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Red Storm Go For Sweep Of Cincinnati At Madison Square Garden

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St. John’s may have lost their last game by 25 points against Syracuse, but among the positives for the Red Storm were yet another 20-point game from D’Angelo Harrison, who has established himself as one of the go-to guys on the youngest team in school history.

Harrison will have to fight to reach the 20-point mark again in his next effort, however, as Cincinnati comes into town for a shot at redemption following a loss to St. John’s at home, where Moe Harkless‘ last-second tip-in gave the Red Storm the victory. JohnnyJungle.com gets you caught up on what will be the Bearcats’ first trip to Madison Square Garden since 2010 with the information below.

Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Location: Madison Square Garden; New York, New York
Time: 7:00 PM EST
TV: ESPNU (Adam Amin, LaPhonso Ellis)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)

St. John’s Red Storm (10-13, 4-7)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin* (2nd season at STJ; 31-25, 176-103 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., 7.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 36% FG, 77% FT, 2.9 APG, 1.2 SPG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 16.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 39% FG, 38% 3pt, 80% FT, 2.0 APG, 1.6 SPG)
F Amir Garrett (6-6 Fr., 6.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 41% FG, 55% FT, 1.0 APG, 1.2 SPG)
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 6.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 41% FG, 57% FT, 1.4 APG, 1.0 BPG, 1.7 SPG)
F Moe Harkless (6-8 Fr., 16.2 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 46% FG, 64% FT, 1.4 APG, 1.7 BPG, 1.6 SPG)

Key Reserves:
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 10.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 56% FG, 69% FT)

Keys To Victory:
– Harrison. With Cincinnati’s abundance of three-point shooters, the Texan becomes the most important man on the court. St. John’s will need him to effectively manage his shot selection and avoid foul trouble in order to control the Bearcats.

–Bench productivity. Even though only two players can do this, it is still necessary. God’sgift Achiuwa, who has struggled at the Garden, needs to play fundamentally sound basketball; while Malik Stith, who has been a non-factor lately, just needs to facilitate things.

– Fordham, Part II. That will most likely be the result if St. John’s wins this one. In the Fordham game this past December, the Red Storm used a six-man rotation to wear the Rams down defensively while only scoring 56 points. Cincinnati is not known to be a group of prolific scorers, so each missed shot can turn into a long possession on the other end.

Looking for revenge is a team still on the NCAA Tournament bubble in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Bearcats (16-7, 6-4)
Head Coach: Mick Cronin (6th year at UC; 103-84, 172-108 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Cashmere Wright (10.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 40% FG, 40% 3pt, 68% FT, 4.8 APG, 1.8 SPG)
G Dion Dixon (13.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 37% FG, 71% FT, 2.2 APG, 1.7 SPG)
G Sean Kilpatrick (6-4 Jr., 15.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 43% FG, 39% 3pt, 73% FT, 1.6 APG, 1.4 SPG)
G JaQuon Parker (6-3 Jr., 8.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 44% FG, 46% 3pt, 77% FT, 1.2 APG)
F Yancy Gates (12.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 48% FG, 55% FT)

Key Reserves:
F Justin Jackson (6-8 So., 5.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 52% FG, 52% FT, 1.3 APG, 1.5 BPG, 1.1 SPG)

Keys To Victory:
– Post presence. Yancy Gates and Justin Jackson fill this vacancy for the Bearcats, and both need to stay out of foul trouble. Gates is once again playing at the high level he was at before the infamous Xavier brawl, while Jackson has regressed in recent games. Against a St. John’s front line that is much longer and athletic, Cincinnati will have open lanes inside the paint that need to be exploited.

– Homecoming. Sean Kilpatrick hails from nearby White Plains, and should have scores of family and friends on hand to support him. Already the Bearcats’ leading scorer, the junior will have added incentive to put on another show in front of the hometown crowd.

– Selection Sunday. It may be more than a month away, but Cincinnati needs to have an elimination game mindset for this one. St. John’s is not the team they were a year ago, and a bad loss for the Bearcats would be a major shot to the gut for their NCAA Tournament chances.

So, Who Wins?
Simply put, the first one to 50 points. If recent history is any indication, this will be the latest installment of a rivalry that has featured a guaranteed rock fight in every meeting over the last three years. St. John’s has a road trip to Georgetown up next and cannot overlook the Bearcats, while Cincinnati could very well be playing for their postseason lives. Cincinnati has played in a greater amount of close games than the Red Storm, and are usually able to take the back end of the home-and-home series when St. John’s wins the first game. That is reason enough to give the Bearcats the victory here, keeping their at-large hopes alive after holding off a game St. John’s team.

