Red Storm Meets Rutgers In Regular Season Finale

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