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St. John’s Draws Home Team in Charleston Classic

November 15, 2012 by Dave Krupinski Leave a Comment

Photo by: Jim O’Connor-US PRESSWIRE

The St. John’s Red Storm, fresh off their season-opening 77-74 victory over Detroit, will be traveling to Charleston, S.C., for the Charleston Classic. The young Red Storm team will face a veteran Charleston Cougar team at TD Bank Arena.

The Red Storm will once again be without newcomers Orlando Sanchez and Marc-Antoine Bourgault as they are still awaiting word from the NCAA regarding their eligibility.

St. John’s will be playing 3 games in the next four days. How will the Red Storm fair?

Game Information
Date: Thursday, November 15, 2012
Location: TD Bank Arena- Charleston, South Carolina
Time: 5:30 PM EST
TV: ESPN U (Rich Hollenberg and Tim Welsch)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)

Charleston Cougars (1-0, 0-0)
Head Coach: Doug Wojcik

The College of Charleston has been one of the better kept secrets in NCAA basketball in the Southern Conference. The Cougars have won 64 games over the past three seasons under Bobby Cremins.

Cremins retired after last season and now the Cougars are coached by Dough Wojcik who was at Tulsa the past 7 years. The Cougars have a balanced scoring attack and will look to keep this a slow half court game.

Projected Starting Lineup
F Anthony Thomas
F Trent Wiederman
C Adjehi Baru
G Anthony Lawrence
G Anthony Stitt

St. John’s (1-0, 0-0)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin

The potential was apparent in the first game but there was some cause for concern too. St. John’s will look to refine their defensive focus in this game after allowing Detroit a number of open looks from beyond the arc in the season opener.

Expect St. John’s to come out and dictate the tempo of this game not allowing Charleston to feel comfortable in their own arena. The Red Storm will play a larger rotation insure that everyone keeps fresh legs throughout the tournament.

Projected Starting Lineup
Projected Starting Lineup:
F Amir Garrett
F JaKarr Sampson
C Christian Jones
G D’Angelo Harrison
G Phil Greene

Keys to the Game

Force Pressure Early- St. John’s came out timid in its first game. St. John’s only shot four free throws and forced four turnovers in the first half against Detroit. Expect this to be a point of emphasis for Coach Lavin to stress to his team. The Red Storm need will need to force pressure on both ends of the floor early. Getting to the free throw line and forcing turnovers will deflate the home court advantage for Charleston.
Feed Off the Ego- Say what you will about D’Angelo Harrison, but his passion is contagious with teammates. Getting him involved early in this game will trickle down to each and every one of his teammates. Run some sets and let Harrison find his.
Settle Down Sampson, Rise Up Pointer- St. John’s needs guys to understand what is expected of them in order for this team to be successful. Two guys that struggled the most in the first game were JaKarr Sampson and Sir’Dominic Pointer. Sampson committed a number of “silent turnovers” which means taking bad shots. Sampson needs to pick his spots better and there will be a patient learning curve with this. Pointer on the other hand needs to be more aggressive offensively. It doesn’t necessarily mean taking more shots but he needs to be more of a threat with the basketball instead of looking like he’s playing hot potato when he gets the ball.
Rebound to Run- When you rebound the ball defensively, it allows you to run an up-tempo offense. While St. John’s may lack a prototypical front line they have capable rebounders who can lead the fast break at every position. If there is a team effort rebounding the basketball, it will allow St. John’s to utilize their athleticism over an inferior Cougar team.

Final Prediction: St. John’s wins, 72-59

St. John’s Tips Off Season with Detroit on ESPN 24 Hour Marathon

November 12, 2012 by Dave Krupinski Leave a Comment

Photo by: Jim O’Connor-US PRESSWIRE

For the second straight year, St. John’s will tip off its season on ESPN’s 24 Hours of College Basketball. This game will mark the return of head coach Steve Lavin after his battle with prostate cancer.

The Red Storm has heightened expectations this season, returning a majority of their minutes played from last season and adding seven new scholarship players. They will be looking to avenge their loss from last season against the Horizon League’s defending champions, the Detroit Titans. The Titans won 22 games last season and represented the Horizon League in the NCAA tournament, losing to Kansas in first round, 65-50.

St. John’s played in the ESPN 24 Hours of College Basketball two seasons ago and coincidentally made a run to the NCAA tournament. St. John’s fans hope history will repeat itself.

