Pico Dulce

A Second Chance at the Irish

January 16, 2011 by Pico Dulce Leave a Comment

St. John’s was soundly drubbed by the Fighting Irish a week ago, 76-61 in South Bend. It was a pretty thorough beating, despite the foul trouble of Irish forward Ty Nash. Read more of the recap: Storm No Match For Irish Blizzard. Ben Hasbrough led the Irish with 26 points and an excellent all-around floor game – and earned Big East player of the week honors. He was active, drew the defense to him, and made smart passes. Tim Abromaitis and Scott Martin, who are normally deadly shooters – took what the Red Storm defense gave them and rebounded the ball well in support.

The Fighting Irish were thumped by Marquette last Monday, who forced the Irish into ice cold perimeter shooting, while getting good jump shots of their own. Can St. John’s get back to winning ways by following that formula, and using their athleticism to stop the Irish?

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The Johnnies have a chance at revenge tomorrow at noon at Madison Square Garden. It should be a hard-fought game, and both teams will want the win. In attendance will be St. John’s 2011 signee Sir’Dominic Pointer and Phil Greene, a 2011 Chicago guard on his official visit to St. John’s.

Some points of emphasis for the Red Storm:

Stop – or slow down – Irish guard Ben Hansbrough, who had 26 points while running the Irish show.
Defend the Irish without fouling, since the teams main five players spent the last 5 minutes of the first half on the bench, putting the game out of reach.
Get good shots for the Justins in the post.
Win the turnover battle.

Game Links:

Rumble in the Garden preview

NY Daily News preview

Red Storm Sports preview

Chicago Tribune preview

CBS/ AP Preview

ESPN NY Preview

Prediction: St. John’s wins, 68-67

This Is Not Your Garden

January 11, 2011 by Pico Dulce 5 Comments

Syracuse has taken over Madison Square Garden in earlier visits to play St. John’s. Their Orange-clad fans cheer like it’s a home game, the Red Storm faithful are drowned out – an embarrassing scene for coaches, players, fans, and potential recruits.

But the Red Storm are no longer pushovers. With a new coach, new dedication, and some new confidence, this game won’t be lack the last 2 contests against the Orange. The Orange have turned the last 2 games into laughers, whooping and hollering on the bench as they play got ragged, and garbage time extended into double-digit minutes.

This year’s ‘Cuse team might be undefeated. But flawless? Not quite. The Red Storm seniors have a chance to knock off Syracuse for the first time in their careers.

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Syracuse (16-0, 3-0)

The defining feature of the Orange is their defense, and their defensive length. They defend well inside with their forwards, Baye Keita and Rick Jackson, with Fab Melo getting some minutes. The tall Brazilian Melo is still acclimating to the college game, and will play less than fellow freshman Keita at center. Rick Jackson is an elite shot blocker, and is an excellent scorer from close to the hoop with his new slimness and stamina.

On the perimeter, Brandon Triche and Kris Joseph are two of the Orange’s better outside shooters. Both look to drive a little more than they shoot from the perimeter, and are aggressive in transition. Joseph is long and lean, a very good jack of all trades; he blocks shots and forces turnovers along with his scoring. Triche is a bit of a point guard, and a bull going to the rim. Sometimes, he seems a little single-minded about where he wants to go. Dion Waiters is a freshman backup, who can pass as well as hit a jump shot. James Southerland profiles as as strictly a jump shooter; he draws no fouls.

The team is led by Scoop Jardine, the point guard out of Philly. He has been a top-level distributor by the numbers this season. Jardine also snags some steals, draws a healthy number of fouls. He scores well inside but those perimeter jumpers he takes… 28% is not the mark of success.

The Orange have had a number of games where their defense has won the day… and their offense didn’t show up for large portions of the game. They’re not an automatic scoring machine like last year’s edition, and it leaves them vulnerable.

Keys to the Game

ABM – Always Be Moving. In the halfcourt, St. John’s has to make the zone move and not settle for outside shots. They have been good at moving the ball patiently, looking for interior scoring first. They need to be better Wednesday night.

Slow Down Their Transition. The Orange aren’t the best shooters – they have had some stinker games, especially from the perimeter. And there is some speed on their wings.

Offensive Rebounding. St. John’s needs to be active in looking for second shots for more scoring opportunities.