Final Score: Cincinnati 56, St. John’s 55

Red Storm Host Syracuse For New York Bragging Rights

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New York’s College Team.

Two schools lay claim to that title and depending, on whom you speak to, the true owner of that moniker varies. Fortunately, this is an issue that gets to be settled on the court.

St. John’s and Syracuse meet this afternoon for the 86th time in the history of the two schools, with the Orange taking a 48-37 lead after winning twelve of their last thirteen showdowns with the Red Storm. St. John’s comes in having dropped six straight to Syracuse; but the last time that was the case, New York City’s college team walked off the court victorious. Can history repeat itself? JohnnyJungle.com will shed further light on this matchup that is less than twelve hours away.

Date: Saturday, February 4, 2012
Location: Madison Square Garden; New York, New York
Time: 12:00 PM EST
TV: ESPN (Dave Pasch, Doris Burke)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)
Online: WSJURadio.org (Mike Rossillo, Karl Delatorre)

St. John’s Red Storm (10-12, 4-6)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin* (2nd season at STJ; 31-24, 176-102 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., 7.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 35% FG, 75% FT, 2.9 APG, 1.2 SPG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 16.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 38% FG, 36% 3pt, 82% FT, 1.9 APG, 1.6 SPG)
F Amir Garrett (6-6 Fr., 5.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 43% FG, 54% FT, 1.1 APG, 1.3 SPG)
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 6.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 43% FG, 57% FT, 1.4 APG, 1.0 BPG, 1.6 SPG)
F Moe Harkless (6-8 Fr., 16.3 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.7 BPG, 1.6 SPG)

Key Reserves:
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 10.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 55% FG, 70% FT)

Keys To Victory:
– Running on adrenaline. St. John’s may be young, but their confidence is through the roof and their hearts will keep them in every game if their performance against Duke is any indication. Syracuse doesn’t pose a problem on matchups beyond Fab Melo, which bodes well for the Red Storm.

– Give me Moe. Moe Harkless played through pain at DePaul, scoring just nine points on 2-of-15 shooting. The freshman poured in eight rebounds though; and in order to expose Syracuse inside, he needs to make things happen on both sides of the ball. Drawing Fab Melo will hurt him on the offensive glass, but Harkless can pick up the slack defensively.

-Long distance shootout. If D’Angelo Harrison can fire effectively today, the pressure is on Syracuse to stop him. The Orange have several options beyond the arc, but Brandon Triche is the only consistent weapon. Harrison and Triche may end up matching one another shot for shot midway through the opening half, which will create an epic confrontation.

We’ve met New York City’s college team, so now we’ll introduce you to New York State’s college team.

No. 2 Syracuse Orange (22-1, 9-1)
Head Coach: Jim Boeheim (36th season; 878-302)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Antonio “Scoop” Jardine (6-2 Sr., 8.5 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 50% FG, 32% 3pt, 51% FT, 5.0 APG, 1.4 SPG)
G Brandon Triche (6-4 Jr., 10.2 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 45% FG, 40% 3pt, 86% FT, 2.9 APG, 1.3 SPG)
F Kris Joseph (6-7 Sr., 13.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 44% FG, 34% 3pt, 78% FT, 1.8 APG, 1.3 SPG)
F Rakeem Christmas (6-9 Fr., 3.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 56% FG, 67% [16/24] FT)
C Fab Melo (7-0 So., 7.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 56% FG, 55% FT, 3.0 BPG)

Key Reserves:
G Dion Waiters (6-4 So., 12.3 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 49% FG, 35% 3pt, 70% FT)
F C.J. Fair (6-8 So., 8.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 47% FG, 71% FT, 1.1 SPG)
F James Southerland (6-8 Jr., 7.7 PPG, 3.3 PPG, 48% FG, 34% 3pt, 67% FT)

Keys To Victory:
– Zoned out. Syracuse just isn’t Syracuse without their world-famous 2-3 zone defense, and that alone should provide all the advantage the Orange need against the young Red Storm. Kris Joseph may be the X-factor since he is a wing with no true defensive matchup, but Brandon Triche is the most important piece of the starting five. If he can make shots and close against D’Angelo Harrison, Syracuse will coast to an easy win today.

