York City product made his return this past Sunday against Ball State. Arizona is already shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc for the season, (18-for-48) and the Red Storm have been vulnerable to yielding early baskets from long range, as is evidence by the 11-for-14 start Lehigh got off to against the Johnnies in Steve Lavin’s return.

– Recapture the magic. St. John’s resurgence was sparked by six victories against Top 25 programs last year, and their first game against a ranked team in the miracle 2010-11 season was the thrilling 61-58 victory over then-No. 13 Georgetown on the same Madison Square Garden court the Red Storm take for the first time this season. In addition, St. John’s was 7-2 at the “World’s Most Famous Arena,” a year ago. Head coach Steve Lavin hinted at the potential pressure his young team would be facing, stating that there “could be some butterflies” leading to the opening tip. Just like their season opener, the Red Storm need to fight the tendency to not get caught up in the moment, and their three previous games could actually be a calming influence.

Taking the court against the Johnnies, we have…

No. 15 Arizona Wildcats (3-0)
Head Coach: Sean Miller (3rd season at Arizona, 49-23; 169-70 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:

G Kyle Fogg (6-3 Sr., 14.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 43% FG, 50% 3pt, 84% FT)
G Jordin Mayes (6-2 So., 9.7 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 45% FG, 46% 3pt, 56% FT, 1.0 SPG)
F Jesse Perry (6-7 Sr., 10.7 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 50% FG, 64% FT, 1.0 BPG)
F Solomon Hill (6-6 Jr., 10.3 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 40% FG, 75% FT, 3.3 APG, 1.0 SPG)
C Kyryl Natyazhko (6-11 Jr., 2.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 60% FG, 50% FT)

Key Reserves:
G Nick Johnson (6-2 Fr., 10.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 33% FG, 40% 3pt, 73% FT, 2.7 APG)
F Kevin Parrom (6-6 Jr., 6.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 33% FG, 33% 3pt, 75% FT, 2.0 APG)
G Brendon Lavender (6-5 Sr., 4.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 67% FG, 67% 3pt, 100% FT, 1.0 APG)
F Angelo Chol (6-9 Fr., 4.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 60% FG, 1.7 SPG)
G Josiah Turner (6-3 Fr., 3.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 14% FG, 63% FT, 2.0 APG)

Keys To Victory:
– Wear St. John’s down. It’s no secret that St. John’s is only playing a seven-man rotation for the first half of the season. Arizona coach Sean Miller has the luxury of playing ten, sometimes even eleven on any given night. The return of Kevin Parrom only makes Miller’s rotation deeper, which helps the Wildcats if the game is close late against a fatigued Red Storm team. However, St. John’s is one of the better conditioned teams in the nation. Solomon Hill and Jesse Perry will match up against God’sgift Achiuwa and Moe Harkless in a battle of the boards that could yield a double-double to each of the four combatants.

–Get to the glass. Through the first three games, Arizona has a plus-23 rebounding margin (116-93) against the minus-15 (98-113) on the St. John’s ledger. In addition to the aforementioned Perry and Hill, (49 rebounds combined this season) Arizona also has 6-9 freshman Angelo Chol at their disposal, and he has managed 15 rebounds through the first three contests. Kyle Fogg and Kevin Parrom can also get to the ball even though both are considered scorers before rebounders.

–Take the crowd out of it early. St. John’s established a true homecourt advantage at Madison Square Garden last season, but this atmosphere actually favors Arizona since the Wildcats averaged close to 13,000 through their first three games on their home court of the McKale Center in Tucson. Being no stranger to playing in front of big crowds, Arizona can feed off what will likely be a house of over 10,000 at the Garden and play inspired basketball that will force St. John’s to pick up the pieces early. If the Red Storm are without their sixth man in the stands, it could be an uphill battle.

So, Who Wins?
St. John’s is not shying away from the fact that this game is their first “Super Bowl” of the season. On the other side of the court, Arizona has some battle scars from big games against the likes of Duke and Connecticut in last year’s NCAA Tournament. This game will come down to how well St. John’s is able to react to the Madison Square Garden stage and how well they can adjust to Arizona’s depth. The Wildcats will try to come out to an early lead after a couple of threes, but don’t be surprised to see the Red Storm try to match them shot for shot in the early going. Arizona will ultimately win out due to their multitude of options on the roster, even though you can expect St. John’s to give an inspired effort while playing a cohesive brand of basketball throughout the night.

Final Score: Arizona 74, St. John’s 68

St. John’s Crushes UMBC, Heads To Garden 3-0 for Thursday’s Matchup With Arizona

November 13, 2011 by Jaden Daly 2 Comments

After two games that needed second-half comebacks to pull out a victory, St. John’s fans were eager to see their team execute for a full 40 minutes. Even though the Red Storm trailed by seven points early in the first half, it was as far behind as they would fall for the remainder of the afternoon.