Game Information

Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Location: Carnesecca Arena- Queens, New York
Time: 2:00 PM EST
TV: ESPN (John Saunders, Fran Fraschilla & Chris Mullin)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)
Online: WSJURadio.org

Detroit Titans (1-0, 0-0)
Head Coach: Ray McCallum

The Detroit Titans return leading scorer Ray McCallum, who is one of the more prolific scoring guards in the country. They run a very balanced attack and have 5-6 guys capable of scoring in double digits. While the Titans play mostly man-to-man, expect them to play some zone against St. John’s just as they did last year. The Titans have already played their first regular season game, but they’ve spent extra time in the film room studying up on the new look St. John’s team. The Detroit coaching staff was very pleased to access to film of both St. John’s exhibition games, due to the fact they were televised nationally on ESPN 3.

While Ray McCallum and Doug Anderson will shoulder a bulk of the scoring, Juwan Howard Jr. and P.J. Boutte are two complementary scorers. Calliste is a gunner from the outside who isn’t shy about putting up shots. A forgotten player on the Titans is Nick Minnerath, who was arguably their best post player a season ago before suffering a gruesome knee injury. He’s not 100% yet, but he’s worked his way back into the starting rotation and shouldn’t be overlooked.

Projected Starting Lineup:

F Doug Anderson
F Nick Minnerath
C Juwan Howard Jr.
G Ray McCallum
G Jason Calliste

St. John’s (0-0, 0-0)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin

While St. John’s has plenty of familiar faces returning, there is still a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the young Red Storm. Incoming players Orlando Sanchez and Marc-Antoine Bourgault are still awaiting initial eligibility rulings from the NCAA. God’sgift Achiuwa and Felix Balamou are expected to redshirt. D’Angelo Harrison is the dog house and will be replaced in starting lineup.

However, there are plenty of reasons to be excited for St. John’s this season regardless of the outcome of the first game. JaKarr Sampson, Chris Obekpa, and Christian Jones all look like they’re capable contributors day 1, Jamal Branch will be eligible to play in December, and Phil Greene looks poised to breakout in his sophomore season.

St. John’s has shown different looks in the preseason. Most notably, their defensive philosophy has switched from zone to man-to-man. Will the Johnnies go back to match-up zone or with more bodies to spare this year go with a pressure man-to-man?

While many questions are left to be answered, Detroit will be a great measuring stick for St. John’s in the first game of the season.

Projected Starting Lineup:

F Amir Garrett
F JaKarr Sampson
C Christian Jones
G Phil Greene
G Sir’Dominic Pointer

Keys to Victory

Protect Your Glass- St. John’s rebounding efforts in the preseason were alarming. The Red Storm will need to limit Detroit to one shot per possession. Having strong defensive rebound effort will also allow St. John’s to play in transition where they thrive. If this game is regulated to a half-court game, it’s going to be a long day for the Johnnies.
Shutdown McCallum- When McCallum is scoring the ball efficiently, it opens up opportunities for their complementary scorers. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a mix of Sir’Dominic Pointer, D’Angelo Harrison, and Amir Garret defend McCallum.
Shot Selection- Last season there was a strong emphasis on valuing the basketball. St. John’s would run what is called a “False Motion” taking 20 seconds off the shot clock per possession to limit opponents from getting more shot opportunities. D’Angelo Harrison is the only player on Red Storm who has the ultimate green light shooting the ball. New players will have to show good judgement in the shots they take because this game will come down to a matter of 1-3 possessions.
Set the Tone- St. John’s doesn’t want to play from behind in their own arena. The crowd needs to be involved early and often making it hard for Detroit to call out their sets. Look for St. John’s to really attack the basket early trying to get to the free throw line often.

Final Prediction: Detroit Wins, 67-61

St. John’s Opens Big East Tournament With Rematch Against Pittsburgh

March 6, 2012 by Jaden Daly Leave a Comment

Seven days removed from a defeat that some people consider the downfall of the season, the Red Storm have a chance at redemption.