– Get it done up front. Syracuse is a guard-dominated team aside from Kris Joseph, which handicaps them against Moe Harkless. Fab Melo, who had the game of his life against St. John’s in the Big East tournament last year, will need an encore to give the Orange in the paint. Rakeem Christmas and C.J. Fair will also need to step up if Melo gets into foul trouble.

– A shot at history. Despite the personal turmoil he has endured this season, a win today would be doubly significant for Jim Boeheim aside from the fact that it would come against St. John’s. With a victory, Boeheim moves into a tie for third on the all-time wins list, matching Hall of Famer Dean Smith with 879; a number Smith picked up during his legendary career at North Carolina, where he won two national championships.

So, Who Wins
Just like the New York Giants four years ago, no one is giving St. John’s a shot. Also like the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, St. John’s will surprise. As noted before, these kids will not go away during any game. In fact, they will play harder and better if it gets close late. Syracuse still gets up for this one; but they will only win the battle, not the war. Ultimately, this is a game where the average fan will remember St. John’s and how hard they played from the opening tip to the final buzzer in a valiant effort.

Final Score: Syracuse 77, St. John’s 74

St. John’s Travels To Chicago For Meeting With DePaul

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Even in a loss, the valiant showing from St. John’s at Cameron Indoor Stadium against sixth-ranked Duke still ranks as some of the most inspiring basketball this young team has played all season.

Next up is a DePaul team that took the Red Storm to triple overtime the last time St. John’s made their way into Chicago, when the Red Storm outlasted the Blue Demons behind seven three-pointers and 32 points from D.J. Kennedy. JohnnyJungle.com gives you all the background information you need for the rematch in the land of deep dish pizza, Abe Froman and Stan Mikita’s Donuts.

Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Location: Allstate Arena; Rosemont, Illinois
Time: 8:30 PM EST
TV: SNY/ESPN3 (Mike Gleason, Dickey Simpkins)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)

St. John’s Red Storm (9-12, 3-6)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin* (2nd season at STJ; 30-24, 175-102 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., 6.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 34% FG, 75% FT, 2.7 APG, 1.1 SPG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 15.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 38% FG, 34% 3pt, 81% FT, 1.8 APG, 1.6 SPG)
F Amir Garrett (6-6 Fr., 5.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 38% FG, 54% FT, 1.1 APG, 1.4 SPG)
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 6.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 43% FG, 53% FT, 1.5 APG, 1.0 BPG, 1.6 SPG)
F Moe Harkless (6-8 Fr., 16.6 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 47% FG, 65% FT, 1.3 APG, 1.8 BPG, 1.5 SPG)

Key Reserves:
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 10.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 53% FG, 70% FT)
G Malik Stith (5-11 Jr., 2.8 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 39% FG, 80% [12/15] FT, 1.0 APG)

Keys To Victory:
– Confidence boost. That’s essentially what the Duke game serves as for this young bunch. If the Red Storm can maintain their momentum against a DePaul team that is still looking to turn the corner, this game will be theirs for the taking.

– Second City saint. Phil Greene makes his long-awaited return home tonight, and will have scores of family and friends in attendance as he looks to make his first homecoming a successful one. Greene will most likely be matched up with sophomore Brandon Young throughout the night.

– Moe Town. DePaul isn’t as vertically endowed as some other Big East programs, which should give Moe Harkless room to do what he does best. Look for the freshman to have another productive game as he solidifies his case for the Big East Rookie of the Year award.

And now, let’s meet the sons of the Midwest.

DePaul Blue Demons (11-9, 2-6)
Head Coach: Oliver Purnell (2nd season at DePaul; 18-33, 412-314 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Brandon Young (6-3 So., 16.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 44% FG, 75% FT, 4.7 APG, 1.7 SPG)
G Jeremiah Kelly (6-0 Sr., 8.8 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 40% FG, 37% 3pt, 65% FT, 3.9 APG, 1.4 SPG)
G Charles McKinney (6-3 Fr., 3.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 43% FG, 48% FT, 1.4 APG, 1.1 SPG)
F Cleveland Melvin (6-8 So., 17.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 44% FG, 64% FT, 1.2 BPG)
C Krys Faber (6-10 Sr., 4.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 56% FG, 86% FT)

Key Reserves:
F Moses Morgan (6-6 So., 8.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 34% FG, 35% 3pt, 71% [12/17] FT)
G Jamee Crockett (6-4 Fr., 6.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 46% FG, 40% 3pt, 78% [14/18] FT)
G Worrel Clahar (5-11 Jr., 6.0 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 51% FG, 50% 3pt, 77% FT, 1.9 APG, 1.5 SPG)
F Donnavan Kirk (6-9 So., 2.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 37% FG, 80% [8/10] FT)

Keys To Victory:
– Back it up. DePaul’s guard play is deceptively strong when compared to their Big East brethren. In fact, Brandon Young and Jeremiah Kelly could be the most underrated backcourt in the conference. Young’s scoring ability and Kelly’s natural shooting talents will make for a long night on the defensive side of the ball, where Phil Greene and D’Angelo Harrison will need to be up to the task of controlling the Blue Demons.

