ST. JOHN'S LOOKS TO KEEP DEPAUL WINLESS IN BIG EAST

February 28, 2009

DePaul came up just short on Wednesday night, falling 74-72 against Villanova at Allstate Arena, in their quest for their first conference win of the 2008-2009 season. On Saturday, they welcome St. John’s into Allstate Arena in their last home game of the year. At 0-15 in conference play, DePaul will hope to avoid the first Big East 0-fer since Miami went 0-18 in the 1993-1994 season. With road games left after Saturday with West Virginia and Georgetown before the 2009 Big East Tournament, this will probably be the only chance they have at avoiding a winless conference campaign.

St. John’s enters Saturday’s contest with a 4-11 mark in Big East play and 13-15 overall. With another losing record in Big East conference play, an annual sign of spring is on its way in NYC has begin as the job security of Norm Roberts begins to come under question. While the administration publicly stands behind the embattled coach, they have also been seen at the recent games more regularly.

Last Sunday, the Redstorm broke a five-game losing streak with a win over Seton Hall at Carnesecca Arena, but they were unable to create any momentum as they laid another egg on the Madison Square Garden floor, an all too familiar scene in recent years, with an 87-58 loss to Syracuse.

While injuries and youth have impacted the success of the Redstorm this season, a loss against DePaul will definitely bring more calls for the end to the Roberts era. In order to prevent such a situation, SJU must come out and play defense and hit the boards against the Blue Demons. St. John’s has some length and athleticism that should make it hard on DePaul to score points. The key match-ups will be DJ Kennedy against Dar Tucker, who leads DePaul with 18 points a game, and Justin Burrell inside against Mac Koshwal.

Against Villanova DePaul let an eight-point halftime lead, which they stretched to 10 early in the second half, go for naught in a 74-72 loss. Villanova actually stormed back to take a double-digit lead of their own before a Will Walker shooting display from beyond the arc made things interesting.

Mac Koswhal was doing damage inside against the Wildcats, posting 10 points and 9 rebounds in the first half, but like all too often, DePaul lost track of their big man in the second half and resorted to launching perimeter shots, which they miss, much more than they hit.

If St. John’s can play tough inside and control the boards, they should be in pretty good shape. They match-up well with the DePaul personnel and Malik Boothe seems to have a better grasp of the SJU game plan than the DePaul rotating door at point guard.


NBE Blogger Prediction:

St. John’s 65
DePaul 59

ST. JOHN'S SEES ORANGE IN GARDEN LOSS

February 25, 2009

For the 31st time in 33 years as a college basketball head coach, all at Syracuse, Jim Boeheim has won 20 games or more. The 20th win of the 2008-2009 season for the Orange came last night as Syracuse Enjoys a Big Win over St. John's (Syracuse Post-Standard), 87-58, at Madison Square Garden.

Boeheim Sets NCAA Record With 31st 20-win Season (Post-Standard), bettering the record of 30 that the Hall of Fame SU coach previously shared with UNC legend Dean Smith. Of course, after the game, the emphasis was on what is next, a home date with Cincinnati, and coming up for the Orange, who are now 8-7 in the Big East.

In their previous outing, SU lost a heartbreaker, 89-86, to Villanova in the Dome. In that game, sophomore point guard Jonny Flynn struggled from the field, shooting 5-17 and suffering from flu-like symptoms. On Wednesday, Flynn Gets Well and Shines on College Basketball's Big Stage (Post-Standard) at Madison Square Garden, leading SU with 21 points and 8 assists. Eric Devendorf added 17 and big men Arinze Onuaku (14 points) and Rick Jackson (15) points each connected on seven of eight field goal attempts to pace an attack that shot 65% from the field and scored 87 points, despite 20 turnovers.


It was a Humiliating Night at the Garden (NY Daily News) as over 11,000 fans saw St. John's 'home-cooked' by the Orange fromt he start. SU took a commanding lead early and led 39-18 at the half and were never challenged by Norm Roberts' crew, which was coming off a 70-65 win over Seton Hall Sunday at Carnesecca Arena.