Opening the Big East tournament in the 2pm time slot for the fourth consecutive year, St. John’s squares off against Pittsburgh for the right to face Georgetown in the second round of the conference championship. The matinee tips off later today, and JohnnyJungle.com gets you ready for the postseason with the following information:

Date: Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Location: Madison Square Garden; New York, New York
Time: 2:00 PM EST
TV: ESPN2 (Dave Pasch, Doris Burke, Andy Katz)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)
Online: WSJURadio.org (Vince Ruffino, Jon Perez)

St. John’s Red Storm (13-18; 6-12, No. 12 seed)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin* (2nd season at STJ; 34-30, 179-108 overall)
*- Assistant coach Mike Dunlap will serve as interim coach while Lavin recovers from offseason prostate cancer surgery

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Phil Greene (6-2 Fr., 7.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 36% FG, 74% FT, 3.0 APG, 1.3 SPG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 17.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 38% FG, 38% 3pt, 80% FT, 2.1 APG, 1.6 SPG)
F Amir Garrett (6-6 Fr., 7.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 44% FG, 58% FT, 1.2 APG, 1.4 SPG)
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 6.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 40% FG, 55% FT, 1.6 APG, 1.5 SPG)
F Moe Harkless (6-8 Fr., 15.2 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 45% FG, 67% FT, 1.5 APG, 1.4 BPG, 1.6 SPG)

Key Reserves:
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 9.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 56% FG, 67% FT)

Keys To Victory:
– Revenge. With the exception of Cincinnati, the Red Storm have played better when facing an opponent for the second time this season. After being outscored 20-4 down the stretch against Georgetown, St. John’s played hard against the Hoyas the second time around; and after nearly losing on the road to DePaul, St. John’s used their press defense and transition game to overcome the Blue Demons at Carnesecca Arena. With the Panthers coming in off a hard-fought losing effort to Connecticut at Gampel Pavilion, the Red Storm can capitalize off the short turnaround if they can put their bitter loss to Rutgers in the past.

– Hometown coronation. It is expected that Moe Harkless will officially be named the Big East Rookie of the Year tomorrow, and the all-rookie team selection has risen to the occasion in big games. Harkless’ 32-point, 13-rebound domination of Providence in the conference opener and 30-point national coming-out party against Duke established him as a force to be reckoned with, and should have the advantage in the interior matchup against Pitt’s Dante Taylor and Talib Zanna.

– Past history. Although it has nothing to do with the Red Storm this season, here are some nuggets involving St. John’s and the Big East tournament:
– Three consecutive wins on their first day of competition (Georgetown 2009, Connecticut 2010, Rutgers 2011)
– Second consecutive season with at least one player recognized in conference awards (Dwight Hardy and Justin Burrell 2011, Moe Harkless and D’Angelo Harrison 2012)
– Second time in four years playing a team twice within seven days (Georgetown 2009)
– Fourth consecutive year playing in 2pm time slot
– Third time in four years in 12/13 matchup (won both other times: 2009, 2010)

And their opponent…

Pittsburgh Panthers (16-15, 5-13)
Head Coach: Jamie Dixon (9th season, 232-75)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Travon Woodall (5-11 Jr., 11.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 43% FG, 37% 3pt, 87% FT, 6.1 APG)
G Ashton Gibbs (6-2 Sr., 15.4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 39% FG, 33% 3pt, 86% FT, 2.3 APG)
F Lamar Patterson (6-5 So., 8.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 43% FG, 42% 3pt, 75% FT, 3.3 APG, 1.0 SPG)
F Nasir Robinson (6-5 Sr., 11.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 56% FG, 50% FT, 2.1 APG)
F Dante Taylor (6-9 Jr., 6.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 55% FG, 66% FT)

Key Reserves:
F J.J. Moore (6-6 So., 7.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 42% FG, 75% FT)
F Talib Zanna (6-9 So., 5.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 54% FG, 65% FT)
G John Johnson (6-1 Fr., 4.5 PPG, 0.7 RPG, 41% FG, 39% 3pt, 86% FT, 1.4 APG)

Keys To Victory:
– Madison Square Garden. Last year notwithstanding, Panthers fans have usually turned the Garden into a raucous atmosphere despite being the visiting team. If Pittsburgh can get the crowd in their favor from the outset, the atmosphere in the stands can approach the levels currently enjoyed at their home court of the Petersen Center.

– Give it to Gibbs. This will likely be the last time Ashton Gibbs faces the Red Storm, which will be a sad occasion for Pittsburgh fans. Over his four years, the New Jersey native has become a St. John’s killer; shooting 48 percent (24-for-50) from the field and 44 percent (12-for-27) from three-point range against the Johnnies, while also averaging 15.4 points per game in his five contests against St. John’s.