After the St. John’s men’s soccer team won this year’s Big East championship, giving fans at Carnesecca Arena reason enough to cheer, five players scored in double figures for Steve Lavin’s squad as the Red Storm rolled to a convincing 82-59 victory over UMBC.

Although Moe Harkless led all scorers with 18 points, it was sophomore guard Nurideen Lindsey who provided the headline performance.

Lindsey came within one assist of recording the first St. John’s triple-double since 1999, finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

“I think we were all trying to go in the same direction collectively,” said the first-year guard.

Head coach Steve Lavin praised his floor leader by calling his game today a “special performance, and it was understated.”

St. John’s fell behind 10-3 early, but took the lead for good on a jumper by Lindsey at the 11-minute mark of the first half.

Nurideen Lindsey Defense — Nurideen Lindsey's near-triple-double helped to life the Red Storm to 3-0 on the year. (Photo: Dave Krupinski)

D’Angelo Harrison had a solid game as well, with 17 points and five rebounds, while God’sgift Achiuwa was a blessing in the paint, chipping in with 15 points and eight rebounds.

However, it was elder statesman Malik Stith who provided the surprise of the day by contributing 11 points in 27 minutes.

“What I told the kids that impressed me was kind of a methodical, deliberate, and mature way that we separated ourselves from UMBC,” said Lavin. “Right from the jump, I liked where our team’s temperament, bearings and collective energy were at.”

St. John’s heads into Madison Square Garden for the first time this season to face No. 16 Arizona on Thursday night in what will be the biggest game in the careers of most of these players, to date. Below, we recap the highlights of today’s game, as well as prepare for Thursday night’s battle with Sean Miller’s Wildcats in the latest round of “Lasting Impressions.”

Lasting Impressions
– St. John’s used their physical and athletic advantages to get to the free throw line thirty times against a weaker UMBC team today. Even better, the Red Storm completed 24 of those foul shots, good enough for an 80 percent clip from the charity stripe in what was, by far, their best free throw effort of the season.

– The press defense wore out UMBC toward the end of the first half, a change of pace from the sluggish starts the Red Storm got off to against William & Mary and Lehigh, in each of the first two games. St. John’s forced 20 turnovers today, including a plus-5 turnover margin in the second half, where they registered seven steals.

– Steve Lavin is working his way back to full strength, if today’s postgame press conference was any indication. The coach looked to be in midseason form with his trademark quotes while taking questions from the media. Some of today’s “Lavin Lines” included references to the season being a marathon, less “fire and brimstone” today than in the Lehigh game, and his being impressed with his team passing the ball, or “sharing the sugar,” as he likes to call it. Lavin also said the Red Storm are “at the point of the season where we’re just pulling out of the station,” and said that “under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, playing a Top 20 team, there’s going to be some butterflies,” looking ahead to Thursday’s matchup with Arizona.

– Though Nurideen Lindsey came within one assist of recording the first triple-double in St. John’s history since Ron Artest had one in 1999 against Seton Hall, today’s game ball goes to Malik Stith. On a day when many faces of St. John’s past (including former walk-on Kevin Clark) were on hand to get a glimpse of the Red Storm, the last remaining link to the program’s recent past provided a throwback to his early season form from a year ago, recording 11 points for his fifth career double-figure outing, and first since scoring 12 against Louisville last January at the Yum! Center.

St. John’s Looks To Go 3-0, Red Storm Face UMBC In Sunday Matinee

November 12, 2011 by Jaden Daly Leave a Comment

St. John’s rallied to a comeback win in their last game Wednesday night, erasing a 16-point deficit to beat Lehigh on a night highlighted by the triumphant surprise return of head coach Steve Lavin.

But, in Friday’s press conference, it was clear that the Red Storm are looking forward.

In the words of their own head coach last season, St. John’s now needs to put “hammer to rock” and move on to the next one, which comes against America East program UMBC, who represented the conference in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

For the first time this season, the Red Storm compete directly with the National Football League, with a 2pm tip-off. JohnnyJungle.com gets you up to speed with everything you need to know about this Sunday’s matinee in Queens, below.

Date: Sunday, November 13, 2011
Location: Carnesecca Arena; Jamaica, New York
Time: 2:00 PM EST
TV: ESPN3 (espn3.com) via STJ-TV (Tony Luftman, Tarik Turner)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)
Online: WSJURadio.org (Mike Rossillo, Karl Delatorre)

St. John’s Red Storm (2-0)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin (2nd season, 23-12; 168-90 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Nurideen Lindsey (6-3 So., 17.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 62% FG, 47% FT, 2.5 APG, 4.0 SPG)
G Malik Stith (5-11 Jr., 4.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 67% FG, 1.5 APG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 13.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 38% FG, 30% 3pt, 73% FT, 1.0 APG, 2.5 SPG)
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 19.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 71% FG, 88% FT, 1.0 APG, 1.0 BPG)
F Moe Harkless (6-8 Fr., 16.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 45% FG, 33% 3pt, 36% FT, 2.5 APG, 1.0 BPG, 1.5 SPG)

