2010 Holiday Festival, Game 1 [Calm Before the Storm]

This Monday and Tuesday, St. John’s hosts the annual Holiday Festival in Madison Square Garden – the team’s first game at the hallowed Arena. The Garden’s been a lot more lively in the fall of 2010, with the Knicks bringing competitive basketball to Manhattan, and St. John’s generated a lot of buzz early.

Unfortunately, the Red Storm come in at 5-3 and need to do a lot of things better to pull out wins. Two tough losses to in-state opponents from the Atlantic-10 has dulled the shine from the win over Arizona State. The team is still handling the ball well and forcing turnovers. But they have to find more consistency, defend the perimeter far better, hit their free throws, and maintain a steady offensive attack.

The Holiday Festival opponents are an excellent warm up to Big East play, with the Davidson Wildcats posing a well-coached, well-organized test for the Red Storm. Can St. John’s start a new winning streak on their home court?

Read More.

Need to win these games easily, not that that would help us gauge this teams success in the Big East. We should be destroying teams like these

I don't see how we should destroy Northwestern. They are undefeated.

We aren't.

I don't see how we should destroy Northwestern. They are undefeated.

We aren't.

They have played a lollipop schedule, put up alot of points. Top 6 or 7 Big East teams should win this tourny handily. Like I said, we have no idea what kind of team St Johns is until Big east play. Because, St Johns too plays a loliipop schedule

Northwestern could be a top 5 big ten team this year. They have lived up to their hype.

Unlike SJU, they have decided to show up for their games. No matter who they are against.

They beat Georgia Tech by 20. Beat Creighton and American. Two solid mid majors. They could kill us.

Shurna is having an AA season.

Northwestern could be a top 5 big ten team this year. They have lived up to their hype.

Unlike SJU, they have decided to show up for their games. No matter who they are against.

Cant argue with that, looks like the NW coaches have their kids ready. Unlike ours

I think the boys see their season (basketball career) slipping away. I think (hope) we send a message. My expectations were so high just a few weeks ago. If we lose I am sellling my season tickets.

No prediction in this one?

Davidson 72, SJU 65

It would be nice to see them wake up just in time for Christmas, but I think the best present of all is knowing that we'll have a new roster nest year.

Hope I'm wrong, but I see no reason to think I am. The Bonnie game didn't wake them up, why would the Fordham game?

Do they even care?

You'll have to excuse Luka Mirkovic for not knowing Madison Square Garden's slogan. He spent his first 18 years in Belgrade, Serbia.

"What's it called — the best basketball arena in the world, something like that?" Mirkovic asked.

The World's Most Famous Arena.

And Northwestern will play there Monday and Tuesday in the MSG Holiday Festival.

Chicago Shopping: Your home for personalized holiday shopping deals >>

"It will be awesome," Mirkovic said. "We all watch the NBA, and when you're a kid and someone brings up Madison Square Garden, your eyes light up and everyone gets excited."

Excitement is building at Northwestern, which improved to 7-0 on Thursday by beating American University with a 22-6 run to open the second half.

The Wildcats, who dispatched Creighton and Georgia Tech with relative ease, sit 48th on RealTimeRPI.com, one spot ahead of Purdue and six behind Wisconsin.

Northwestern's strength of schedule ranks 232nd out of 348 Division I teams, so the Wildcats should hope to beat St. Francis (N.Y.) on Monday and root for St. John's to beat Davidson in the other semifinal. St. John's is just 5-3, but a road victory over a Big East team would look nice on NU's NCAA tournament resume.

Read More:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/greenstein/ct-spt-1220-northwestern-basketball--20101219,0,1561955.column

STJ 69
Davidson 62

SJU 72 DAV 66

It's going to very interesting to see how the guys come out after being embarrassed the last two games. They are better than this but will they ever play like it?. I think they know that this has to turn around now, they are so inconsistent though that they could easily win both games or lose two games. I say we win both games but I wouldn't bet on it.

No prediction in this one?

I can't predict what's become unpredictable!

I think the boys see their season (basketball career) slipping away. I think (hope) we send a message. My expectations were so high just a few weeks ago.

gotta agree with you there.