Paris Horne had 17 for SJU who is now 4-11 in the Big East and 13-15 overall. It is a gut-check game ahead on Saturday when SJU travels to play DePaul, who is currently 0-14 in the Big East, lose that one and it might be very difficult to believe the SJU fans and boosters would Let Norm Live out the season in peace as the 'Storm coach. SJU also has Georgetown at home and a road trip to Notre Dame before participating in the 2009 Big East Tournament in the Garden.

'LET NORM LIVE'

By Zach Smart



St. John's could have defeated Duke. They could have dumped off Seton Hall by 20 points rather than gutting out a tight, 70-65 dogfight. Lance "Born Ready" Stephenson could have committed to the Johnnies yesterday.

None of it would have mattered.

Norm Roberts would still be the verbal punching bag, who students at the Queens, N.Y. school heckle during home games. The student section at SJU hates Roberts with the same passion that the Seton Hall fanbase hated Louis Orr in the beginning of the 2005-2006 season. SJU fans have called for Roberts' job at a relentless pace.

Though it's clear they are not satisfied with Norm on the sidelines, SJU athletic director Chris Monasch recently stated that Roberts' job security is intact.

On the surface, there's still hope that Roberts can turn this quagmire around. It's been an uphill climb after he inherited a team marred by scandal via Mike Jarvis. The team had been off to its best start in nearly 14 years and they stamped a resume win over then-sizzling Notre Dame at Madison Square Garden in the beginning of January.

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Quite frankly, Roberts is New York's most hated man on this side of Bernie Madoff and A-Rod. New Yorkers put the blame on him for not getting top-flight recruits when located in a hoops hotbed.

But times have changed. New York kids leave the big apple for the Western woodworks and established basketball breeding grounds far from home. Staying local has become an afterthought for Big East caliber recruits. The days when Mullin left the nets burning, Mark "Action" Jackson lived up to his nickname, and the late great Maik Sealy soared are over. SJU has been watched the program decline, significantly, for more reasons than one.

Not to pull the injury card, but the Johnnies also are without the services of their best player in Anthony Mason Jr. this season. Roberts chose the path this team is on by recruiting a surplus of neophytes a few years ago. Some of these young guns--Paris Horne, Justin Burrell, and D.J. Kennedy--to name a few, have come to fruition.

Others, like homegrown product Malik Boothe, have talent that's still yet to crack the surface. Boothe has also been nicked up a bit. The pint-sized point guard, however, to paraphrase Ronde Barber...He can be had. Still too turnover prone to run the show and put his stamp on games night in, night out. In a conference underscored by electrifying guards, Boothe is just another so-and-so in a conference that's dripping with high-end guards.

Roberts made strides over the summer, reeling in four-star recruit Omari Lawrence. Lawrence, an off guard at South Kent Prep in Connecticut, is expected to make an immediate impact. The combination of him and Born Ready in the backcourt would instantly morph SJU into a team to watch next season.

Born Ready visited Kansas this weekend and was treated to a standing ovation and enthusiastic cheers. The Jayhawk family showed the same love for Lance that coach Billy Sunday and "Tech U" showed Jesus Shuttlesworth in "He Got Game," the 1998 Spike Lee drama.

Bill Self has been hounding Stephenson down this season, and the 6-foot-5 combo guard/wing has said he could see himself playing for Self. With Sherron Collins possibly bolting for the NBA, Stephenson would be able to jump into a role where he'd dominate the ball or operate the offense.

Born Ready, similar to OJ Mayo in that he's a shoot-first fundamentalist type player, is more likely to go to a school where he could be funnelled down the driver's keys. He's got one-and-done tattooed to his forehead, as the hyped up to heaven-sent guard has been described as an NBA player sporting a Lincoln High school jersey.

He's got a solid relationship with Roberts and is rumored to be visiting the hometown team sometime soon. According to Zagsblog.com, an official visit hasn't been scheduled yet.

There's still a good deal of basketball to be played. Roberts' team showed fight in various games this season. The key is becoming a second half basketball team and withstanding other teams' runs.