–Reverse the curse. Despite their relative success in drawing well at Madison Square Garden; Pittsburgh has only won one game there in the last four seasons, and that came in the regular season two years ago. Since becoming the second team to win four games in as many days when they won the Big East championship from the No. 7 seed in 2008, the Panthers have been a “one-and-done” team over each of the last three campaigns in the conference tournament. With losses to West Virginia, Notre Dame and Connecticut over the last three seasons, the Panthers are hoping the No. 13 (their seed in this year’s tournament) is as lucky for them as it was for former Pitt quarterback and NFL Hall of Famer Dan Marino, who just happens to be among the greatest players of all time.

So, Who Wins?
Recent history favors St. John’s; but the Red Storm come in off a two-game losing streak featuring a performance where they ran into a buzzsaw, and the other against a team that got a fortuitous final minute to escape their home court. Pittsburgh comes in with more to prove, looking to erase the stigma that comes from a season in which the Panthers lost an uncharacteristic seven home games. While it appears on paper that the winner of today’s game may not have much of a chance against Georgetown, nothing could be further from the truth. The Hoyas are vulnerable to midpack teams in the Big East, (see Seton Hall) and the experience the winner gains from playing the day before is invaluable. This matchup will be one in which St. John’s all-freshman lineup defines the moment by staying in contention for most of the game; but as it has in the past, their youth will catch up to them down the stretch as Pittsburgh pulls away to win convincingly.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 78, St. John’s 68

Red Storm Meets Rutgers In Regular Season Finale

March 3, 2012 by Jaden Daly Leave a Comment

The last time St. John’s played Rutgers; almost a year ago today, this happened. This also happened.

Most of the personnel has changed in the last twelve months, and this time the two programs meet with just as much at stake as there was in last year’s Big East tournament matchup. Both teams can clinch the No. 11 seed in the Big East tournament with a win, while a Rutgers win could create a four-way tie for the eleventh spot if Pittsburgh and Villanova win as well. Madison Square Garden was the place to be a year ago; but Rutgers plays host this year for what is the biggest game of the season for either side, and one in which you can get your background information here before the opening tip tomorrow night.

Date: Saturday, March 3, 2012
Location: Louis Brown Athletic Center; Piscataway, New Jersey
Time: 8:00 PM EST
TV: MSG (Jim Barbar, John Celestand)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM, (John Minko, Tim O’Toole) WOR 710 AM (Chris Carlin, Dick Lloyd)
Online: WSJURadio.org (Mike Rossillo, Kieran Lynch)

St. John’s Red Storm (13-17, 6-11)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin* (2nd season at STJ; 34-29, 179-107 overall)
*- Assistant coach Mike Dunlap will serve as interim coach while Lavin recovers from offseason prostate cancer surgery

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Phil Greene (6-2 Fr., 8.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 37% FG, 77% FT, 3.1 APG, 1.3 SPG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 17.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 38% FG, 38% 3pt, 81% FT, 2.1 APG, 1.6 SPG)
F Amir Garrett (6-6 Fr., 7.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 43% FG, 58% FT, 1.1 APG, 1.3 SPG)
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 6.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 40% FG, 57% FT, 1.6 APG, 1.6 BPG)
F Moe Harkless (6-8 Fr., 15.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 45% FG, 67% FT, 1.4 APG, 1.4 BPG, 1.7 SPG)

Key Reserves:
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 9.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 55% FG, 68% FT)

Keys To Victory:
– Sense of urgency. St. John’s can do no better than the No. 11 seed in the Big East tournament, but a loss can drop them as far as the No. 14 hole. Three spots can mean the difference between winning and losing on Tuesday at the Big East tournament, and the Red Storm are definitely talented enough to stand up to any team in the conference. The key will be taking advantage of the opportunity and defining the moment against a Rutgers team just as young as they are.

– Phil The Thrill. Phil Greene has really come into his own over the last several weeks, displaying that his transition from a pure shooter to combo guard to point guard is complete. Greene may very well move back off the ball next December once Texas A&M transfer Jamal Branch is eligible, but the Chicago native has done a great job as the main facilitator in the Red Storm offense to date. Along with D’Angelo Harrison, St. John’s has the decided edge in the backcourt against a Rutgers freshman unit still looking for some consistency.

