pregame

Game Preview: St. John’s takes on UMBC

November 16, 2015 by Dave Krupinski Leave a Comment

The undefeated Red Storm (1-0) faces off against the Retrievers, University of Maryland Baltimore County (0-1) at Carnesecca Arena tonight. This is the opening on campus game of the Maui Invitational Tournament.

UMBC showed in their first game of the season they can shoot the basketball. Three of their starters had more than 5 attempts from beyond the arc. Overall as a team they shot 9-25 from deep and will certainly look to do the same against the Red Storm.

This contrasts completely from what the Red Storm encountered in their opener against Wagner. Wagner was very anemic offensively but challenged defensively and on the boards. The Retrievers had a -23 rebounding margin against Wake Forest, but their shooting kept them within two possessions. It will be another interesting test for Mullin’s squad.

Game Info:

Date: Monday, November 16th, 2015
Location: Carnesecca Arena, Queens Campus
Time: 7:00 PM EST
TV: Fox Sports 1, FoxSports GO App
Radio: 970 WYNM

Key Match-up

Federico Mussini vs Jourdan Grant

Grant is a quick guard who likes to create havoc on both sides of the ball. He gave five star freshman Bryant Crawford all he could handle in the opener. Grant will look to get to the rim and while he is more pass first oriented he’ll also get to the line. Mussini has struggled defensively and this could be a real problem especially if he picks up a few cheap fouls early.

Keys to Victory

Force tough shots, keep them out of the paint– It’s no secret UMBC will jack from anywhere so make every shot a difficult one. Guys will need to lock up their man and not fall into the trap of collapsing which will leave guys open on the perimeter. Keep your man in front and trust your rim protecters.
Don’t play their game- If UMBC starts out the game cooking from three, St. John’s can’t try and match them. Get to the rim and assert your dominance athletically. While St. John’s shot really well from three in the opener it is a bit of fool’s gold.
Go inside, early and often- UMBC does not have an answer for Yankuba Sima or Christian Jones. Get Sima the ball early inside and let him go to work. This will open up the perimeter game as well. Jones will be able to bully his way to the hoop if he can catch, pivot, and face up.
Good things will happen when you rebound- When you play a team who likes to chuck there will be plenty of rebounding opportunities. There are two objectives: Stop second chance points and get into transition. Long shots will produce long rebounds so this is going to be a team effort.

St. John’s Looks To Bounce Back From Hard-Fought Loss, Faces Texas A&M

November 18, 2011 by Jaden Daly 1 Comment

Less than 18 hours after suffering their first loss of the season, St. John’s hits the court again, taking on Texas A&M in the consolation game of the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden.

Arizona will face Mississippi State immediately following, in the championship game. Below, JohnnyJungle.com gets you caught up on what will be the second game for the Johnnies in as many days.

Date: Friday, November 18, 2011
Location: Madison Square Garden; New York, New York
Time: 4:30 PM EST
TV: ESPN2 (Dan Shulman, Bob Knight)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)
Online: WSJURadio.org (Mike Rossillo)

St. John’s Red Storm (3-1)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin (2nd season, 24-13; 169-91 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Nurideen Lindsey (6-3 So., 16.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 52% FG, 62% FT, 4.0 APG, 2.8 SPG)
G Malik Stith (5-11 Jr., 6.0 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 56% FG, 50% 3pt, 71% FT, 1.0 APG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 14.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 42% FG, 37% 3pt, 79% FT, 2.0 APG, 2.3 SPG)
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 14.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 64% FG, 84% FT, 1.0 BPG)
F Moe Harkless (6-8 Fr., 15.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 50% FG, 55% FT, 1.5 APG, 1.8 BPG, 1.8 SPG)

Key Reserves:
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 3.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 55% FG, 50% 3pt, 29% FT, 1.0 SPG)
G Phil Greene (6-2 Fr., 4.8 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 35% FG, 33% 3pt, 63% FT, 1.5 APG)

Keys To Victory:
– Start fresh. For such a young team, a loss as close and as heartbreaking as the one St. John’s suffered last night against Arizona could linger in the memories of the players longer than the coaching staff would like it to. This team has already shown a maturity beyond their years both on and off the court, and today’s game will be Exhibit A since the Red Storm will technically be taking the court twice within a span of 19 hours.

