To survive a game in which Mean Joe and Savior shoot a combined 3 for 20? Wow!
- Not the "Greatest Show on Turnpike" we've come to know and love as the Johnnies did NOT have one single dunk the entire game. Don't think that's ever happened before with this group. Virtually no run outs/fast break points. The only two I can recall ended with Dom bobbling the ball out of bounds and D'lo eschewing the layup and hitting a huge three. When he does that announcers and bandwagon fans are cringing but vets know that's just how we roll. St. Mary's is a strong and disciplined defensive team.
- 3'lo missed, for him, a months worth of free throws in a night (3). Carried entire scoring load; was scoring options 1, 2 and 3 for most of the night and was up to the task.
- Jordan shot 25% from the line. Ugghh.
- Give credit to the skinny Delarosa who with no thawing whatsoever was thrown right into the fire and didn't incinerate. Interesting that he's immediately ahead of Mr. Jones and Da Ali B. I don't know how he didn't get a flagrant for making that kid need stitches.
- Triangle had a disastrous John Starks like shooting night but as we've come to expect still came up huge in crunch time pulling in a rebound amongst the trees after CO had fouled out with 11 seconds remaining and calmly nailing both ends of the game sealing one and one.
- Our defense in the second half was Phenomenal with Sir with much love leading the charge. We worked hard! His shutting down double zero from the front side keyed the win. He really was "Costco" and we needed the 5 gallon mayonnaise and 50 roles of toilet paper. He's going to win P of G.
- The typically sleepy Alumni hall crowd was large and in charge. Their volume and energy no doubt helped key the second half charge. The players needed it, felt it and mentioned it in the presser.
- Traffic!, Traffic! and more Traffic! Driving around the metro region during the holiday season is like an enhanced interrogation technique. I finally got to my seat with 9:18 remaining in the 1st half.
P.S. Butler game is going to be a sold-out snake pit. Even more so if we manage to win the next few. I'm looking forward to it.