Jaden Daly

Hammered At The Rock

March 4, 2011 by Jaden Daly Leave a Comment

For well over a month, St. John’s had managed to avoid the taste of defeat in the Big East. A trip across the river changed all that in the latest chapter of an emotionally charged rivalry between the Big Apple darlings and their counterparts from the Garden State.

In a contest that served as the definition of a “trap game,” the No. 15 Johnnies (19-10, 11-6 in the Big East) were done in by a three-point barrage and a late second-half run on their way to an 84-70 defeat at the hands of Seton Hall, (12-17, 6-11) who held serve at the Prudential Center to ensure that the Red Storm’s 13-year losing streak in the Garden State would not be snapped.

“The big picture was that Seton Hall took us to the woodshed and waxed us for forty minutes,” said St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin. “That’s as remarkable a shooting performance from any team I’ve faced in my career.” Lavin was ejected with just under two minutes remaining in regulation after arguing a foul called against the Johnnies, saying after the game that he was “probably too animated” in his engagement with the officials. Dwight Hardy led the Red Storm with 23 points, the 13th time this season where the Big East Player of the Year candidate has eclipsed the 20-point plateau, while Jeremy Hazell was one of four Pirates in double figures. Hazell’s 31, coupled with Seton Hall’s 12-of-18 (67 percent) performance from beyond the arc was all the Jersey boys would need after learning last night that they would face Rutgers in the opening round of the Big East tournament. The Pirates host Marquette Saturday night, while St. John’s welcomes South Florida to Carnesecca Arena that same evening on senior night in Queens.

There may not be much to take from this game, but our lasting impressions will attempt to make sense of it all:

Lasting Impressions

– Bombs away. Seton Hall, which was the least efficient three-point shooting team in the Big East entering this contest, shot a staggering 12-for-18 (67 percent) from beyond the arc. Jeremy Hazell (4-of-6) and freshman Fuquan Edwin (5-of-6) accounted for nine of the trifectas, while St. John’s drained a mere three triples collectively.
– Speaking of Hazell, history repeated itself in Newark. The last time St. John’s took the court at the Prudential Center, Hazell scored 31 points in a double-digit Seton Hall win. (91-81) Tonight? Hazell tallied 31 in a double-digit Seton Hall win.
– St. John’s lost any remaining hopes of securing a double bye in the Big East tournament with this loss, unless Syracuse somehow loses to DePaul Saturday. Realistically, the Red Storm will likely be the No. 5 seed, and cannot finish lower than sixth in the conference.
– Finally, although Dwight Hardy only accounted for 23 of the 70 points put up by St. John’s, his supporting cast was virtually nonexistent. The Johnnies are among the most impressive teams in the country with a balanced attack; (9-0 with four or more players in double figures) but aside from D.J. Kennedy (11 points) and Justin Brownlee, (12 points and seven rebounds despite four fouls) Hardy was essentially carrying the team on his back.

Johnny Super ‘Nova

February 26, 2011 by Jaden Daly Leave a Comment

Team of destiny, giant killers, or any other hyperbole can be used to describe the resurgence of the St. John’s Red Storm. However, for those interested in keeping it simple, they’re just a really good team.

Providing another performance that is sure to silence any remaining doubters while also raising their national ranking, the No. 23 Johnnies (19-9, 11-5 in the Big East) picked up their first road win over a ranked opponent in more than nine years by defeating No. 14 Villanova (21-8, 9-7) at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia by the final of 81-68. In addition to the win being the seventh straight Red Storm victory, it was also their sixth against a Top 25 opponent this season, tied with Texas for the most in the country. Yet to the boys from Queens, the ever-expanding list of accolades are still irrelevant.

“We beat six Top 25 teams, but we’re not done yet,” said Dwight Hardy, who led all scorers with a career-high 34 points. Villanova’s Corey Stokes, who led the Wildcats with 20 points, said of the Bronx native: “He’s a killer. He’s a good player. His teammates do a good job of getting him the ball.” Hardy’s teammates were also productive, with Paris Horne, (12 points) D.J. Kennedy (12 points, 14 rebounds) and Justin Brownlee (11 points, eight rebounds) all scoring in double figures as the Red Storm improved to 9-0 when at least four players tally ten or more points.

St. John’s never trailed today, as Villanova could get no closer than a 2-all tie and a 65-64 deficit in the second half. The Johnnies used bookend 16-4 runs to start and end the game, much to the delight of their head coach. “Offensively, they really found a nice rhythm,” said Steve Lavin after the game. “They’re just a team that’s playing with great confidence. They’re enjoying one another’s company.” After today’s emphatic win, one could argue that they’re playing for perhaps a 3 or 4 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Villanova coach Jay Wright, who predicted St. John’s would be a good team at October’s Big East media day, offered this praise to the kids from the corner of Union and Utopia:

“Those guys were good enough last year to win a lot of those games,” remarked Wright of a St. John’s squad that struggled to put games away one year ago. “You knew coming back that this was going to be a good team.” Villanova faces yet another good team in just two days, when they travel to South Bend to face the Big East’s second-place team in Notre Dame. St. John’s continues its road trip with a visit to the Prudential Center on Thursday against Seton Hall.

