The chatter has to be getting louder, right? As ESPN’s Jay Bilas said during Monday night’s broadcast of the Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh game, “Because conferences like the Pac-10 and SEC are down this year, there is a real possibility that the Big East will become the first conference ever to send double digit teams to the tournament.”
Though, at this point, it is nearly complete speculation, multiple outlets project St. John’s either in the NCAA Tournament or on the bubble. So, as the Johnnies head to Washington DC to play their 7th straight game against a ranked opponent in #21 Georgetown (14-5, 3-4), the question presents itself, are tournament projections and post-season dreams beginning to slip into the back of their minds?
“You know, I’ve got roommates, I’ve got friends. Everybody’s watching and telling us about it, so I know I’m going to hear it no matter what,” said senior forward Justin Burrell. “I’m really trying to focus on what we can do and what we have control over.”
This is the new reality in which the St. John’s Red Storm find themselves. For the first time since 2002, the NCAA Tournament is within sight, but a tough remaining Big East schedule stands in the way of this team and what Coach Steve Lavin has dubbed “The Promised Land”.
When the Johnnies take the floor at the Verizon Center Wednesday, they will have a chance to sweep the season series with the Hoyas and add to an already-impressive Big East resume that includes two big wins on the road, and another two victories over then-Top 15 opponents.
In the first meeting between these two teams this season on January 3rd, the Red Storm prevailed at Madison Square Garden 61-58 behind 20 points from senior point guard Dwight Hardy. At that point, St. John’s was thrust into the national spotlight, sitting atop the Big East with a 3-0 conference record and being talked about as a legitimate threat to the powers that be.
Some things have changed since early January.
While still maintaining a Top 25 ranking, the Hoyas lost to both West Virginia and Pittsburgh at home to fall to 1-4 to begin the Big East season. But, they have rebounded to win two games against Rutgers and Seton Hall to pull to 3-4 in conference and 14-5 overall.
“What they do is pretty consistent,” said Coach Steve Lavin of Georgetown’s style-of-play. “The key defensively is containing the ‘Big 3’: Freeman, Wright, and Clark.”
Moving away from the prototypical Hoya gameplan that, in the past, had run through skilled big men like Ewing, Mourning, Hibbert, and Monroe, this team thrives or struggles on the play of these “Big 3”. Collectively, they account for 58% of the total scoring offense for Georgetown and, almost like Christmas lights, when one goes out, the whole team seems to go out.
In that game on January 3rd, senior point guard Chris Wright scored just 7 points, including shooting 1/7 from 3-pt range. Subsequently, preseason Big East Player of the Year Austin Freeman had 6 points, going 2/10 from the field and Jason Clark had 7 points.
Much of the success defensively was credit to the St. John’s match-up zone, which closed out on shooters quickly and forced Georgetown to end up 4/17 from distance. The place where they need to tighten up, though, is on the boards. Against a team that is 235th in the nation in rebounds per game, the Red Storm were outrebounded 31-20. “They have been able to counteract the lack of big man by collectively hitting the boards,” said Lavin. This means, especially in the zone defense, forwards Justin Brownlee, Justin Burrell, and Dwayne Polee II are going to need to find a man and box him out, because too many solid defensives possessions have been wasted this year for lack of a defensive rebound to close it out.
The Red Storm (11-7, 4-4) come into this game off a tough 2 point loss to Cincinnati at Carnesecca Arena on Saturday. Going 12/26 from the free throw line, including a rare miss on the front end of a one-and-one by Dwight Hardy as the game wound down, the game came down to variables that were very much within their control, but there was a lack of execution.
“When we lose games, it’s because we’re lackadaisical,” said Burrell. “We shot ourselves in the foot with the free throw situation.”
When St. John’s comes out with energy, confidence, and defensive pressure (see: at WVU, vs. G’Town, vs. Notre Dame), they are a very different team than when they come out flat and lacking aggression (see: at Louisville, at Notre Dame). Coming off two straight losses and with games against #3 Duke and #5 UConn looming on the horizon, this road game against a team the Johnnies have already beaten becomes even more important. “From Day 1, every game is crucial,” said sophomore guard Malik Stith. “This game is a must win for us after losing tw0 straight.”
For Steve Lavin’s squad to leave Our Nation’s Capital with a win, a few things will have to come together. Firstly, the defense will once again have to limit Freeman, Wright, and Clark because the Hoyas put up nearly 76 points per game and, as mentioned before, these three guys are the reason. Secondly, St. John’s will have to win the battle on the boards. Second chance opportunities for a Top 25 team usually spell trouble. And, finally, the Johnnies must make every possession count. This means limit turnovers, use the clock, and make Georgetown play a low-scoring game, much like at the Garden earlier this year. If they can make it a “First to 60 Points Wins”-type game, that is their best chance to come out with the victory.
“I expect them to come out and be aggressive and attack,” said Burrell in closing. “But we’re seniors, we understand what it takes to win the game.”
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