Turnovers. St. John’s also can’t give up scoring opportunities to token pressure from the Cuse guards or traps within the 2-3 zone. And if St. John’s can force some turnovers, that would be good as well.

Patience. St. John’s has to play their game and not try to start jacking up bad 3-pointers or getting frustrated at an Orange run.

Prediction: It could happen. 65-61, St. John’s.

Are You Experienced?

January 7, 2011 by Pico Dulce 1 Comment

We had a good stretch over the past five games, just playing more efficiently on the offensive end of the floor.
– Steve Lavin, pregame media conference

At 3-0 in the Big East, the Red Storm are in sole possession of first place.

Hands up if you predicted that.

Now all five of you, stop gloating. The Red Storm have been sharp early. The team is finding ways to win, playing solid defense against three Big East squads that entered conference play with Big Expectations. But the Big East’s season is a long season. It’s unforgiving; as Steve Lavin likes to say, it is a marathon.

The next leg of the race takes the Red Storm through Notre Dame, where the Fighting Irish are formidable at home. In fact, the last time they lost at home was to St. John’s, last Valentine’s Day. Like the Red Storm, they start and play mostly seniors; they are (by minutes played) one of the oldest teams in the country – second oldest in the Big East to St. John’s. Their players have been steeped in Mike Brey’s philosophy.

But the Red Storm have defeated the Fighting Irish in South Bend before. Does St. John’s have enough firepower to defeat the Fighting Irish in South Bend again?

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Notre Dame (13-2, 2-1)

The Fighting Irish are ranked either 14th or 15th, depending on what poll you choose to follow. Their senior-laden team has won with offense, as one expects from a Mike Brey team – good spacing, always ready to shoot, versatile in the halfcourt. But this year, they have added some defensive intensity, generally holding teams down on defense by playing back and walling off the paint. And they are good at it, even though they generally play only 6 players for major minutes.

But when the outside shots aren’t falling, it seems that the interior scoring isn’t enough to pace the Irish – at least not in the losses to Kentucky and Syracuse. For St. John’s, stopping their outside shooting is key. Easier said than done. While Tim Abromaitis is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, the high level of play is paced by Ben Hansbrough.

Pressed into action as point guard after the graduation of Tory Jackson, Hansbrough has been very good. He has handed out a decent number of assists. But his skills as a combo guard allow him to probe and attack, to shoot in transition, and to be a pest defender. He is also the team’s most accurate outside shooter. Backing him up – and sometimes allowing Hansbrough to play off the ball – is freshman Eric Atkins, who has been reluctant to shoot, but pretty effective in his apprenticeship role.

Carleton Scott, Tim Abromaitis, and Scott Martin are nearly interchangeable parts. All three are 6’7″ or 6″8″, can shoot well from the outside. Abromaitis is probably the purest shooter of the three and attempts the most shots. Scott can block shots in the paint, and is the best interior scorer of the starters. Both rebound the defensive end well and are willing to make a pass. Scott Martin is another shooter, but takes more shots in the paint.

Tyrone Nash patrols the paint, though he is the same size as the others. He draws fouls at a high rate and is the team’s best offensive rebounder. Jack Cooley gets some minutes in the paint; you’ll know he’s in when an announcer mentions a Luke Harangody look-a-like.

Keys to the Game

Disrupt/ Get Physical. The Notre Dame offense is predicated on crisp passing and good timing. As in the other Big East games, the defense has to be quick and smart, funneling the Notre Dame players into positions they don’t want to be in – positions from where they are not ready to shoot. Turnovers would be nice to see; but the Irish are good ballhandlers, so that is not expected.

Defend the Perimeter. The Irish shooting from outside is steady and effective. While their shooting percentage from beyond the arc is a touch lower than last year’s final mark, they are obviously dangerous; Abromaitis has a quick trigger and good length, while Hansbrough will shoot both off the catch or the dribble.

Post Activity. St. John’s has done most of their scoring in the paint, but Notre Dame is such a high-scoring team that even if the Johnnies can slow them down, they will have to find points from somewhere. Interior scoring from Burrell and Brownlee will be key to keeping the team in the game.

Offensive Rebounding. The Red Storm need to find some extended possessions in this game for more scoring opportunities. (forcing turnovers also works.)