Several nuggets popped up during this game; and without any further ado, they’ll be analyzed in the ever-popular lasting impressions.

Lasting Impressions

– For starters, St. John’s all but wrapped up at least a first-round bye in the Big East tournament after Georgetown was defeated by Syracuse this afternoon. With Marquette, Connecticut and West Virginia all joining the Hoyas at seven losses; and considering that St. John’s owns tiebreakers against all four of those teams, the Red Storm cannot in essence finish any lower than seventh in the conference.
– Rather than the Coreys, (Stokes scored 20 while Fisher was held to just two on 1-of-10 shooting) the Wildcats’ big men were the key to the game. Antonio Peña and Mouphtaou Yarou were limited to five points and four fouls each as St. John’s reprised the solid effort from its interior defense that rendered Gary McGhee mortal against Pittsburgh last Saturday.
– Steve Lavin always mentions the necessity to “counterpunch” in Big East games, and the Johnnies did exactly that by answering every potential Villanova rally down the stretch with either a big shot or defensive stand.
– Even though the team would rather not speculate about awards, they are the frontrunners for them. After yet another dominant performance, Dwight Hardy is all but certain to lock up his fourth (and third consecutive) Big East Player of the Week award, putting him in the running for the Player of the Year. On the bench, Steve Lavin’s contributions cannot be ignored given what this team has endured.
– Finally, D.J. Kennedy picks up the unsung hero game ball tonight. Although he went just 3-for-9 from the field, “The Hitman” gutted his way to a quiet and understated 12-point, 14-rebound outing that picked up steam during the second half. An aggressive Kennedy is an effective Kennedy, and the Johnnies will need performances like this one from their “hub of the wheel” more frequently if they intend to be among the last teams standing in March.

Exorcising The Demons

February 24, 2011 by Jaden Daly Leave a Comment

It hasn’t been easy for St. John’s at their on-campus venue of Carnesecca Arena in recent times. Despite their .840 winning percentage on the corner of Union and Utopia, there have been many games that got away from the Johnnies in recent years. Mercifully, tonight was not one of them.

Playing the 500th game in Carnesecca’s illustrious history, and the first as a ranked team since November of 2000 amid being overshadowed in the local media due to the Knicks’ acquisition of Carmelo Anthony, the No. 23 Red Storm (18-9, 10-5 in the Big East) picked up right where they left off against fourth-ranked Pittsburgh last Saturday with a 76-51 victory over DePaul (7-20, 1-14). The win assured St. John’s of finishing above .500 in the Big East for the first time since the 2001-02 season, which is coincidentally the last year in which the Red Storm advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Paris Horne had a near perfect effort tonight. Missing his first dunk he flushed down his next 6 baskets to finish the night with 14 points. (Icon SMI)

“I thought our team answered the bell in terms of the challenge of sustaining the level of play we’ve had in the last eight games,” said head coach Steve Lavin, whose team has won seven of those last eight dating back to January 30th’s upset of reigning national champion Duke. “Tonight’s victory is an example of a team developing a hard edge and maturity that will bode well for us coming down the home stretch.” Dwight Hardy led all scorers with a game-high 21 points, the eleventh time Hardy has eclipsed the 20-point plateau, furthering his candidacy for the Big East Player of the Year award many assumed had already been engraved with the name of UConn’s Kemba Walker. When asked about the disparity between his team’s performance at Carnesecca compared to Madison Square Garden, (where the Johnnies are 7-1 this season) the senior from the Bronx had this to say:

“When we play here, we don’t play as well as we do at the Garden,” stated Hardy. “We didn’t want to let that happen tonight.” Although DePaul took a 7-6 lead four minutes into the game, it was the only advantage they had all night, as Hardy’s 8-of-13 shooting night coupled with the near-perfect effort from Paris Horne (14 points on 6-of-7 shooting) provided all the margin the Red Storm would need. Freshman Cleveland Melvin led the Blue Demons with 16 points and was the only DePaul player in double figures, as junior Jeremiah Kelly (nine points) was limited due to foul trouble, picking up his fourth early in the second half.