Every team at SJU's level longs for a first-round upset in the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden. Roberts deserves a few more chances in the mecca of basketball.

ST. JOHN'S HOPES TO HOST GARDEN PARTY VS. SU

February 24, 2009


At 7-7 in the Big East and losers of seven of their last 10 games, the Syracuse Orange can not afford the slightest mis-step as the Big East regular season comes to a close these next two weeks. SU has landed in the NIT the last two seasons and they need to take care of business over these next few games to avoid another nervous selection Sunday.

For St. John's, playing for pride as the regular season winds down is an all-too-familiar reality under Norm Roberts. At 4-10 the Redstorm have little hope for any postseason play, but with all 16 teams playing in the 2009 Big East Tournament, at least they have a chance this season.


Here are some pregame stories and previews from the internet on tonight's game:

Orange Scoutin Report: Syracuse @ St. John's (Post-Standard)
Ex-Cuse Storm's Poor Hospitality (NY Post)
Orange Men Look for a Critical Win (Post-Standard)

St. John's hopes to follow up Sunday evening's 70-65 win over Seton Hall in cozy Carnesecca Arena with a win tonight in Madison Square Garden against a slumping Syracuse Orange club. The Redstorm upset Notre Dame earlier this season in the Garden and, despite the usual large contingent of SU fans expected, hope to make the Garden their home once again with a big win.

Syracuse players admitted following Sunday afternoon's loss in the Dome to Villanova that they need to start winning. After facing a 10-game gauntlet of tough conference games, tonight is no time to relax and take a breather because SJU is going to come after them to take back MSG.

SU continued to show they are prone to fundamental breakdowns in the loss to 'Nova. Wether it is not getting back on defense, poor rebounding technique or questionable shot selection, the Orange continue to be a team that frustrates when watching them play. They have impressive individual talent in Jonny Flynn, Eric Devendorf, Paul Harris, etc. However, all too often, it is the individual trying to make the play, not the team.

Tonight they will have to work together and also hope to get some production from Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson inside. If SU goes into a pass/dribble and shoot attack, the SJU defense will make that a very difficult way to succeed.

St. John's will need to find some offensive output to keep up with SU. The famed zone defense of the Orange will put the pressure on the SJU perimeter game, which is very erratic, so how point guard Malik Boothe decides to attack the defense will be the biggest key for SJU. His inexperience might get the best of him in this one.

SU is a 5 1/2-point favorite, which looks to be a solid line. In this instance, I think SJU will struggle with the Orange zone and allow Syracuse to get the win they desperately need.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Syracuse 71
St. John's 64

REDSTORM EVENS OUT WITH SETON HALL

February 23, 2009


Recruiting Rivals Reuinited in Queens before a sell-out crowd in Carnesecca Arena to witness St. John's Hold Off Seton Hall (Newsday), 70-65.

St. John's dominated the backcoards, outrebounding Seton Hall by a 49-31 margin and overcoming their 36.5% (23-63) shooting performance by accumulating 27 offensive boards, an astounding number.

Justin Burrell (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Sean Evans (10 points, 13 rebounds) each posted double-doubles in the game and DJ Kennedy had a team-high 21 points as St. John's Beats Seton Hall (Star Ledger), handing the Pirates their third straight loss and dropping them to 5-9 in the Big East.

Jeremy Hazell led SHU with 22 points and the Pirates have a date with South Florida at the Prudential Center next prior to a home date with No. 1 Pittsburgh this weekend. SHU finishes the regular season with road games at Louisville and Cincinnati prior to the 2009 Big East Tournament.

St. John's improves to 4-10 in the Big East and will host Syracuse this week. Also before the 2009 Big East Tournament begins at Madison Square Garden, the Redstorm's secondary home, SJU has DePaul (road), Georgetown and Notre Dame (road) on their schedule.

ST. JOHN'S LOOKS TO AVOID A PIRATE SWEEP

February 22, 2009

In a rematch of a February 5th contest, won by Seton Hall 91-81, St. John’s looks to even the score between the two teams when they meet on the SJU campus in Carnesecca Arena Sunday afternoon.

