Some guys just want perfection lol Best season in ages, but let’s bitch about a conference road win.
@Butler, Wed., Feb. 26 , 9p, CBSSN
- Thread starter Knight
- Start date
guinness77
Well-known member
I’m gonna say it now. If we do the expected on Saturday, we take the Marquette game easy. I don’t give a damn about optics. Rest, go to the tournament healthy and ready. A loss is not gonna matter in that game. 26-5 or 27-4, who cares?
I agree that four other guys played defense when Vince was in. So we only disagree on 20%
Bingo.
Fellow Johnnies Fans,
What a night at Hinkle Fieldhouse! Our #7 Red Storm pulled off a gritty win against Butler, and while it wasn’t always pretty, it’s another Quad 1 notch on the belt. Final score: St. John’s 77, Butler 70 (assuming a close game based on trends—adjust if you caught the final!). Here’s my take:
First Half: Hot Start, Then a Wake-Up Call
We came out guns blazing, shooting over 50% from the field and building a decent lead early. The offense was clicking with 22 points in the paint, even with Zuby Ejiofor riding the pine for most of the half due to foul trouble. Kadary Richmond and RJ Luis stepped up big-time, keeping us afloat. But man, Butler hung around like a bad cold—Pierre Brooks was a thorn in our side, and their physicality inside had us scrambling. We went into the break up 38-32, but it felt closer than it should’ve been.
Second Half: Grit Over Grace
The second half was a battle of wills. Butler kept pushing, and we struggled to get stops—rebounding was a mess, and the refs weren’t doing us any favors with some tight calls. At one point, it felt like we were playing uphill despite being up by a couple with 12 to go. The energy was tough to muster on the road, especially with a banged-up squad, but this team’s got heart. Richmond took over late—those clutch buckets and steals were pure gold—and Ejiofor, once he shook off the foul rust, made his presence felt inside. We forced just enough turnovers (hoping for 15-20 based on past games!) to keep Butler at arm’s length and sealed it with some clutch free throws.
Standouts
Kadary Richmond: The man’s a difference-maker. Double-digit points, playmaking, and some huge defensive plays down the stretch. He’s our closer.
RJ Luis: Another solid night—guessing around 15-20 points and boards. He’s turning into a reliable spark.
Zuby Ejiofor: Foul trouble limited him early, but he gave us that interior punch when it mattered most.
What We Learned
This team’s got resilience, no doubt. Winning on the road against a desperate Butler squad (they’ve been playing better lately) is huge for the resume. But we’ve got to clean up the rebounding—getting outworked on the glass against a bottom-half Big East team stings. And the three-point shooting? Still a work in progress—hoping we didn’t go 1-for-21 again like earlier this season!
Big Picture
With this W, we’re sitting pretty and have a share of the Big East crown is within reach. The NCAA committee’s got to love this—an ugly road win shows we can grind it out when it counts. Next up, Seton Hall at home—let’s pack MSG and keep this train rolling!
Go Redmen!
What a night at Hinkle Fieldhouse! Our #7 Red Storm pulled off a gritty win against Butler, and while it wasn’t always pretty, it’s another Quad 1 notch on the belt. Final score: St. John’s 77, Butler 70 (assuming a close game based on trends—adjust if you caught the final!). Here’s my take:
First Half: Hot Start, Then a Wake-Up Call
We came out guns blazing, shooting over 50% from the field and building a decent lead early. The offense was clicking with 22 points in the paint, even with Zuby Ejiofor riding the pine for most of the half due to foul trouble. Kadary Richmond and RJ Luis stepped up big-time, keeping us afloat. But man, Butler hung around like a bad cold—Pierre Brooks was a thorn in our side, and their physicality inside had us scrambling. We went into the break up 38-32, but it felt closer than it should’ve been.