St. John’s takes its talents to the road for their next two games, first playing No. 14 Villanova this Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia before making the trip across the Hudson River to face Seton Hall in Newark one week from today. Now on a five-game winning streak, the Red Storm have left quite a few lasting impressions on tonight’s sellout crowd en route to the City of Brotherly Love, and here are some of them:

Lasting Impressions

Transition and proficient shooting were the biggest factors in the 25-point win. St. John’s managed a 54 percent effort from the field, (31-for-57) which negated their 61 percent clip at the free throw line. In addition, the Johnnies outscored DePaul 42-18 in the paint and 19-0 on fast breaks; with the icing on the cake being Dwayne Polee’s (eight points) alley-oop from Malik Boothe that put St. John’s up 30.
Before tonight, the last three games at Carnesecca Arena had been decided by a grand total of five points. For the season, the total margin of victory on the corner of Union and Utopia was 26 points, just one more than this game’s 25-point cushion.
A Big East Player of the Year candidate himself, Dwight Hardy said earlier in the season that his vote would go to Providence’s Marshon Brooks. For what it’s worth, Brooks set the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on fire with his Big East single-game record 52-point performance last night against Notre Dame, albeit in a losing effort as the Friars fell to the Fighting Irish 94-93.
Here’s the key to victory that goes unnoticed: Jeremiah Kelly getting into foul trouble. Kelly’s sweet shooting was going to make or break the Blue Demons in this matchup, but he didn’t get many looks due to picking up his fourth foul early in the second half. Kelly finished with nine points, (all from beyond the arc) but credit the St. John’s defense for turning him into a nonfactor.
Finally, Dwayne Polee and Paris Horne share the game ball tonight for most impressive contributions to the cause. Polee’s eight points provided one of the more productive games the freshman has had in quite some time, while Horne’s NBA-range three and 360-degree slam in the second half slowly put the Blue Demons away.

Stair Masters

February 19, 2011 by Jaden Daly Leave a Comment

At yesterday’s pregame press conference, St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin treated the media members in attendance to a visual aid: His use of a white board to demonstrate his technique of “climbing the stairs,” which involved Lavin drawing a staircase on the board listing the name of each team the Red Storm had beaten over the course of the 18-game Big East schedule and the team’s subsequent record at the conclusion of the game. The board after today’s game now has a different name and set of numbers on it, and it will look something like this:

“Pittsburgh, 9-5.”

It wasn’t a smooth climb to the final step, but Dwight Hardy’s game-winning reverse layup with just over a second remaining in regulation propelled the Johnnies (17-9, 9-5 in the Big East) to the summit by providing the final margin in a 60-59 victory over fourth-ranked Pittsburgh. (24-3, 12-2) The win is St. John’s fifth against Top 25 teams and fourth against those ranked within the Top 10; and it also improved the Storm to 7-1 this season at Madison Square Garden. After being considered giant killers throughout the season to this point, it’s now possible for St. John’s to enter next week with a number next to their name in the new Associated Press and coaches’ polls for the first time since November of 2000 after following up their impressive road win over Marquette with their upset this afternoon inside the “World’s Most Famous Arena.”

Dwight Hardy drives under the rim for game-winning underhand layup to lift St. John's past No. 4 Pittsburgh 60-59. (RedStormSports.com)

“It’s been four long years without one of those numbers,” said Justin Burrell; one of three Johnnies in double figures today with 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Dwight Hardy once again led the way for the Red Storm with 19 points, but none bigger than the final two of the day. “When I tried to turn back to see (Justin) Brownlee, my defender shifted. I just kind of flipped it up there and it rolled right in. To this point, it’s the biggest shot I’ve made in my life,” said the senior guard of his game-winner. Hardy also commented on his team’s success at the Garden, stating that it “gives us an advantage” in next month’s Big East tournament, an event in which the Johnnies are much closer to acquiring a first-round bye in. The coach of the Red Storm is still leaving postseason discussion to the experts, but had this to say when describing his team shortly after Hardy referred to him as “the calmest out of everybody” in the St. John’s huddle.

“I think we’re ahead of schedule in terms of the high level of basketball that we’ve played over the last six or seven games,” said head coach Steve Lavin on St. John’s having won six of their last seven dating back to their January 30th upset of then-No. 3 Duke at the Garden. “We’re really pleased that we’re able to continue this run,” Lavin continued. “I think one of the traits that’s really starting to develop with this team is resiliency.” Ashton Gibbs continued to progress in his return from an MCL injury, leading all scorers with 26 points off the bench on 8-of-14 shooting (6-for-9) from beyond the arc, much to the delight of Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon. “He obviously played well, no question about it,” said Dixon after conceding that the day belonged to the victors. “It’s a really tough loss for us. I’m proud of how we played, proud of how we handled things,” said Dixon of the Panthers’ second Big East defeat and first since their loss last month against Notre Dame at the Petersen Center.

St. John’s now looks for its sixth consecutive Big East win this Wednesday night when they return home to Carnesecca Arena to face a suddenly hot DePaul team that defeated Providence on the road Thursday and almost upset Villanova this afternoon before ultimately falling to the Wildcats in overtime. Until then, we leave the emotional high of today’s contest and prepare you for what lies ahead with the ever-popular lasting impressions.