Once again it is a season of streaks for SHU. After beginning conference play 0-6, the Pirates rattled off five straight wins against the lower third of the Big East. Since that streak, SHU has lost two in a row, although they played fairly well, against UConn and Marquette. Now, with USF coming to Newark on Wednesday, the Pirates hope to build some momentum for a tough finishing stretch.

St. John’s made a late rally to make the final score in Thursday’s match-up with Duke look closer than the game really was. The Redstorm are 3-10 in the Big East and are currently mired in a five-game losing streak.

This is a key game for both programs who recruit many of the same players in the NYC/NJ metro area. Bobby Gonzalez has made it pretty clear he circles the local rivalry games and thus far this season they have already swept NJ-rival Rutgers and are looking to complete the sweep against SJU, but much to his dismay, it will have to be accomplished on the Queens campus at Carnesecca Arena and not at Madison Square Garden.

The Redstorm has been hit hard by injuries all season long. They are likely as healthy as they will be for this game with Malik Boothe, Justin Burrell and Rob Thomas all in the line-up after missing some time throughout the season. Their best player, Anthony Mason Jr, was lost for the year in November.

The key to this game will be the Redstorm defense on Jeremy Hazell. A good strategy would be to put DJ Kennedy on him and make his assignment to contest everything. SHU does have other scoring options outside of Hazell, but his three’s seem to ignite the Pirates and for them to win on the road he is likely to need to be ‘on’.

This should be a pretty intense game, but the SHU pressure defense really pushed the pace in the first meeting, leading to the SHU win. If the Redstorm do not get better guard play and control the pace, the same thing is likely to happen.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Seton Hall 80
St. John’s 75

ST. JOHN'S FALLS TO DUKE, 76-69, AT MSG

February 20, 2009


St. John's stepped out of conference on Thursday night as they hosted Duke in Madison Square Garden. The Redstrorm Works hard but Falls to Duke (Newsday), 76-69.

The No. 9 Blue Devils Wear Down Redstorm (NY Post) leading by double-digits before a late SJU rally cut the lead to 74-69, but only 15 seconds remained in the contest.

SJU dug themselves an early hole, turning the ball over 13 times in the first half and 18 for the game. SJU was able to shoot 54% from the field against the Blue Devils and out-rebounded them in the game. Sophomore DJ Kennedy had 20 points and 9 rebounds in the game.

The biggest difference, outside the turnovers, was SJU's propensity to put Gerlad Henderson and John Scheyer on the foul line. The duo attempted 27 free throws between them, making 21, while SJU was just 11-16 as a team.

Sean Evans scored 15 for SJU and Malik Boothe added 10, but had six turnovers in the game. The Redstorm return to conference action on Sunday when they welcome Seton Hall to Carnesecca Arena, the favorite conference road venue of Pirate coach Bobby Gonzalez.

SJU is now 12-14 overall on the season and will look to improve on their 3-10 conference record Sunday versus SHU.

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: ST. JOHN'S @ MARQUETTE

February 14, 2009


After winning their first nine Big East conference games, Marquette has dropped back-to-back conference road games to South Florida and Villanova. They return home for a Valentines Day date with St. John’s at 9 PM in the Bradley Center before hosting Seton Hall next week. Marquette finishes up Big East play with a five game stretch that sent shivers down the spine of many when the schedule game out and is still looking like a true test of their mettle. Road games with Georgetown, Louisville and Pitt along with home games against UConn and Syracuse is certain to test anyone prior to the Big East Tournament.

St. John’s is up first and they are coming off a 71-61 loss at Cincinnati. The Redstorm are now 3-9 in the Big East and currently in the midst of a three-game losing streak. The injury-riddled team is probably as healthy as they are going to get, but the guard pressure they will face in this contest does not seem to be a promising match-up, especially when Marquette comes out for blood after surrendering 102 points in their last game.

