The last time St. John’s took the court, it almost produced a result everyone would have loved to forget. Fortunately for the Red Storm and its vast fan base, Texas-Pan American’s attempts to walk away from Queens with a monumental upset of the Johnnies were thwarted by a game-ending 7-0 run from St. John’s. Six days removed from the closest of close calls this team has endured this season, the Red Storm open the 18-game natural selection exhibit known as Big East play when they take on Providence College at home tomorrow night. Below, JohnnyJungle.com gives you all the particulars leading up to the conference opener.
Date: Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Location: Carnesecca Arena; Jamaica, New York
Time: 7:00 PM EST
TV: MSG (Mike Crispino, John Celestand)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)
Online: WSJURadio.org (Tim Dimas, Jaden Daly)
St. John’s Red Storm (6-5)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin (2nd season at STJ, 27-17; 172-95 overall)
Projected Starting Lineup:
G Phil Greene (6-2 Fr., 6.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 36% FG, 69% FT, 2.2 APG, 1.2 SPG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 14.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 36% FG, 34% 3pt, 81% FT, 1.4 APG, 1.5 SPG)
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 6.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 51% FG, 36% 3pt, 47% FT, 1.0 APG, 1.1 SPG)
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 12.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 57% FG, 50% 3pt, 74% FT, 1.3 BPG)
F Moe Harkless (6-8 Fr., 14.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 42% FG, 62% FT, 1.5 APG, 1.7 BPG, 1.6 SPG)
Key Reserves:
G Malik Stith (5-11 Jr., 3.3 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 42% FG, 40% 3pt, 67% FT, 1.4 APG)
F Amir Garrett (6-6 Fr., 3 pts, 2 rebs, 1/2 FG and 1/2 FT in 15 minutes in collegiate debut 12/21 vs. UTPA)
Keys To Victory:
– Take care of the ball. In today’s pregame press conference, interim coach Mike Dunlap remarked about how impressed he was with Phil Greene’s baptism by fire at the point guard position. Since he is matched up with a point guard that has an assist to turnover ratio of greater than 2:1 in Providence’s Vincent Council, Greene will need to make handling the ball his top priority against a deceptively explosive Providence backcourt.
– The higher power. God’sgift Achiuwa comes into tomorrow night’s game off a career-high 22 points against Texas-Pan American last Wednesday, and will face an inexperienced frontcourt in the post. Providence is reintroducing Kadeem Batts to its lineup after a suspension cost him the first eleven games of the season; and although LaDontae Henton has been explosive out of the gate, he is still only a freshman. Achiuwa and Moe Harkless will be able to employ their size advantage early on if Batts comes off the bench as expected.
– Freshman orientation. In addition to the praise that Phil Greene drew earlier today; Amir Garrett was complimented just as much, and it’s easy to see why. Despite being with the team for only a week since being declared eligible, Garrett has demonstrated the ability to be far more mature than an average person his age. The rookie has used this skill to his advantage in practice, as Mike Dunlap noticed that his character has enabled him to embrace the challenges surrounding the Red Storm easier and faster than he would have expected. However, Garrett is still a work in progress, and should get an increased opportunity to prove himself tomorrow night.
Making the trip down Interstate 95 to open their Big East season against the Red Storm for the second time in four years are the Friars of Providence College.
Providence Friars (11-2)
Head Coach: Ed Cooley (1st season at PC, 11-2; 103-71 overall)
Projected Starting Lineup:
G Vincent Council (6-2 Jr., 16.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 42% FG, 60% FT, 6.9 APG, 1.1 SPG)
G Bryce Cotton (6-1 So., 15.7 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 47% FG, 43% 3pt, 91% FT, 2.0 APG, 1.3 SPG)
G Gerard Coleman (6-4 So., 15.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 47% FG, 72% FT, 2.2 APG, 1.2 SPG)
F LaDontae Henton (6-6 Fr., 13.1 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 45% FG, 34% 3pt, 65% FT, 1.0 APG, 1.1 BPG, 1.3 SPG)
F Ron Giplaye (6-6 So., 1.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 54% FG, 37% FT)
Key Reserves:
F Kadeem Batts (6-9 So., 8.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 64% FG, 25% FT)
F Bilal Dixon (6-9 Jr., 2.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 52% FG, 89% FT, 1.1 BPG)
F Brice Kofane (6-8 Fr., 2.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 55% FG, 52% FT, 1.8 BPG)
Keys To Victory:
– Conditioning. Ed Cooley is now the beneficiary of a nine-man rotation now that Kadeem Batts is back in the fold, and four of his starters average 35 or more minutes played per game. Not coincidentally, those four players are all averaging at least thirteen points per night as well. Cooley mentioned in an interview earlier today that he has worked on executions inside the last four minutes of every game; so if this one goes down to the wire, the Friars will have a mental edge based on what they have gone through in practice.
– Ball strong and ball quick. Those were Cooley’s words when asked what the keys to victory would be against a defensively gifted team the likes of St. John’s. The coach mentioned that his team could ill afford to turn the ball over (they have only one more assist than turnovers this season as a team) and could not get outrebounded either. Fortunately for the Friars, they have averaged a plus-5 margin on the glass through thirteen games, pulling down 40 boards while yielding just 35. Sophomore guard Gerard Coleman will be a factor here, as he has played more like a swingman by virtue of Providence’s three-guard lineup. Initially starting the season as a reserve, Coleman’s inclusion into the starting lineup has propelled the Friars to their current seven-game winning streak.
– Flashbacks. On paper, the statistics for sophomore shooting guard Bryce Cotton and freshman forward LaDontae Henton are very impressive. When those numbers translate to the court, however, St. John’s fans will recognize shades of former Red Storm legends in each one. With a 43 percent success rate from three-point range and a 91 percent mark from the free throw line to go with averages of two assists and over one steal per game, Cotton draws comparisons to Dwight Hardy; while Henton’s averages of thirteen points and eight rebounds per game coupled with a 34 percent shooting effort from beyond the arc is enough of a reason to liken the freshman from Michigan to former swingman D.J. Kennedy.
So, Who Wins?
Each team has too much to gain and seemingly just as much to lose going into their second Big East contests on Saturday. Providence continues down Interstate 95 to face Georgetown at the Verizon Center, while the Red Storm go into New England for a collision with reigning national champion Connecticut. If St. John’s is to pull this out, it will not come easy given the thin roster they have to work with throughout the season. However, Providence has not been as battle tested as the Red Storm, with a road victory at Fairfield in the second game of the year serving as the Friars’ signature nonconference matchup. Games are not played on paper, though; and in a game that will come down to the final minute just as last year’s installment of the Red Storm-Friars rivalry did, Providence uses their deceptively explosive offense to get up in their conference opener.
Final Score: Providence 72, St. John’s 68
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