Transition Points. St. John’s has done a great job getting out in transition to score. Not all of the Notre Dame defenders are as fleet of foot as the Red Storm players, and this has to be used to the Johnnies’ advantage.

Prediction: Too much shooting for the Red Storm. 71-63, Fighting Irish

Hoya Home Opener

January 2, 2011 by Pico Dulce Leave a Comment

“I still think we’re the better team. We should have won this game. We didn’t make the important shots when we needed them.”

Justin Burrell, after the 66-59 loss to Georgetown on Dec. 31st, 2009

The Red Storm have started 2-0 in the Big East, with both wins on the road, where the Johnnies hadn’t tasted much success in the past few years. Granted, the team hasn’t tasted much success at home in the Big East either. Obviously, winning at home in the Big East schedule is key to a good conference record – and possible NCAA berth. And that adds importance to Monday’s contest against longtime rival Georgetown Hoyas, predicted to finish in the top 4 of the league.

The Hoyas come to New York with 12 wins and a top-20 ranking, but they are still finding their way with a 1-1 record in the Big East. They lost at Notre Dame – no shame in that – and defeated DePaul in Washington by 11. They will be looking for a decisive win over a St. John’s team that has likely raised eyebrows around the league. Meanwhile, the Red Storm look to go 3-0 in the Big East and continue their hot start.

Georgetown Hoyas (12-2, 1-1 Big East)

One thing St. John’s fans have to appreciate about Georgetown is that – for a team that should have aspirations of deep NCAA runs – John Thompson III’s recent teams never seem to put St. John’s away. I don’t get it. Last year’s New Year’s Eve game was close for much of the game, with St. John’s taking a 1 point lead in the second half. The Johnnies couldn’t score inside in that half, and fell to the Hoyas in Washington, a disappointing loss in a game that could have been stolen.

The Friars and the Mountaineers are tough teams that sometimes struggle to score, even before Big East play. That’s not Georgetown; the Hoyas put up points. While the Hoyas have had some turnover problems this year – both in forcing turnovers and holding on to the ball – when they can get shots up they are as dangerous as any team in the country.

The offense – a familiar cast for Big East fans – is led by senior Austin Freeman, a big-bodied guard who can post up, pass, drive, and scorch the nets from the perimeter. He is one of the Big East’s premier scorers, and is blessed with a jump shot and knowledge of the game that will keep him employed in the game of basketball for years to come.

Also on the perimeter are point guard Chris Wright, who is handing out assists at a high-level rate and scoring well from all over the court. He likes to drive into the middle of the paint off the dribble and in transition, with mixed results – some great shots, and some wince-worthy turnovers. Joining him is Jason Clark, who takes about half his shots from outside the arc. Despite not passing often, he also turns the ball over a bit. Against Notre Dame, he struggled to defend around screens and to keep his man in front of him. Backing them up in limited minutes are freshman Markel Starks and sophomore Vee Sanford, who has been extremely effective in scoring the ball in his limited time.

Up front, the Hoyas replace Greg Monroe’s production with a combination of senior Julian Vaughn, sophomore Hollis Thompson, junior Henry Sims, and freshman Nate Lubick. Vaughn is a brawny body who is effective on the glass on both ends; he’s the team’s best rebounder and shot blocker, but gets into some foul trouble. Thompson starts and has range to outside the three-point arc. His rebounding has been solid.

Off the bench, Henry Sims has come into his own. He is the team’s tallest regular at 6’10”, rebounds the defensive end well, and even makes passes. Nate Lubick is a physical presence who is judicious with his shot-taking, but can stroke it out to the perimeter given space.

Keys to the Game:

Active/ Pressure Defense. No matter what lineup the Red Storm play, they need to have active hands and feet, making sure Georgetown gets few easy looks. This is a must; the Hoyas can put a game out of reach if they get comfortable on the perimeter.

Force Miscues. The Red Storm can force some turnovers via steals and traps, especially if they speed the guards up. Those turnovers will help the Johnnies’ scoring, as well.

Outside In, Inside Out Scoring. The previous opponents allowed St. John’s to get a lot of good shots inside. The scoring may be harder against the tougher Hoyas. Against an outside shooting team, St. John’s has to be able to hit some perimeter shots as well as score inside – or get to the free throw line a lot.