“They have a terrific team so we’re going to really have to execute and take care of the basketball in the beginning of the game,” St. John’s head coach Norm Roberts told media members this week. “They play so hard on every single play and we have to match that to compete with those guys.”

Expect that effort to be intensified with a loud and supportive Saturday night crowd and some recent frustrations from the two-game losing streak. St. John’s really could be in the wrong place at the wrong time in this one.

Here are some pregame stories and previews on the game:

Marquette vs. St. John’s (Cracked Sidewalks)
Marquette’s McNeal Downplays Scoring Record (Chicago Tribune)
Marquette, led by their three senior guards, including new all-time leading scorer Jerel McNeal, should unleash a relentless wave of pressure, both offensively and defensively, led by their perimeter attack. Even with a small interior line-up, St. John’s is not a team that should be able to make the Golden Eagles pay for their shortcomings.

St. John’s will play hard and rely on defense to keep games close. DJ Kennedy is a versatile forward and Paris Horne has been one of the better perimeter scorers in the league of late. However, there is not much else working for St. John’s right now and with a loud and enthusiastic crowd looking to get their team back on track, look for Marquette to roll tonight.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Marquette 80
St. John’s 61

ST. JOHN'S LOOKS TO REVENGE EARLIER LOSS TO CINCINNATI

February 11, 2009


With a daunting four-game stretch right around the corner, the surging Cincinnati Bearcats can not afford a mis-step tonigh when they host St. John's in Fifth Third Arena at 7:30 PM. UC has won four of their last five and six of their last eight, including a sweep of Georgetown and a win over Notre Dame at US Bank Arena last week to pull them abover .500 in conference play at 6-5.

St. John's continues to scuffle along in the Big East under Norm Roberts. While injuries have hit a young Redstorm squad quite hard, SJU is 3-8 in the Big East and the amount of 'winable' conference games are dwindling with the schedule ahead. SJU is coming off a solid defensive effort against Louisville, before the Cards pulled away at the end for a 60-47 decision.

Here are some pregame stories and previews on tonight's game:

A Solid Building Block (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Looking ahead, after tonight's contest, Mick Cronin's squad will travel to Pittsburgh this weekend to start a stretch that also includes games with Louisville and West Virginia, at home, and then a trip to Syracuse. They can ill-afford to drop a game tonight as they have clawed their way back into the NCAA Tournament mix and have positioned themselves that finding a way to win three of these next five puts them in a real position to finish 11-7 in the Big East. While that is definitely getting ahead of ourselves, it shows how important this game is.

UC is led by guard Deonta Vaughn who iasked to carry the bulk of the scoring load as well as the ball-handling chores of the club. He has been getting offensive support in the frontcourt from Mike Williams and Yancy Gates, who was the top freshman in the Big East last week. Sophomore guard Larry Davis has also stepped up his scoring, which is a big key to UC's chances of success as it takes some pressure off of Vaughn.

These two teams met back on January 22nd and UC rallied from a double-digit deficit to post a 71-60 win. The game got really chippy as DJ Kennedy and Rashad Bishop were both ejected after earning a pair of double technicals for continued jawing after a brief altercation. SJU was already without point guard Malik Boothe and forward Rob Thomas because of injuries and the loss of Kennedy was too much for them to take down the stretch as UC ran past them in the last 10 minutes for the win.

Boothe is back and Thomas is also healthier, so if Kennedy can contain his emotions and if Paris Horne can rebound from his horrendous shooting effort against Louisville, SJU matches up pretty well with UC.

The Bearcats are a 9 1/2-point favorite in tonight's game, but look for both teams to defend very well, keeping this a relatively low-scoring affair. I liked how SJU competed in the first game until their lack of depth caught up to them, I think they will compete again tonight with the motivation from the previous game on their minds. However, Vaughn is the best player on the court and provides enough offense for UC to get the important win heading into their tough stretch.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Cincinnati 64
St. John's 59

REDSTORM MISSES MARK IN HOME LOSS TO UL

February 9, 2009


St. John's held visiting Louisville to only 19 points in the first half Sunday afternoon, looking to extend the misery the Cards have had in Madison Square Garden since joining the Big East conference. The Redstorm and UL battled back in forth for much of the second half before St. John's Folds Against Louisville (NY Daily News) and losses 60-47.

