The Red Storm are improving by leaps and bounds in the latter part of the season. Their swagger is up. There’s a little more attention on campus. And the surrounding city is crazy for the story of NCAA Tournament-bound #15 St. John’s and their resurgence under first-year coach Steve Lavin.
Nearby, two other schools also replaced their head coaches. Rutgers, with new coach Mike Rice, is angling for a .500 record and just maybe inclusion in the NIT or the other postseason tournaments. Meanwhile, the team that seemed most talented of the three area schools, Seton Hall, has struggled mightily with the transition. At 11-17, they have almost no chance for postseason play, unless one of the lesser tournaments decides to take them on.
And they’ve had turmoil – Keon Lawrence and Jamel Jackson crossed the line once too often for Kevin Willard and were booted from the team for violating curfew. Jeremy Hazell broke his hand and then got shot over Christmas in a botched robbery attempt. The Pirates have integrated some new players, but one wonders of the coaching staff is simply trying to get past this year – and these players – and building something new in South Orange.
But the Pirates are still a local rival, with other New York-area players on the roster. They and St. John’s have spent years battling for position in the Big East; this game is for bragging rights. St. John’s hasn’t won at Seton Hall in over 10 years (1998, to be exact). And the Pirates’ scorers are streaky, but can be deadly from outside.
Can St. John’s keep feeding the storm with another road win?
Read more.Predictions?