Ball State Preview: Frozen Turkey [Calm Before the Storm]

Are slow defensive starts and poor rebounding a theme with this starting lineup? We’ll find out more tonight/ tomorrow morning as St. John’s starts a three-game stint in the Great Alaska Shootout with the Ball State Cardinals from Muncie, Indiana.

Reindeer sausage, Anchorage. From Alaska101.com

The exempt tournament is hosted by the Division II Anchorage-Alaska Seawolves. Coach Lavin plans on taking the players exploring; I hope they brought the heavy coats. It won’t be too cold, with highs in the mid 30s through Thursday; then the weather dips toward lows in the single digits. And there should be snow.

The Johnnies are one of the two marquee teams in the tournament. The other is Arizona State, the Pac-10 squad that was a #1 seed in last year’s NIT. The lost in the first round to Jacksonville University, but more on them if both teams reach the final game. The ESPN talking heads are predicting that final, but that St. John’s will lose to the Sun Devils.

But first, St. John’s has to win two rounds of basketball at late night start times. The first opponent, Ball State, returns 4 of their 5 starters from last year’s team. The improving Cardinals could be a tough test for the Johnnies.

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By the way, Scott Kamieniecki's son plays for Ball State.

More Coker and Evans...

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2010/11/24/2010-11-24_steve_lavin_st_johns_back_in_action_thanksgiving_morning_vs_ball_state_at_great_.html

What are your predictions?  I'm seeing a 10.5 spread in favor of the Johnnies. I believe that this game should be much harder than their second matchup (Southern Utah/ Drake).

More Coker and Evans...

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2010/11/24/2010-11-24_steve_lavin_st_johns_back_in_action_thanksgiving_morning_vs_ball_state_at_great_.html

I like that Coker will get a little time. When we play some big opponents we will need his size and shot blocking. As far as Evans I wold give him a little time to see what he can do but Burrell, Brownlee, and Polee are going to play before him so I just don't see extended time for him.

For years, we know that the betting line means nothing with our squads. We never blow anyone out. If the line is 10, expect it to be close to the end.

I'm expecting a big improvement from the last game that I saw.

It's clear that the players who buy into Lavin's system in practice are being given the ultimate reward early on.

Brownlee and Hardy need to find consistency, and they need to get into the flow of the entire game. Not just scoring.

I'm happy to see that we'll get Coker out there. He's just too big to sit on the bench for 40 minutes.

For some reason, I haven't been worried about Dwight Hardy. And maybe we should be; it's not like he's been under heavy pressure but he hasn't been close on some of the shots.

For some reason, I haven't been worried about Dwight Hardy. And maybe we should be; it's not like he's been under heavy pressure but he hasn't been close on some of the shots.

Hardy should watch some tape of Bootsy Thornton. Find another way to contribute. And for the love of God, follow your shot. He just stands there like a statue. I expect that the staff has been on him for that kind of play. This isn't a 3 point shooting contest.

He needs to mix it up inside, actually guard his man and create for others when his shot isn't falling.

Quote from: peter on November 24, 2010, 04:51:15 PM

For some reason, I haven't been worried about Dwight Hardy. And maybe we should be; it's not like he's been under heavy pressure but he hasn't been close on some of the shots.

Hardy should watch some tape of Bootsy Thornton. Find another way to contribute. And for the love of God, follow your shot. He just stands there like a statue. I expect that the staff has been on him for that kind of play. This isn't a 3 point shooting contest.

He needs to mix it up inside, actually guard his man and create for others when his shot isn't falling.

I don't know where you are getting this not following his shot business, he had a crucial rebound last game off of one of this own missed 3-pointers where he ran in nearly under the basket to get it.

I went to the game against Columbia. He was a statue after a missed 3 pointer.

He needs to shoot ball, and sprint to the rim. I'm sure he's been told by now.