– Don’t be afraid to shoot the three. Texas A&M fell into a hole early in their matchup Thursday night against Mississippi State, as the Bulldogs hit each of their first five triples and never looked back. The Aggies are also yielding a 33 percent clip from beyond the arc to their opponents, so there will definitely be a handful of open looks for the Red Storm, should they choose to capitalize on them.

– Survive and advance. This terminology is usually reserved for March, but St. John’s will have that mindset when they go up against a Texas A&M team that is as deep as the Arizona squad the Red Storm faced last night. The Aggies regularly play an eleven-man rotation, four more than St. John’s currently features, in a routine contest. The Red Storm would also like to come away unscathed from the Garden, as a potential trap game awaits them at Carnesecca Arena Tuesday night against a scrappy St. Francis College unit that nearly defeated Seton Hall at the Prudential Center.

And coming in from College Station, home of the 12th man…

No. 18 Texas A&M Aggies (2-1)
Head Coach: Billy Kennedy (1st season, 2-1; 213-180 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Dash Harris (6-1 Sr., 4.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 22% FG, 60% FT, 3.7 APG, 1.0 SPG)
G Jordan Green (6-4 Fr., 5.0 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 71% FG, 60% 3pt, 50% FT, 1.3 APG)
G Elston Turner (6-5 Jr., 13.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 48% FG, 100% FT, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG)
F David Loubeau (6-8 Sr., 12.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 46% FG, 50% 3pt, 81% FT)
F Ray Turner (6-9 Jr., 14.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 70% FG, 44% FT, 1.0 SPG)

Key Reserves:
F Kourtney Roberson (6-9 So., 8.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 69% FG, 43% FT)
G Jamal Branch (6-3 Fr., 7.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 71% FG, 67% 3pt, 4.0 APG)
G Naji Hibbert (6-5 Jr., 3.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 40% FG)
C Keith Davis (6-10 So., 1.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 50% FG, 33% FT)

Keys To Victory:
– Take control. The Aggies lost the opportunity to dictate the pace of the game last night after Mississippi State got off to a hot start from three-point range and used it as a launching point to their 69-60 victory. Going up against a young team who was just on the court no less than 18 hours prior to tipoff, Texas A&M will look to play their style from the opening tip, thereby forcing St. John’s to catch up on a day where fatigue is the last thing Steve Lavin wants to worry about.

– High-percentage shots. The Aggies come into this contest shooting 54 percent from the field as a team, and three of their players have field goal percentages of 70 percent or higher, with reserve forward Kourtney Roberson close behind at 69 percent. Coming from a physical and offensively gifted, Big 12 Conference, Texas A&M is disciplined enough to know which shots they should be taking, and when to back off for a better look. If the Aggies can hold the ball long enough to find the play that is best suited for them on each possession, St. John’s will be attempting to erase an even bigger deficit than the ones they have fought back from in their three victories.

– Two for the price of one. Not every team is blessed with two point guards, but the Aggies are not “every team.” Freshman Jamal Branch has come out of the gate strong to start his collegiate career, averaging just over seven points per game, to go along with four assists per night as the understudy to senior Dash Harris. Branch has also shot the ball well, missing only four field goal attempts while making two of three from beyond the arc. Since Jordan Green only averages around 15 minutes per game, it would not be surprising to see head coach Billy Kennedy use both his point guards at the same time, letting his elder statesman Harris run the offense while Branch plays off the ball, or the other way around.

So, Who Wins?
This game will be the first of many where St. John’s can really prove themselves for what the team will ultimately become, as they will be taking the court for the second time in as many days, gaining experience that will serve them well for Big East play, and ultimately, the Big East tournament on this same Madison Square Garden court. For the Aggies, it is an opportunity to show that they are the team some critics are predicting could win the Big 12, as they will get the chance to go up against a team from what still is regarded as the best basketball conference in the nation. St. John’s will most likely play beyond their years once again, but the depth and intelligent shot selection they will be facing, coupled with the short turnaround between games, will be the nails in the proverbial coffin. Texas A&M will prevail, but not without overcoming a fight.

Final Score: Texas A&M 77, St. John’s 67

St. John’s Matchup with Arizona About Experience and Awareness

November 17, 2011 by Daniel Martin Leave a Comment

QUEENS, NEW YORK- St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin brought his players into the film room this week, as he always does, in preparation for their Thursday night game against Arizona at Madison Square Garden.