Key Reserves:
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 5.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 67% FG, 100% 3pt, 40% FT, 1.0 BPG, 1.5 SPG)
G Phil Greene (6-2 Fr., 1.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 75% FT, 1.0 APG, 1.0 SPG)

Keys To Victory:

– Come out firing on both sides. St. John’s can take care of business offensively if the right shots fall at the right time, but in each of the first two games the Johnnies have played so far, their defensive efforts have yet to yield favorable results until the second half. Going against a UMBC team that committed 20 turnovers in its season opener Friday night against Penn, the press defense and matchup zone needs to be executed to near-perfection on almost every possession to avoid a repeat of the first two opening halves, even though the Retrievers missed each of their eleven three-point attempts in their 59-45 loss to the Quakers.

– Yes Sir! Each of the first two games has a common thread: A standout defensive exhibition from Sir’Dominic Pointer in the second half. Be it a block from out of nowhere or a run down the court to steal a potential field goal against Lehigh, the Detroit product has demonstrated an innate ability to go after the ball on each end. However, Pointer’s offensive prowess has yet to be maximized at this point in the season. Pointer should have many opportunities to change that against a UMBC squad that averaged just 64 points per game during a five-win campaign.

– Divine intervention. God’sgift Achiuwa has come out from the half-dozen newcomers and established himself as the leader in the clubhouse in the race for “most impressive newcomer.” Achiuwa has posted near-double-doubles in each of the first two contests for St. John’s, and solidified his reputation as an effective post presence with his 21 points on a perfect shooting night against Lehigh. The Nigerian big man will draw a UMBC frontcourt of equal stature to his 6’8″ frame, but Achiuwa should have his moments of dominance more often than not.

Now, to get you caught up on the team making the trip up Interstate 95 into Queens…

UMBC Retrievers (0-1)
Head Coach: Randy Monroe (8th season, 81-135)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Joey Getz (6-0 Fr., 4.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 25% FG, 67% FT, 3.0 APG, 1.0 SPG)
G Jamar Wertz (6-3 So., 6.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 25% FG, 100% FT, 1.0 SPG)
F Adrian Satchell (6-5 Jr., 4.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 40% FG, 1.0 SPG)
F Chase Plummer (6-6 So., 15.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 36% FG, 56% FT, 2.0 BPG, 2.0 SPG)
F Nate Basalyga (6-9 Fr., 1.0 RPG, 1.0 APG)

Key Reserves:
G Brian Neller (6-4 Jr., 4.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 13% FG, 100% FT, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG)
F Jake Wasco (6-8 Sr., 4.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 100% FG)
F Will Wise (6-8 Fr., 2.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 100% FG, 1.0 SPG)
F Chandler Thomas (6-6 Fr., 3.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 33% FG, 50% FT)

Keys To Victory:

– Rookie quarterback. With senior Chris De La Rosa still recovering from offseason foot surgery and not expected to play, freshman Joey Getz has been thrust into the role of floor general for coach Randy Monroe. Although he only made one field goal Friday night, the Philadelphia native posted well-rounded numbers against Penn, with four points, five rebounds and three assists. Getz’s baptism by fire continues Sunday when he goes up against fellow City of Brotherly Love native Nurideen Lindsey at the point.

– Keep it simple. UMBC enduring an 0-for-11 performance from three-point range Friday night against Penn could be a blessing in disguise. Given that St. John’s has had difficulty closing to the arc early in games thus far, open looks for the Retrievers could result in brick after brick that will enable St. John’s to draw away sooner rather than later. With that in mind, UMBC would be better off going inside, especially to swingman Chase Plummer. The 6-6 sophomore started his second campaign with a very promising showing in the loss to the Quakers, finishing one rebound shy of a double-double while leading his team with 15 points.

– Fear the triple. One big reason why Penn was able to defeat the Retrievers convincingly was due to their six three-pointers, four of which came from shooting guard Zack Rosen. St. John’s has been streaky from beyond the arc so far, but that does not mean the Johnnies don’t have the shooters to put games away from long range. If UMBC can single out D’Angelo Harrison and even Moe Harkless on film and adequately prepare for their forays outside the line, they will be in this game longer than some people expect.

So, Who Wins?
On paper, this looks like the easiest of the three matchups St. John’s has been a part of this season. On the court, it may be just the same. UMBC will need to exert themselves against competition they have not won against in quite some time, with a 12-game losing streak dating back to 2000. For St. John’s, all they need to do is stay out of trouble, and the win that fans and experts expect should come to them before the final buzzer. UMBC is on the rise, but the loss of their senior leader will prove too much for them to overcome, as the Red Storm make their 2011-12 Madison Square Garden debut as an undefeated team.

Final Score: St. John’s 79, UMBC 53

« Previous Page