Stair Masters

At yesterday’s pregame press conference, St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin treated the media members in attendance to a visual aid: His use of a white board to demonstrate his technique of “climbing the stairs,” which involved Lavin drawing a staircase on the board listing the name of each team the Red Storm had beaten over the course of the 18-game Big East schedule and the team’s subsequent record at the conclusion of the game.  The board after today’s game now has a different name and set of numbers on it, and it will look something like this:

“Pittsburgh, 9-5.”

It wasn’t a smooth climb to the final step, but Dwight Hardy’s game-winning reverse layup with just over a second remaining in regulation propelled the Johnnies (17-9, 9-5 in the Big East) to the summit by providing the final margin in a 60-59 victory over fourth-ranked Pittsburgh.  (24-3, 12-2)  The win is St. John’s fifth against Top 25 teams and fourth against those ranked within the Top 10; and it also improved the Storm to 7-1 this season at Madison Square Garden.  After being considered giant killers throughout the season to this point, it’s now possible for St. John’s to enter next week with a number next to their name in the new Associated Press and coaches’ polls for the first time since November of 2000 after following up their impressive road win over Marquette with their upset this afternoon inside the “World’s Most Famous Arena.”

“It’s been four long years without one of those numbers,” said Justin Burrell; one of three Johnnies in double figures today with 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench.  Dwight Hardy once again led the way for the Red Storm with 19 points, but none bigger than the final two of the day.  “When I tried to turn back to see (Justin) Brownlee, my defender shifted.  I just kind of flipped it up there and it rolled right in.  To this point, it’s the biggest shot I’ve made in my life,” said the senior guard of his game-winner.  Hardy also commented on his team’s success at the Garden, stating that it “gives us an advantage” in next month’s Big East tournament, an event in which the Johnnies are much closer to acquiring a first-round bye in.  The coach of the Red Storm is still leaving postseason discussion to the experts, but had this to say when describing his team shortly after Hardy referred to him as “the calmest out of everybody” in the St. John’s huddle.

“I think we’re ahead of schedule in terms of the high level of basketball that we’ve played over the last six or seven games,” said head coach Steve Lavin on St. John’s having won six of their last seven dating back to their January 30th upset of then-No. 3 Duke at the Garden.  “We’re really pleased that we’re able to continue this run,” Lavin continued.  “I think one of the traits that’s really starting to develop with this team is resiliency.”  Ashton Gibbs continued to progress in his return from an MCL injury, leading all scorers with 26 points off the bench on 8-of-14 shooting (6-for-9) from beyond the arc, much to the delight of Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon.  “He obviously played well, no question about it,” said Dixon after conceding that the day belonged to the victors.  “It’s a really tough loss for us.  I’m proud of how we played, proud of how we handled things,” said Dixon of the Panthers’ second Big East defeat and first since their loss last month against Notre Dame at the Petersen Center.

St. John’s now looks for its sixth consecutive Big East win this Wednesday night when they return home to Carnesecca Arena to face a suddenly hot DePaul team that defeated Providence on the road Thursday and almost upset Villanova this afternoon before ultimately falling to the Wildcats in overtime.  Until then, we leave the emotional high of today’s contest and prepare you for what lies ahead with the ever-popular lasting impressions.

Lasting Impressions

• Rebounding and energy were the keys to victory for both teams entering today’s matchup, and St. John’s won one while contesting the other to a draw.  Pitt claimed the opening tip, but any momentum the Panthers looked for after taking a 2-0 lead was quickly snuffed out by a pair of threes from Dwight Hardy and D.J. Kennedy that started a 10-1 Red Storm run that put the Johnnies up seven in the early going.
• Aside from Ashton Gibbs, all of Pittsburgh’s other key players were largely overshadowed.  Brad Wanamaker (six points, four rebounds, four assists) and Gary McGhee (seven points, five rebounds) were rendered into supporting players due to lack of offensive rhythm and foul trouble, respectively.  To expand on the foul calls, Pittsburgh ended the game with four of its players having accumulated four fouls.
• The turning point of the game occurred halfway through the second half when McGhee picked up his fourth foul, but it ironically helped Pitt as they went on a 12-3 run over the next three minutes.  St. John’s then fought back and kept it within five points the rest of the way.
• Once again, St. John’s used a decisive advantage at the free throw line to gradually put its opponent away.  The Red Storm went to the line 32 times, (23 in the second half) and converted 23 of those foul shots for a 72 percent clip, a stark contrast from Pitt’s 10-for-18 (56 percent) effort at the charity stripe.
• Finally, St. John’s cemented its NCAA Tournament credentials this afternoon.  While they most likely would have been in no matter what happened today, their impressive and valiant effort was contested primarily for a higher seed when the selection committee meets three weeks from tomorrow to set the 68-team field.  Before this afternoon, the Red Storm looked no better than a No. 7 seed; but it’s safe to say that St. John’s may have played itself into as far up as a No. 5 with their latest quality win.