But with six first-year players on his roster, he tried to create the atmosphere that they would encounter when they step on the floor in Manhattan, with the lights of national television shining on them.

“We showed some Connecticut, some Pittsburgh, maybe even some Duke [game film from a season ago], and let it run for some time with the volume up so our players could get a little sense of what makes Madison Square Garden unique,” Lavin explained. “But, at the end of it, they’re going to have to go through…the experience of having that natural adrenaline and all the vital signs headed north.”

Lavin’s 3-0 Red Storm will face head coach Sean Miller’s Arizona Wildcats, who also stand at 3-0, after coming from behind to beat Ball State, 73-63, on Sunday.

Junior guard Malik Stith, as the only returning letterwinner on this young Red Storm roster, is the only player who can speak from experience about playing at the Garden.

“It feels good, I guess, just getting back to the big arena,” he said, not seeming to meditate on the past. “This will be our first test; first chance for us to play on national television; first time for the freshmen to get a feel of college basketball.”

The Red Storm ran into trouble in the first two games of their season, needing second-half rallies against William & Mary and Lehigh to win. But a convincing 82-59 win over UMBC on Sunday has turned the tide.

“I think it’s more of coming out with better intensity on defense in the first half,” said freshman forward Moe Harkless. “The first two games we really didn’t come out too strong and we, unfortunately, had to fight back to win and we can’t do that all season.”

God'sGiftAchiuwaBaseline — God'sgift Achiuwa will have to use his size to solidify St. John's presence in the paint against Arizona. (Photo: Dave Krupinski)

And the problem of slow starts has not only been a Red Storm problem. It that has plagued the relatively-young Wildcats, as well.

After losing star forward Derrick Williams to the NBA Draft and point guard Momo Jones to transfer, Arizona relies on three freshman for production off the bench: guards Nick Johnson and Josiah Turner and forward Angelo Chol.

And the two sets of freshman are not unfamiliar.

Harkless says he has been acquainted with Arizona’s young players through the AAU circuit, along with being friendly with junior forward Kevin Parrom, who is a New York City native.

St. John’s freshman forward Sir’Dominic Pointer played with Turner at Quality Education Academy in North Carolina, during his senior season.

But despite all of the more obvious overtones, there is a more serious subtext to this game, as head coach Steve Lavin, returning from successful prostate cancer surgery, will make his first Madison Square Garden appearance of the season, this coming in the 2K Sports Classic, which benefits Coaches vs. Cancer.

“This event gives coaches an opportunity to put basketball in its proper light, in terms of prioritizing, yet it’s a delicate balance, because we have to get ready to play Arizona,” said Lavin.

Since his arrival as the head coach at St. John’s, Lavin has raised over $1 million for cancer research and has worked extensively with the V Foundation, for the same cause, in his time at UCLA and as a broadcaster at ESPN.

Raising money for research has become a focal point for Lavin, whose grandmother passed away from pancreatic cancer. His father is a survivor of prostate cancer, and both his mother and father have had bouts with skin cancer.

“Because I’ve had family members who have been inflicted, or ultimately victims of cancer, it has affected me in a profound way in terms of, from a young age, understanding the importance of fighting a good fight against cancer,” Lavin said.

And that positivity has rubbed off on his team.

“As you can see, it just brought out a new energy in us,” said Stith, the junior guard. “When he came out [in his return against Lehigh], the crowd went crazy. It just brought out a new life, having Coach Lav back.”

The Red Storm tip off against Arizona at 9:30pm.

“It’s our first test to see where we stand and what we have to work on and how far we’ve come,” Stith added. “We’ll see Thursday night.”

St. John’s Looks To Go 3-0, Red Storm Face UMBC In Sunday Matinee

November 12, 2011 by Jaden Daly Leave a Comment

St. John’s rallied to a comeback win in their last game Wednesday night, erasing a 16-point deficit to beat Lehigh on a night highlighted by the triumphant surprise return of head coach Steve Lavin.

But, in Friday’s press conference, it was clear that the Red Storm are looking forward.

In the words of their own head coach last season, St. John’s now needs to put “hammer to rock” and move on to the next one, which comes against America East program UMBC, who represented the conference in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

For the first time this season, the Red Storm compete directly with the National Football League, with a 2pm tip-off. JohnnyJungle.com gets you up to speed with everything you need to know about this Sunday’s matinee in Queens, below.