– Jimmy crack corn and I don’t care. Like his defensive matchup tonight in Moe Harkless, Cleveland Melvin was also heavily recruited by the University of Connecticut only to turn Jim Calhoun down in the long run. So far, the decision appears to have worked out in Melvin’s favor, as he is the reigning Big East Rookie of the Year as well as DePaul’s leading scorer and rebounder. In a battle where both combatants will likely end up with double-doubles, Melvin against Harkless will be a treat to watch.

– Let my people go. Moses Morgan is an indispensable asset to the Blue Demons that most programs would kill to have: A sharpshooting swingman who can score seemingly at will. Morgan also has no true matchup against the Red Storm, giving him an increased opportunity to exploit St. John’s and their press defense.

So, Who Wins?
DePaul is not the same Big East bottom feeder most fans have grown accustomed to watching win just a grand total of two conference games between 2008 and 2010. As the Blue Demons have shown in victories over Pittsburgh and Rutgers, it does not come easy for opponents anymore. St. John’s needs this game and their next one against Syracuse in order to keep their slim NCAA Tournament hopes alive; and after their last two performances, the momentum remains firmly in their corner. Young and Melvin will each go for 20-plus, but it will not be enough as the Red Storm leave Chicago winners.

Final Score: St. John’s 77, DePaul 64

Red Storm Go Down Tobacco Road After Statement Win

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In a contest that was a must-win game for both sides, St. John’s emerged the victor; defeating West Virginia on a night where the Mountaineers could not make a shot through most of the first half, allowing the Red Storm to capitalize on an unusually high amount of mistakes. It only gets harder from here, though; as next up is a Duke team that still has pieces from their 2010 national championship unit, as well as players that remember last year’s 93-78 defeat at the hands of the Red Storm a year ago inside Madison Square Garden.

St. John’s remains the last non-ACC team to defeat Duke in North Carolina, and JohnnyJungle.com will give you the background information on the matchup in which the Red Storm look to make lightning strike twice.

Date: Saturday, January 28, 2012
Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium; Durham, North Carolina
Time: 12:00 PM EST
TV: ESPN (Brent Musburger, Dick Vitale)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)

St. John’s Red Storm (9-11)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin* (2nd season at STJ; 30-23, 175-101 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., 6.6 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 34% FG, 75% FT, 2.9 APG, 1.1 SPG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 15.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 37% FG, 34% 3pt, 81% FT, 1.9 APG, 1.6 SPG)
F Amir Garrett (6-6 Fr., 5.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 41% FG, 55% FT, 1.0 APG, 1.3 SPG)
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 6.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 43% FG, 53% FT, 1.5 APG, 1.1 BPG, 1.5 SPG)
F Moe Harkless (6-8 Fr., 16.0 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 46% FG, 66% FT, 1.4 APG, 1.9 BPG, 1.6 SPG)

Key Reserves:
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 10.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 53% FG, 71% FT, 1.0 BPG)
G Malik Stith (5-11 Jr., 2.9 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 39% FG, 80% [12/15] FT, 1.1 APG)

Keys To Victory:
– Last year was no fluke. Mostly all the players from last season’s 93-78 victory are gone, but the game plan remains the same. Just as St. John’s was able to take advantage of West Virginia miscues in the opening minutes Wednesday night, they will need to do the same against a far more talented Duke team that can match the Red Storm shot for shot as well as get multiple stops on a single possession defensively.

– Get in the zone. A year ago, Duke started the game missing 20 of their first 21 attempts from three-point range. St. John’s has not been as adept at closing to the arc this year, which will give the Blue Devils open looks that need to be minimized with the matchup zone defense that several teams have been unable to solve both last season and this season.