Austin Freeman. Know where Austin Freeman is. He’s the most consistently dangerous scorer. He’ll get his shots, but they need to be difficult attempts.

Defend the Interior. The Hoyas will look to run some backcourt cuts for their guards and get shots at the rim. St. John’s forwards need to be prepared to slide over and defend cutting players. The Hoya forwards can get layups and dunks when the guards get deep penetration.

Prediction:

No Hangover

December 31, 2010 by Pico Dulce Leave a Comment

We ran everything we wanted to. We knew plays they were going to run. We made them do things they didn’t want to do. We controlled the paint . . . and we really controlled the tone.

Justin Burrell, after the West Virginia win

After an impressive conference-opening win at West Virginia, St. John’s continues Big East play with another road game at Providence on New Year’s Day. I guess that means no champagne for the fellas at midnight (or maybe one glass) – if they want to stay sharp.

And this team should want to remain sharp. Last year, a weaker Providence team came to Carnesecca Arena and the Red Storm had their defense opened up like a banana. The Red Storm gave up 42 points in the second half and found it hard to score against a team that spent a whole season not playing defense. The Johnnies turned the ball over without Malik Boothe in the lineup and had little offensive flow.

Not only can St. John’s not afford to lose to this Friar team if they want to contend for a spot in the top half of the league, they need to avenge what was a disturbing loss for the squad.

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Providence (11-3, 0-1 Big East)

Providence is 11-3 with wins over Alabama and local rival Rhode Island. Their schedule hasn’t been the most daunting, but the Friars have shown a willingness to play defense. They have been solid at defending the perimeter with their length at the point guard and the wings, and haven’t sent opponents to the line often (unlike West Virginia).

On offense, the Friars look to run on made and missed baskets, crash the glass and score well inside the paint. Keno Davis’ team doesn’t dig deep into the bench, but has some interesting talent in the wings. They are willing to a 4-guard lineup at times.

The Friars are led by the scorer Marshon Brooks and the point guard Vincent Council. Brooks is a senior who is not shy about taking shots. From anywhere and at anytime, he will pull up and stroke it, though he is adept at driving to the rim. He does more of his scoring inside the arc, and gets to the line fairly frequently. He can block a shot as well, and grabs rebounds on both ends. In fact, he’s not a terrible passer (by the numbers) and has some steals; he does it all.

Vincent Council plays point guard and has some nice defensive stretches. He has turned the ball over on occasion, but is also putting up excellent assist numbers, while getting to the line even more than Brooks does.

Also at guard is the freshman Gerard Coleman, who has been capable outside but less of a threat from the perimeter. He was a highly rated recruit, so one never knows when he might have a coming-out party. Duke Mondy is strictly a perimeter shooter, though his percentages haven’t been great in his sophomore year. He grabs steals as well. Freshman Bryce Cotton is pesky on defense.

Up front, the Friars have improved with a pair of big bodies doing the dirty work. Bilal Dixon and Kadeem Batts both rebound very well, don’t hunt their shots down, and provide some defense inside. Batts is more efficient on offense and focuses on offensive rebounding. Dixon is a far better defensive rebounder, blocks shots at a strong rate, but has struggled to score efficiently or from the free throw line. Ron Giplaye backs them up with more rebounding and blocked shots.

Keys to the Game

Take Care of the Ball. St. John’s can’t afford to turn the ball over to a team that isn’t good at forcing turnovers; the Red Storm can’t defeat themselves.

Anticipate Fast Attacks. St. John’s has to get back in transition and anticipate the streaking Friars’ players; many of their points come from their transition game. If St. John’s can either slow them down or prevent them from getting easy perimeter shots in transition, the Friars will struggle.

Control the Game. Much like the above Key, St. John’s simply cannot allow them to go on long unanswered runs. The Fordham game is a good lesson for this matchup – a team that can give up a lot of points but can also score a bunch in a hurry if the Red Storm isn’t careful. St. John’s has to take smart, efficient shots… preferably the types that get Friar post players into foul trouble.

Master the Glass. Once again, if St. John’s can keep their opponent from offensive rebounds – and get some second-chance points themselves – the Red Storm can win this matchup.

Cover the Perimeter. Providence has some shooters, even if they haven’t tasted a lot of success this season. The Red Storm can’t slack on their perimeter defense.

Prediction: St. John’s wins this one, 79-75.

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