Date: Sunday, November 13, 2011
Location: Carnesecca Arena; Jamaica, New York
Time: 2:00 PM EST
TV: ESPN3 (espn3.com) via STJ-TV (Tony Luftman, Tarik Turner)
Radio: WBBR 1130 AM (John Minko, Tim O’Toole)
Online: WSJURadio.org (Mike Rossillo, Karl Delatorre)

St. John’s Red Storm (2-0)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin (2nd season, 23-12; 168-90 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Nurideen Lindsey (6-3 So., 17.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 62% FG, 47% FT, 2.5 APG, 4.0 SPG)
G Malik Stith (5-11 Jr., 4.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 67% FG, 1.5 APG)
G D’Angelo Harrison (6-3 Fr., 13.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 38% FG, 30% 3pt, 73% FT, 1.0 APG, 2.5 SPG)
F God’sgift Achiuwa (6-8 Jr., 19.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 71% FG, 88% FT, 1.0 APG, 1.0 BPG)
F Moe Harkless (6-8 Fr., 16.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 45% FG, 33% 3pt, 36% FT, 2.5 APG, 1.0 BPG, 1.5 SPG)

Key Reserves:
F Sir’Dominic Pointer (6-5 Fr., 5.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 67% FG, 100% 3pt, 40% FT, 1.0 BPG, 1.5 SPG)
G Phil Greene (6-2 Fr., 1.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 75% FT, 1.0 APG, 1.0 SPG)

Keys To Victory:

– Come out firing on both sides. St. John’s can take care of business offensively if the right shots fall at the right time, but in each of the first two games the Johnnies have played so far, their defensive efforts have yet to yield favorable results until the second half. Going against a UMBC team that committed 20 turnovers in its season opener Friday night against Penn, the press defense and matchup zone needs to be executed to near-perfection on almost every possession to avoid a repeat of the first two opening halves, even though the Retrievers missed each of their eleven three-point attempts in their 59-45 loss to the Quakers.

– Yes Sir! Each of the first two games has a common thread: A standout defensive exhibition from Sir’Dominic Pointer in the second half. Be it a block from out of nowhere or a run down the court to steal a potential field goal against Lehigh, the Detroit product has demonstrated an innate ability to go after the ball on each end. However, Pointer’s offensive prowess has yet to be maximized at this point in the season. Pointer should have many opportunities to change that against a UMBC squad that averaged just 64 points per game during a five-win campaign.

– Divine intervention. God’sgift Achiuwa has come out from the half-dozen newcomers and established himself as the leader in the clubhouse in the race for “most impressive newcomer.” Achiuwa has posted near-double-doubles in each of the first two contests for St. John’s, and solidified his reputation as an effective post presence with his 21 points on a perfect shooting night against Lehigh. The Nigerian big man will draw a UMBC frontcourt of equal stature to his 6’8″ frame, but Achiuwa should have his moments of dominance more often than not.

Now, to get you caught up on the team making the trip up Interstate 95 into Queens…

UMBC Retrievers (0-1)
Head Coach: Randy Monroe (8th season, 81-135)

Projected Starting Lineup:
G Joey Getz (6-0 Fr., 4.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 25% FG, 67% FT, 3.0 APG, 1.0 SPG)
G Jamar Wertz (6-3 So., 6.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 25% FG, 100% FT, 1.0 SPG)
F Adrian Satchell (6-5 Jr., 4.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 40% FG, 1.0 SPG)
F Chase Plummer (6-6 So., 15.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 36% FG, 56% FT, 2.0 BPG, 2.0 SPG)
F Nate Basalyga (6-9 Fr., 1.0 RPG, 1.0 APG)

Key Reserves:
G Brian Neller (6-4 Jr., 4.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 13% FG, 100% FT, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG)
F Jake Wasco (6-8 Sr., 4.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 100% FG)
F Will Wise (6-8 Fr., 2.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 100% FG, 1.0 SPG)
F Chandler Thomas (6-6 Fr., 3.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 33% FG, 50% FT)

Keys To Victory:

– Rookie quarterback. With senior Chris De La Rosa still recovering from offseason foot surgery and not expected to play, freshman Joey Getz has been thrust into the role of floor general for coach Randy Monroe. Although he only made one field goal Friday night, the Philadelphia native posted well-rounded numbers against Penn, with four points, five rebounds and three assists. Getz’s baptism by fire continues Sunday when he goes up against fellow City of Brotherly Love native Nurideen Lindsey at the point.