– Greene light. Phil Greene had arguably his best game of the season Wednesday night, committing just one turnover while going for eleven points and eight assists against West Virginia and fellow freshman Jabarie Hinds. Greene will be matched up with another rookie on Saturday in highly touted recruit Austin Rivers, who will look to set the tone in the backcourt and force Greene to play catch-up from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

St. John’s next opponent is the eighth ranked team they will face this season, and this one is guided by the winningest coach in Division I history.

No. 6 Duke Blue Devils (17-3)
Head Coach: Mike Krzyzewski (32nd season at Duke; 844-228, 917-287 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Austin Rivers (6-4 Fr., 14.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 44% FG, 38% 3pt, 69% FT, 1.9 APG)
G Seth Curry (6-2 Jr., 12.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 44% FG, 37% 3pt, 87% FT, 2.7 APG, 1.6 SPG)
G Andre Dawkins (6-4 Jr., 10.0 PPG, 44% FG, 41% 3pt, 76% FT)
F Mason Plumlee (6-10 Jr., 11.8 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 62% FG, 47% FT, 2.2 APG, 1.6 BPG)
F Ryan Kelly (6-11 Jr., 12.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 49% FG, 47% 3pt, 80% FT, 1.2 APG, 1.1 BPG)

Key Reserves:
F Miles Plumlee (6-10 Sr., 6.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 67% FG, 64% FT, 1.2 BPG)
G Quinn Cook (6-0 Fr., 5.2 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 47% FG, 32% 3pt, 83% FT, 2.1 APG)
G Tyler Thornton (6-1 So., 3.7 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 46% FG, 45% 3pt, 70% FT, 2.2 APG)

Keys To Victory:
– Crazy house. Duke has not lost a nonconference home game in nearly twelve years, and the “Cameron Crazies” are a big reason why. One of the most intense crowds in the country, the Duke fans can turn a close game into a hometown runaway just by showing up. Google “Krzyzewskiville” if you don’t believe us, and you’ll find out about the fans who camp out for days on end leading up to big games such as the one the Blue Devils will be playing Saturday afternoon.

– Family affair. The brothers Plumlee will represent something the Red Storm has never seen this season: A duo of big men that can score, rebound and shoot exceptionally well. Miles (the senior) comes off the bench and infuses a fresh set of legs and height into Mike Krzyzewski’s lineup, while Mason (the junior) is the starting power forward that will go up against Moe Harkless in a matchup where both players could end up with double-doubles at the end of the night. Harkless will need to use his midrange jumper at times in order to beat the bigger Duke front line.

– Just shoot me. Duke was defeated by their inability to hit the three-point shot last season against the Red Storm, but Mike Krzyzewski’s team comes into this game shooting a combined 40 percent from beyond the arc. Guards Andre Dawkins and Tyler Thornton (the latter is a guard who conjures up memories of former Duke star J.J. Redick) shoot above that average, as does 6-11 big man Ryan Kelly. In addition, Austin Rivers, Seth Curry and Quinn Cook all shoot well enough from long range to give Duke a multitude of weapons against a young team that has had difficulty defending the trifecta.

So, Who Wins?
The last time Duke played at home, they lost to Florida State on a buzzer-beating three from Michael Snaer, so the Cameron Crazies will be out in even greater force than they normally are. The Red Storm have a road game against DePaul after this one that is no longer a guarantee given how much the Blue Demons have improved. St. John’s usually plays Duke to the limit, though; and Saturday will be no exception, even if the Blue Devils are more talented. Duke gets the win, but it will be far from convincing.

Final Score: Duke 76, St. John’s 71

Red Storm Hoping To Avoid Fifth Straight Loss Against West Virginia

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Once again, foul trouble reared its ugly head in St. John’s most recent game. After a career-high 28 points from D’Angelo Harrison, the Red Storm could not maintain their offensive productivity once their freshman guard fouled out, blowing a 10-point lead and losing to Villanova in overtime.

Now losers of four straight, St. John’s returns to Madison Square Garden to face a resurgent West Virginia team that has solidified themselves at the present moment among the class of the Big East. JohnnyJungle.com will get you caught up with all the important information you need to know going into this mid-week showdown.

Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Location: Madison Square Garden; New York, New York
Time: 7:00 PM EST
TV: ESPNU (Adam Amin, LaPhonso Ellis)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)
Online: WSJURadio.org (TBD)

St. John’s Red Storm (8-11, 2-6)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin* (2nd season at STJ; 29-23, 174-101 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., 6.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 33% FG, 75% FT, 2.6 APG, 1.1 SPG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 15.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 37% FG, 33% 3pt, 81% FT, 1.8 APG, 1.6 SPG)
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 6.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 42% FG, 55% FT, 1.5 APG, 1.0 BPG, 1.5 SPG)
F Moe Harkless (6-8 Fr., 15.6 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 46% FG, 66% FT, 1.4 APG, 1.8 BPG, 1.6 SPG)
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 11.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 53% FG, 71% FT, 1.0 BPG)

Key Reserves:
F Amir Garrett (6-6 Fr., 4.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 39% FG, 48% FT, 1.0 APG, 1.3 SPG)
G Malik Stith (5-11 Jr., 2.8 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 39% FG, 77% [10/13] FT, 1.2 APG)

Keys To Victory:
– Stay out of foul trouble. This cannot be overstated after Harrison picked up his fifth against Villanova. With just two players on the bench who average only a combined seven points and four rebounds per game in a combined 36 minutes, the Red Storm need to manage their players carefully, somewhat like Joe Girardi does with the New York Yankees.

– Divine intervention. For some reason, God’sgift Achiuwa’s struggles at Madison Square Garden have continued in recent games. However, the Nigerian big man has had solid games everywhere else. The adjustment process that has plagued each of these freshmen at one point or another has come back to burn the junior college transfer in the Mecca of college basketball, and a step toward reversing that trend could turn the season around.

– Amir Garrett. The freshman got his first career start on Saturday, and seems to be turning the corner as he continues to evolve this season. After being cautiously used to start his career; Garrett is now starting to see more minutes, and has the potential to have his first big game against a small West Virginia lineup.

Making the trip from Morgantown is a surprisingly strong 15-5 West Virginia unit.

West Virginia Mountaineers (15-5, 5-2)
Head Coach: Bob Huggins (5th season at WVU; 116-47, 706-258 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Jabarie Hinds (5-11 Fr., 8.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 47% FG, 37% 3pt, 67% FT, 3.7 APG, 1.5 SPG)
G Darryl Bryant (6-2 Sr., 17.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 38% FG, 32% 3pt, 75% FT, 2.7 APG, 1.1 SPG)
F Keaton Miles (6-6 Fr., 1.3 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 31% FG, 36% [4/11] FT, 1.3 APG)
F Kevin Jones (6-8 Sr., 20.7 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 55% FG, 31% 3pt, 75% FT, 1.2 APG, 1.1 BPG)
F Deniz Kilicli (6-9 Jr., 11.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 52% FG, 55% FT, 1.9 APG)

Key Reserves:
G Gary Browne (6-1 Fr., 6.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 44% FG, 62% FT, 3.0 APG, 1.5 SPG)
F Aaron Brown (6-5 Fr., 5.3 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 45% FG, 46% 3pt, 43% [3/7] FT)
F Kevin Noreen (6-10 Fr., 2.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 57% FG, 65% FT)

Keys To Victory:
– De facto home game. – Bob Huggins has always been able to recruit the New York area well, and this game will be a homecoming for three of his starters. Shooting guard Darryl “Truck” Bryant is a Brooklyn native who played his high school ball at St. Raymond’s in the Bronx, while Kevin Jones and Jabarie Hinds are products of the powerhouse Mount Vernon High School program coached by the legendary Bob Cimmino. The Mountaineers have always played well in the Big Apple, (the 2010 Big East tournament serving as Exhibit A) and tomorrow night should be no exception.

– Mr. Jones. Not only is Kevin Jones West Virginia’s best player, he is also putting together a Big East Player of the Year-worthy season. With averages of nearly 21 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, Jones is by far the most statistically endowed player St. John’s has faced this year, which should give him the advantage in matchups.

– St. John’s, just more experienced. West Virginia’s lineup resembles that of the Red Storm, a combination of athleticism and length with enough wingspan to make Jay Bilas gush for weeks on end. What sets the Mountaineers apart is their experience, something that will be used to their advantage early and often.

So, Who Wins?
This essentially amounts to a must-win game for both sides, with the Mountaineers traveling to the Carrier Dome to face Syracuse on a Saturday afternoon where St. John’s will be entertaining Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium. West Virginia has always been a matchup problem for whoever plays them, and the young Red Storm will be no exception. St. John’s can stay with Bob Huggins’ team early on; but the length and athleticism that is on the side of experience will prevail late in the second half, especially if St. John’s gets into foul trouble.

Final Score: West Virginia 69, St. John’s 56