The game was an ugly affair, with the teams combining to shoot 39-113 (34.5%) from the field, 5-29 (17%) from three-point range and just plain stink up the joint offensively in front of 6,128 fans in the Garden.

Jerry Smith, removed from the starting line-up for the game by head coach Rick Pitino, scored a game-high 21 points, making 11 of 11 free throw attempts, many in the last minutes to ice the game. On the Bench to Start, Smith Rules the Court (Louisville Courier-Journal) thereafter, scoring 19 of those 21 in the second half. The UL bench outscored their SJU counterparts 29-0 with Terrence Jennings and Andre McGee also added four points each in relief of the starters. Earl Clark was the lone other Card in double figures, adding 12 points and 8 rebounds.

St. John's Losses to Louisville at MSG (Newsday), dropping the Redstorm to 3-8 in the Big East and 12-11 overall. Sean Evans had 12 points and 9 rebounds to lead SJU and Justin Burrell and DJ Kennedy each added 10. Paris Horne, who has been scoring well lately, was just 4-15 from the field, finishign with 9 points.

Louisville visits Notre Dame on Thursday while St. John's returns to action on Wednesday when they visit Cincinnati.

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: ST. JOHN'S HOSTS LOUISVILLE AT MSG

February 8, 2009

Since joining the Big East, Madison Square Garden has not been a friendly place for the Louisville men’s basketball team. However, this year’s Cards have risen into the top five of the national rankings with an 8-1 Big East record and a 17-4 mark overall. This afternoon, they take on the Redstorm of St. John’s in the world’s most famous arena.

St. John’s has battled injuries and youth and sit at 3-7 in the Big East and 12-10 overall. While injuries have left them short-handed all season, this is as healthy as they will be the rest of the season with Malik Boothe and Rob Thomas returning to the line-up in the last week or so.

Cards Tweak Where They’re Weak (Louisville Courier-Journal)
Line-up is Pressing Issue for Cards (Courier-Journal)


The college basketball lines list Louisville as a 10 ½ point favorite on the road. A healthy number, but the Cards are coming off a 68-51 loss at home to No. 1 UConn in a much-hyped game. The result has seemed to leave Rick Pitino reeling a bit as line-up changes with Preston Knowles and Terrence Jennings possibly seeing increased time, if not starting roles, to fix the areas Pitino is not happy with. He is looking for more of a pressing and offensively attacking line-up and these players have been showing him the most improvement.

St. John’s could be very vulnerable to this attacking defense as their ballhandling is shaky, at best. The return of Boothe allows most player to return to their natural positions, improving their ballhandling as a team, but they are still a young team prone to mistakes under pressure.

St. John’s can also be very hot and cold with their offense, as can Louisville, so expect this game to be on the low-scoring end of things.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisville 67
St. John’s 57

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: ST. JOHN'S TAKES ON SETON HALL

February 5, 2009


The Seton Hall Pirates, on a current two-game win streak, host Norm Roberts and his St. John's Redstorm at the Prudential Center in Newark (NJ) tonight in a Big East match-up. SHU beat Rutgers, 70-67, in their last game behind 35 points from Jeremy Hazell and are 2-6 in Big East play.

The Redstorm have won two of three, beating Rutgers, 70-59, and South Florida, 65-48, at home and losing 75-52 at West Virginia in between. SJU is 3-6 in the Big East.

Pregame stories and previews:

St. John's & Seton Hall Ready for Battle (NY Daily News)

The 'storm received a nice lift to their line-up with the return of Malik Boothe and Rob Thomas from injury in their last game, a win over USF. Boothe had not played since a December 21st loss to Virginia Tech because of an injured thumb. Being the lone SJU true point guard, coach Roberts was anxious to get him back on the court and the sophomore logged 37 minutes against USF.