– In the swing of things. Amir Garrett has also blossomed as the swingman in the Red Storm’s all-freshman lineup. His running layup provided the insurance needed to defeat Notre Dame last week, and his statistics continue to improve as he sees more minutes. If Garrett can hit mid-range shots and free throws, he will be near impossible to contain.

Welcoming the Red Storm on the banks of the Old Raritan is a team that will run through a flaming brick wall for its coach, who continues to get a lot out of a little.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (13-17, 5-12)
Head Coach: Mike Rice (2nd season at RU; 28-34, 101-65 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Jerome Seagears (6-1 Fr., 7.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 41% FG, 34% 3pt, 77% FT, 2.5 APG)
G Eli Carter (6-2 Fr., 13.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 41% FG, 34% 3pt, 71% FT, 2.2 APG, 1.2 SPG)
F Dane Miller (6-6 Jr., 7.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 50% FG, 73% FT, 2.2 APG, 1.7 BPG, 1.2 SPG)
F Austin Johnson (6-8 Jr., 4.4 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 50% FG, 68% FT)
F Gilvydas Biruta (6-8 So., 10.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 46% FG, 35% [7/20] 3pt, 64% FT, 1.5 APG)

Key Reserves:
G Myles Mack (5-9 Fr., 9.9 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 39% FG, 34% 3pt, 78% FT, 2.0 APG, 1.5 SPG)
G Mike Poole (6-5 So., 6.5 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 41% FG, 36% 3pt, 80% FT, 1.3 APG, 1.3 SPG)
F Derrick Randall (6-8 Fr., 2.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 56% FG, 61% [14/23] FT)

Keys To Victory:
– Jekyll and Hyde. That’s the season in a nutshell for the Scarlet Knights. As impressive as their wins over Florida, Connecticut and Notre Dame were, their losses to Illinois State, LSU and DePaul were among the most demoralizing defeats Rutgers has endured this season. With the final seconds of their last game against the Red Storm still fresh in Mike Rice’s mind, expect Rutgers to come out a little more determined with the No. 11 seed still at stake in Tuesday’s opening round of the Big East tournament.

– Protect this house. The last time St. John’s came to the RAC, (two years and one month ago tonight) it was a day the Red Storm would like to forget. On that night, former Rutgers star and current Florida reserve Mike Rosario lit up the Johnnies for 31 points in a loss that proved to be the beginning of the end for former coach Norm Roberts, who is ironically now an assistant on the Florida team Rosario plays for.

– Big three. St. John’s may have a dynamic duo in the backcourt with Phil Greene and D’Angelo Harrison, but Rutgers has three guards who can score just as well as the visitors. The trio of Eli Carter, Jerome Seagears and Myles Mack have combined for 31 points, eight rebounds and seven assists per night; and if left open, each one will burn St. John’s and their matchup zone. Look for the Scarlet Knights to create separation inside that will force St. John’s to retreat back behind the line in attempts to give the Rutgers guards open looks.

So, Who Wins?
Each team has seemingly everything to gain and just as much to lose. In addition; while St. John’s is characteristic of every other Steve Lavin-coached team that gets better as the season progresses, Rutgers is a typical Mike Rice unit that is scrappy enough to the point where they just will not die at any point on the court. The Scarlet Knights’ last game against Villanova; one where they were down sixteen points at halftime only to lose by just six, is living proof. In what will be yet another defensive stalemate between the two squads; the Rocky Balboa of the Big East that is Rutgers will stand up to St. John’s, and will also punch back enough after taking a few shots to send themselves into the Big East tournament on a winning note.

Final Score: Rutgers 67, St. John’s 61

St. John’s And Handful Of Rookies Travel To Pitt In Steel City Showdown

February 29, 2012 by Jaden Daly Leave a Comment

Fresh off a three-game winning streak and a loss by reigning national champion Connecticut last night that kept St. John’s in contention for the No. 9 seed in next week’s Big East tournament, the Red Storm hit the road for two more games to conclude their regular season. First up is a trip to Pittsburgh to face a struggling Panther team that St. John’s has never beaten at the Petersen Center, and you will find all the important information you need to get caught up on tonight’s pivotal matchup below.