Lasting Impressions

Rebounding and energy were the keys to victory for both teams entering today’s matchup, and St. John’s won one while contesting the other to a draw. Pitt claimed the opening tip, but any momentum the Panthers looked for after taking a 2-0 lead was quickly snuffed out by a pair of threes from Dwight Hardy and D.J. Kennedy that started a 10-1 Red Storm run that put the Johnnies up seven in the early going.
Aside from Ashton Gibbs, all of Pittsburgh’s other key players were largely overshadowed. Brad Wanamaker (six points, four rebounds, four assists) and Gary McGhee (seven points, five rebounds) were rendered into supporting players due to lack of offensive rhythm and foul trouble, respectively. To expand on the foul calls, Pittsburgh ended the game with four of its players having accumulated four fouls.
The turning point of the game occurred halfway through the second half when McGhee picked up his fourth foul, but it ironically helped Pitt as they went on a 12-3 run over the next three minutes. St. John’s then fought back and kept it within five points the rest of the way.
Once again, St. John’s used a decisive advantage at the free throw line to gradually put its opponent away. The Red Storm went to the line 32 times, (23 in the second half) and converted 23 of those foul shots for a 72 percent clip, a stark contrast from Pitt’s 10-for-18 (56 percent) effort at the charity stripe.
Finally, St. John’s cemented its NCAA Tournament credentials this afternoon. While they most likely would have been in no matter what happened today, their impressive and valiant effort was contested primarily for a higher seed when the selection committee meets three weeks from tomorrow to set the 68-team field. Before this afternoon, the Red Storm looked no better than a No. 7 seed; but it’s safe to say that St. John’s may have played itself into as far up as a No. 5 with their latest quality win.

Punching the Golden Ticket

February 16, 2011 by Jaden Daly Leave a Comment

Steve Lavin was just 17 months old the last time St. John’s defeated Marquette, while Golden Eagles coach Buzz Williams wasn’t even born yet. In a matchup where one school owned a winning streak against the other going back to the Lyndon Johnson administration, one school took a major step toward returning to the limelight, while the other saw their hopes take a significant hit.

Playing on the road for the second time in three nights following their upset of then-No. 9 Connecticut, the Johnnies (16-9, 8-5 in the Big East) snapped a 45-year schneid with an 80-68 victory over Marquette; (15-11, 6-7) the first over the Golden Eagles since February 26, 1966. Four players had double-figure scoring efforts for the Red Storm last night, led by Dwight Hardy’s game-high 28. The Storm are now 8-0 this season when at least four players tally ten or more points. D.J. Kennedy added 15, with Justin Brownlee’s 11 and Justin Burrell’s 10-point, 12-rebound effort accounting for the other bright spots in a game designated as a must-win for St. John’s in order to preserve its chances of returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002.

Jimmy Butler led the Golden Eagles with 23 while newcomer Jae Crowder fell one rebound short of a double-double, posting 15 points and nine rebounds. For Marquette, the loss drops them under .500 in the Big East following their road defeat Sunday afternoon at the hands of a Georgetown team that has now won eight straight conference games after dropping four of their first five. The Golden Eagles will now welcome Seton Hall into the Bradley Center for their next game Saturday night, while St. John’s returns home to face fourth-ranked Pittsburgh in a noon matinee at Madison Square Garden, where the Storm have won six of seven this season; the last four of which coming against Top 25 teams (Three of those four were in the Top 10).

Interested in the factors behind the win, or maybe some perspective on the season for the Johnnies up to this point? That’s what tonight’s lasting impressions are for.

Lasting Impressions
– It could be argued that this past Sunday started a new season for St. John’s after their upset win over UConn; and just as they did in their first two Big East contests, the Johnnies opened with back-to-back road wins.
– Justin Brownlee’s highlight reel dunk provided the turning point of the game in the second half, pulling St. John’s within five (45-40) before going on a 40-23 run for the duration of the game.
– The Red Storm defense and Malik Boothe pick up game balls for their efforts last night, with a plus-10 turnover margin (forcing 18 while only committing eight) and the little man facilitating action that the box score won’t indicate.
– Darius Johnson-Odom has made the motor run for Marquette all season, and the Golden Eagles could have used him tonight. Although the junior, described by coach Buzz Williams as a “hoops savant,” had 14 points, he was largely hindered by four fouls that kept him from showcasing his first-team all-Big East potential.
– Finally, this game hurt Marquette just as much as it helped St. John’s. The Golden Eagles do not have an easy stretch run, and will likely need to pick up a win or two in the Big East tournament just to get back on the bubble; while the Johnnies are seemingly in barring a meltdown. Three wins in their last five (it’s not impossible) would place the Storm at 19-11 and 11-7 in the Big East.

« Previous Page