http://redstormsports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/120607aac.htmlSt. John's Fans Can Pre-Order 100 Years Of Basketball Book Through RedStormSports.com
Books will be available in March, Pre-Order Certificates can be sent before Christmas.
Dec. 6, 2007
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's fans can pre-order the highly-anticipated 100 Years of St. John's Basketball coffee table book anytime between now and March 1.
Authored and complied by Jim O'Connell and Paul Montella of the Associated Press, the 100 Years of St. John's Basketball coffee table book features 200 pages of anecdotes, rarely-seen photos and historical data spanning a century's worth of basketball success. A definitive compilation put together for the STJ hardwood centennial, it is a "must have" for every fan of St. John's basketball.
The book will arrive in stores in early March, but fans can purchase now and receive Pre-Order Certificates that will beat the Christmas rush. Once the books arrive in stock in March, they will be shipped to the purchaser immediately.
The St. John's Athletic Communications Office will handle all 100 Years of St. John's Basketball coffee table book pre-orders that arrive before Dec. 19. Pre-Order Certificates will be mailed immediately upon payment. Please send $39.95 plus $5.00 for shipping (checks only, made payable to "St. John's University") to:
St. John's Athletic Communications
157 Carnesecca Arena
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439
Please allow several mailing days to account for check arrival and Pre-Order Certificate shipment.
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100 Years of St. John's Basketball Coffee Table Book Sample - The Wonder Five
The name "Wonder Five" was given to the 1930-31 Redmen, but that was the senior year for a class that dominated college basketball and made St. John's the darling of New York fans.
Buck Freeman went from player to coach over the summer of 1927 and the sport would never be the same.
His first move was to make a unit of five freshmen _ Mac Kinsbrunner, an amazing dribbler, Jack "Rip" Gerson, the team's spark plug on offense and defense, Allie Schuckman, the shooter, Matty Begovich, the man in the pivot, and Max Posnack, the team captain and its best passer.
They won their first eight games and finished 18-4 the first season. They would lose that many games over the next three seasons, going 23-2, 23-1 and 21-1.
Using Freeman's strategy of constant ball movement, including having the pivot touch it, as well as the give-and-go, the Wonder Five captured New York's imagination as a team of neighborhood kids playing basketball a different way, a fun way, a successful way.
Defense was also a key of Freeman's team although playing keep-away was its most effective tactic as the Redmen often held teams without a field goal for long periods of time.
The team outgrew the buildings it played in and it was the "Wonder Five" who moved college basketball into the big arenas, specifically Madison Square Garden.