Duke Pregame Links

Moments before tip-off against Duke last season, then-St. John’s coach Norm Roberts looked at one of his assistants and said, “Do you see the size of these dudes? They are gigantic.”

Duke went on to beat St. John’s that December afternoon on its way to another national championship, while the Red Storm was on its way to a first-round knockout in the NIT and Roberts was out of a job. The two universities will meet again Sunday with St. John’s desperately needing notable wins to enhance its NCAA tournament resume.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/st_john_has_big_opportunity_to_build_vSw7fGoD0iEbWQAQ5yFS6N#ixzz1CR7YSjds

The St. John's basketball team did not have a team meeting. They had a beating.

After a 77-52 loss at Georgetown Wednesday night, the Red Storm's third in a row, senior Dwight Hardy said it might be time for a players' only meeting.

But the message -- that the Johnnies had played like zombies against the Hoyas -- was sent during a brutally physical three-and-one-half-hour practice on Friday that left senior Justin Burrell and sophomore Malik Stith with fat lips and seniors D.J. Kennedy and Hardy with bruised knees.

The practice is dubbed a 'Buster' by veteran special assistant Gene Keady.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/johnnies_need_to_bust_move_and_soon_IdHNn3kNFnbPYyy2J3e6kJ#ixzz1CX22DO2x

St. John's senior Justin Burrell got a fat lip at practice on Friday. Sophomore Malik Stith's lip was swollen and split. Senior Dwight Hardy had a sore knee from a collision.

The first practice for the Red Storm (11-8) after losing to Georgetown and in preparation for Sunday's game against No. 3 Duke (19-1) at the Garden was a "buster," as former Purdue coach and current St. John's special assistant Gene Keady terms it. To everyone else, it sounds like a free-for-all.

Read More:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2011/01/30/2011-01-30_storm_out_to_put_up_its_dukes.html