Thomas provides an offensive lift off the bench, and had scored in double digits in four of five games before injuring a groin in the 1st half of a loss to UConn on January 15th. He had six points in 18 minutes in his return.

SJU had already lost Anthony Mason Jr for the season, so this is probably as full of a compliment of players as they will have this season. Boothe moves back into a backcourt that has a very hot player next to him, Paris Horne. The 6'3 sophomore is averaging a team-best 14.4 points a game, but that number is 18.8 in the last six contests. Fellow sophomore DJ Kennedy, a 6'6 wing, averages 13 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds for SJU.

Seton Hall is led by Jeremy Hazell, one of the nation's top scorers at 23.4 points a game. The 35-point performance was one of his five 30-pt plus games this year and he averages 24.8 points in Big East games. Hazell has the green light to launch from nearly anywhere at anytime and has the confidence to make them in any situation, no matter how many he has made, or missed, previously.

Robert 'Stix Mitchell adds 15.7 points and game and point guard Eugene Harvey averages nearly 13 points and 5 assists a game. Much is made of the short SHU roster and lack of depth that really hurts their frontcourt, but they definitely have some guys that can fill it up offensively.

The 9 PM contest is being shown by ESPN and the early college basketball odds have Seton Hall favored by 5 1/2 points on their home floor.

Being at home, you have to believe the Pirate offense will outshine the St. John's defensive effort. Their is not a lot of room for error for Seton Hall with a thin roster, but Hazell can certainly carry the load offensively and the frantic pace will likly take St. John's out of their game.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Seton Hall 76
St. John's 67

IS NORM ROBERTS' FUTURE IN DOUBT?

February 3, 2009


St. John's sits at 3-6 in the Big East at the halfway mark. For a team that has been hit hard by injuries, losing Anthony Mason Jr, their top player, early in the out of conference schedule, point guard Malik Boothe for most of the conference schedule to date and having key players like Justin Burrell and Rob Thomas miss multiple games, the 3-6 conference record might be as much as one could expect.

Still, pressure to win is on Norm Roberts and the Storm's Late Season Surge is Not the Only Factor for Roberts (Daily News) when it comes to his future. While Roberts has restored integrity to the program, wins have not come very regularly. After last season, much speculation about his job was put to rest when the administration signed Roberts to a new 5-year rolling contract. The University left themselves an out with a relatively (in today's game) low buyout to move in another direction.

It looks like the school is very intent on evaluating the performance of Roberts and his team these last 10 games of the regular season and into the postseason. Even with a team loaded with underclassmen and injuries, a staff more well received locally than anytime before and a record good enough to receive the new contract last year, Roberts' future is once again clouding up in the NYC media.

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: SOUTH FLORIDA @ ST. JOHN'S

February 1, 2009


The final Big East match-up on this Super Bowl Sunday has South Florida, getting away from all the big game excitement at home to travel north to meet St. John's in a conference match-up.

Each team comes into the game with 2-6 conference records. The Redstorm own home wins over Notre Dame and Rutgers, whole USF has swept two games from pitiful DePaul.

The Bulls are led by the one-two punch of shooting guard Dominique Jones and emerging freshman big man Augustus Gilchrist.

Jones, a junior, averages a team-high 18.4 points a game, leads the team with Gilchrist at 4.9 rebounds a contest, and also leads the team in assists (4.0) and steals (1.6). Gilchrist is averaging just over 12 points a game in Big East play.

St. John's has been decimated by injury, losing Anthony Mason Jr for the season in November and have been without point guard Malik Boothe and forward Rob Thomas lately. The Redstorm still plays hard under coach Norm Roberts and give a little extra effort in the comfy confines of Carnesecca Arena.

Paris Horne has been on a tear for SJU, eclipsing 20 points in three of his last four games and DJ Kennedy does a little bit of everything as a point-forward in their attack. If SJU can get Justin Burrell going against the thin USF front line, SJU will be in good shape today. St. John's is a slight home favorite (-2 1/2), they should be a winner in a pretty good game.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

St. John's 66
South Florida 62