Georgetown Pregame - Sweep Dreams [Calm Before the Storm]

Back on January 3rd, the Red Storm beat the Georgetown Hoyas 61-58, in a game that resonated around the Big East, maybe even the country. Fans were a little prouder, the basketball punditry fired up their "St. John's is back" memes, the Garden was red for a day, loud with "let's go Johnnies" and "we are! St. John's".

For this year's team, that was only the start of a marathon; there have been other good wins and other big losses as the Red Storm have navigated through a gauntlet of ranked teams.  This week's games will be tough - the always-hyped matchup against Duke, and the second game against the Georgetown Hoyas.

St. John's beat the Hoyas with a crisp performance, free throws, the Brownlee + Hardy scoring machine, and good defense. But can they do it again in Washington, DC, and sweep the rival Georgetown Hoyas?

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Predictions?

we were lucky to beat them the first time.  Coach played 3 guys for all 40 minutes (some time for senior smurf who did not play in MSG), and it showed towards the end as Georgetown took a lead with less than a 1/2 minute to play.  we will have to play defense like we did versus Cin and stop their outside shooting.  we also need to rebound better; can't have Burrell in foul trouble and get back to 80%plus on FT's.  In addition we need to cut down 3pt attempts.  Do that and we have  a chance; don't and lose by more than 10.

We didn't win by luck, we were the better team the first game. We very much deserved that game and were not given it, we took that victory. If we play like we did that night we will win again but we don't play that way nearly enough. G'Town is a solid team but we just matchup well against them so we definitely have a chance as long as we guard Freeman and Clark tight. We got the home court advantage last time and I think they take advantage of it this time. I hope I'm wrong but, G'Town 72 SJU 66.

I really believe if we are going to truly evaluate this team as getting better it has to start with a win tomorrow going into the second half of the B.E season.  I also agree, we did not get lucky beating G-town the first time. It was a tough, hard fought game and we limited Gtowns best scorers from beating us.  Our defense was good and it is a part of the game for guys like Gtowns guards to be off, especially on the road and a motivated, confident, team like SJU to hit their shots on there home court riding a 4 game winning streak at the time. 

Now that being said, I expect Gtown to be not only motivated because they lost to SJU the first time but they have had time and game time experience to study SJU since then to learn what we have done well and not since the last game.  Gtown will hit shots that they did not in the first game but the key is Burrell needs to stay on the floor, and Brownlie, Hardy and DJ need to step up and take over the game to win.  That should not be alot to ask for guys who feel they are big east players.

I expect another hard fought game, because we match up well with them.  SJU 73 Gtown 72.  We will make our free throws and start the second half of the season the same way we did the first. 

I'll be watching the post-game handshake very carefully.  Classless, sore-loser JTIII gave Hollywood the brushoff last time and I'd love to make him eat crow once again and see how he responds.

JB1 and JB2  - 62
JT3                - 59

I"m wondering who steps up for St. John's tonight

It has to be one of 4 guys.  Burrell, Brownlie, Hardy and Kennedy.  Guys like Horne will hit a big shot if needed but ultimately one of our core 4 have to have a game where they score 20.

St Johns had only 4 turnovers last time around. Dont turn the ball over and limit their 2nd chances, we win.
Need a big game from Kennedy.

St Johns 67
GTown    64

Lavin has lost this team, they dont play hard at all. Lets hope Polee doesnt carry over this attitude to the new bunch.Right now, I cant see this team winning more than 2-3 Big East games. I think we beat Duke