– Keep it simple. UMBC enduring an 0-for-11 performance from three-point range Friday night against Penn could be a blessing in disguise. Given that St. John’s has had difficulty closing to the arc early in games thus far, open looks for the Retrievers could result in brick after brick that will enable St. John’s to draw away sooner rather than later. With that in mind, UMBC would be better off going inside, especially to swingman Chase Plummer. The 6-6 sophomore started his second campaign with a very promising showing in the loss to the Quakers, finishing one rebound shy of a double-double while leading his team with 15 points.

– Fear the triple. One big reason why Penn was able to defeat the Retrievers convincingly was due to their six three-pointers, four of which came from shooting guard Zack Rosen. St. John’s has been streaky from beyond the arc so far, but that does not mean the Johnnies don’t have the shooters to put games away from long range. If UMBC can single out D’Angelo Harrison and even Moe Harkless on film and adequately prepare for their forays outside the line, they will be in this game longer than some people expect.

So, Who Wins?
On paper, this looks like the easiest of the three matchups St. John’s has been a part of this season. On the court, it may be just the same. UMBC will need to exert themselves against competition they have not won against in quite some time, with a 12-game losing streak dating back to 2000. For St. John’s, all they need to do is stay out of trouble, and the win that fans and experts expect should come to them before the final buzzer. UMBC is on the rise, but the loss of their senior leader will prove too much for them to overcome, as the Red Storm make their 2011-12 Madison Square Garden debut as an undefeated team.

Final Score: St. John’s 79, UMBC 53

After Steve Lavin Return, Defense Is the Focus for St. John’s vs. UMBC

November 11, 2011 by Daniel Martin Leave a Comment

Coming off the emotional high that accompanied head coach Steve Lavin’s return to coaching duties Wednesday night, St. John’s will have to look forward when they take the floor Sunday afternoon against UMBC.

“It gave us a surge, as we anticipated. But that’s who he is. It was very natural,” said assistant coach Mike Dunlap of Lavin’s return. “Obviously, there is some adjustment that will go on over the next couple weeks, which we acknowledge.”

Despite winning the season’s first two games, it took strong come-from-behind performances to seal the victories, including coming from 16 down vs. Lehigh on Wednesday night.

“Part of that is us learning how to coach the team to get them in that position,” Dunlap continued, going on to praise the team’s first two opponents. “I think there are questions we ask ourselves as coaches to tweak it, but no drastic changes because then you bring a sense of uncertainty to the group.”

St. John’s trailed 32-16 in the first half on Wednesday night, including 10 points at halftime.

HarklessAchiuwa — Harkless and Achiuwa account for more than half of the the team's rebound total. (Photo: Dave Krupinski)

“When we’re down, we’re fighting hard, trying to get steals, playing really scrappy defense,” said freshman guard Phil Greene, who has run into struggles since scoring 20 points in the team’s first exhibition against CW Post. “We have to start off with that mentality.”

“I kind of blame myself because I’m out there in the beginning of the game,” said junior guard Malik Stith, the only returning letterwinner from last season.

“As a whole team, I think we have to realize that the early session of the game, the first five minutes we can’t play behind because what they don’t know yet, if you’re playing like a Pittsburgh, it’s hard to come back in a 16-point game.”

The matchup zone has been a staple of the Lavin era in Queens, which came under similar scrutiny last year, following strong shooting performances by St. Mary’s (Ca.), Arizona State, and Columbia.

Dunlap defended the scheme and touted its benefits, which include protecting the Red Storm lack of size and reducing foul trouble.

“What it does do is make teams one dimensional. And that’s tough living, as people have found, over the course of a game,” said Dunlap. “I don’t think we flinched too much when those five threes were made… It isn’t an “every man’s” defense. It takes time to pick it up.”

St. John’s will face a UMBC team on Sunday that shot 33% from three-point range last season, and lost their leading rebounder, Justin Fry, to graduation.

That means God’sgift Achiuwa and Moe Harkless, who, together, average over half of the team’s total rebounds, will have a chance to make noise on the block.

But Dunlap continues to press the importance of defense for this team.

“Our players will know that our culture leads with defense first because we know that that carries the day and can lead you to the Promised Land.”