Date: Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Location: Petersen Events Center; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Time: 7:00 PM EST
TV: ESPNU (Adam Amin, Bob Valvano)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)

St. John’s Red Storm (13-16, 6-10)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin* (2nd season at STJ; 34-28, 179-106 overall)
*- Assistant coach Mike Dunlap will serve as interim coach while Lavin recovers from offseason prostate cancer surgery

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Phil Greene (6-2 Fr., 7.6 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 36% FG, 77% FT, 2.9 APG, 1.3 SPG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 17.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 38% FG, 38% 3pt, 82% FT, 2.2 APG, 1.5 SPG)
F Amir Garrett (6-6 Fr., 7.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 46% FG, 58% FT, 1.1 APG, 1.2 SPG)
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 6.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 40% FG, 57% FT, 1.6 APG, 1.6 SPG)
F Moe Harkless (6-8 Fr., 15.9 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 45% FG, 66% FT, 1.4 APG, 1.5 BPG, 1.7 SPG)

Key Reserves:
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 9.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 53% FG, 67% FT)

Keys To Victory:
– Hostile environment. Pittsburgh has arguably one of the hardest venues for a road team to win at, and the atmosphere tonight will be something the all-freshman lineup has yet to experience. Phil Greene will be most affected since he is at the controls, and his decision making will be put to the test like never before.

– D. (on both sides of the ball) On offense, this means D’Angelo Harrison. When the Texan gets into a groove, he is impossible to stop. On defense, it is self-explanatory. The Panthers have always been a strong defensive unit, so St. John’s needs to match them stop for stop whenever possible.

– Cloud nine. A win keeps the Red Storm in contention for the No. 9 seed in next week’s Big East tournament, the same spot that launched Connecticut’s run to glory one year ago. The brackets for St. John’s in the nine hole would include DePaul and Seton Hall before an eventual showdown with regular season conference champion Syracuse.

Now, to meet their opponents trying to salvage their season.

Pittsburgh Panthers (15-14, 4-12)
Head Coach: Jamie Dixon (9th season, 231-74)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Travon Woodall (5-11 Jr., 11.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 42% FG, 36% 3pt, 87% FT, 6.1 APG)
G Ashton Gibbs (6-2 Sr., 15.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 39% FG, 34% 3pt, 86% FT, 2.4 APG)
F Lamar Patterson (6-5 So., 8.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 41% FG, 41% 3pt, 74% FT, 3.3 APG, 1.0 SPG)
F Nasir Robinson (6-5 Sr., 11.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 56% FG, 48% FT, 2.1 APG)
F Dante Taylor (6-9 Jr., 6.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 53% FG, 65% FT)

Key Reserves:
F J.J. Moore (6-6 So., 6.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 41% FG, 75% FT)
F Talib Zanna (6-9 So., 5.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 54% FG, 64% FT)
G John Johnson (6-1 Fr., 4.7 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 42% FG, 42% 3pt, 85% FT, 1.4 APG)

Keys To Victory:
– Home sweet home. Prior to this season, the Petersen Center was to Pitt what Hulk Hogan was to wrestling in the 1980s: Something that rarely ever lost. The Panthers had only lost twelve games since the place was opened, and this year alone has produced seven defeats on top of that. Look for Pitt to thrive off their sellout crowd early and often to take St. John’s out of the game.

– Guard play. Between Ashton Gibbs and Travon Woodall, Pitt received the bulk of their offense the last time they played the Red Storm. Gibbs seemingly could not miss at Madison Square Garden a year ago, and Woodall would have had the game-winning three if Dwight Hardy did not channel his inner “Baryshnikov” or “Fred Astaire” in a play you can see below.

– Nigerian nightmare. Just as St. John’s has has had God’sgift Achiuwa, Pitt has relied on his compatriot Talib Zanna. Now in his sophomore campaign; Zanna has yet to show what he is capable of on a consistent basis, but will get the opportunity against an undermanned Red Storm front line. Look for Zanna to have one of his better nights exploiting a thin interior game.

So, Who Wins?
Pitt has the role of spoiler on their minds. With a seemingly improbable run to a conference championship ahead of them, the Panthers may simply be looking at the NIT to salvage a lost season. However, a Steve Lavin team always gets better as the year goes on. This year’s St. John’s unit is no exception since the handful of rookies are now playing their best basketball and are peaking even later than last season’s senior-laden team did. With one more before the conference converges on Madison Square Garden, St. John’s continues their roll and sends the Panthers to .500 with a big road win.

Final Score: St. John’s 65, Pittsburgh 59

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