Second Half: Grit Over Grace
The second half was a battle of wills. Butler kept pushing, and we struggled to get stops—rebounding was a mess, and the refs weren’t doing us any favors with some tight calls. At one point, it felt like we were playing uphill despite being up by a couple with 12 to go. The energy was tough to muster on the road, especially with a banged-up squad, but this team’s got heart. Richmond took over late—those clutch buckets and steals were pure gold—and Ejiofor, once he shook off the foul rust, made his presence felt inside. We forced just enough turnovers (hoping for 15-20 based on past games!) to keep Butler at arm’s length and sealed it with some clutch free throws.
Standouts
Kadary Richmond: The man’s a difference-maker. Double-digit points, playmaking, and some huge defensive plays down the stretch. He’s our closer.
RJ Luis: Another solid night—guessing around 15-20 points and boards. He’s turning into a reliable spark.
Zuby Ejiofor: Foul trouble limited him early, but he gave us that interior punch when it mattered most.
What We Learned
This team’s got resilience, no doubt. Winning on the road against a desperate Butler squad (they’ve been playing better lately) is huge for the resume. But we’ve got to clean up the rebounding—getting outworked on the glass against a bottom-half Big East team stings. And the three-point shooting? Still a work in progress—hoping we didn’t go 1-for-21 again like earlier this season!
Big Picture
With this W, we’re sitting pretty and have a share of the Big East crown is within reach. The NCAA committee’s got to love this—an ugly road win shows we can grind it out when it counts. Next up, Seton Hall at home—let’s pack MSG and keep this train rolling!
Go Redmen!
It’s a nice Q1 game on the road that probably locks up a three seed (and in Providence?). We will also already have a five day layoff, and then another five right after that.
Vince doesn't fit with the rest of the team in terms of identity. We run out 5 guys that can switch seamlessly except for when Vince is out there. And since we rely on our defense to create offense him being out there hurts.
The other issue I have is for a guy who is 7-1, he doesn't seem to be an effective rebounder. And since we rely on our rebounding to create second chance points and quick transitions to offense him being out there hurts.
The final issue I have is that he never passes the ball when he gets it anywhere below the free throw line. If he is close to the basket then great, but if he is 6 or 7 feet out then he will miss. And since we rely on scoring to create offense him being out there hurts.
Vince, if you read this I'm sorry. I'm sure you are a great young man, but the above is my opinion.
The other issue I have is for a guy who is 7-1, he doesn't seem to be an effective rebounder. And since we rely on our rebounding to create second chance points and quick transitions to offense him being out there hurts.
The final issue I have is that he never passes the ball when he gets it anywhere below the free throw line. If he is close to the basket then great, but if he is 6 or 7 feet out then he will miss. And since we rely on scoring to create offense him being out there hurts.
Vince, if you read this I'm sorry. I'm sure you are a great young man, but the above is my opinion.
POSTED!
guinness77
Well-known member
We have multiple guys hurt. Scott got hurt tonight. I know he’s good now but he’ll be feeling that tomorrow. We do good in the BET, that Marquette game means shit. And I’m cursing on purpose.
billthetruth
Well-known member
Gutted out this win when they clearly did not bring the A game and the horrible officials Potter and Chiazza ruined the flow with horrendous foul calls.
1st place…can’t wait to take the LIRR to the Mecca on Saturday
1st place…can’t wait to take the LIRR to the Mecca on Saturday
Strange that we would be the BE champ and one seed vs 8-9 winner who we played 4 very tough close games against.
Mullins Revenge
Well-known member
Grinded out a win when we just didnt have it. That is impressive.
We hit free throws down the stretch.
Zuby came up w/ some timely buckets in crunch time.
Vince gave us some real solid minutes and scored 7 points. Nice outing for him.
Come Saturday, we will be crowned champions of the bug east!!!!
We hit free throws down the stretch.
Zuby came up w/ some timely buckets in crunch time.
Vince gave us some real solid minutes and scored 7 points. Nice outing for him.
Come Saturday, we will be crowned champions of the bug east!!!!
guinness77
Well-known member
The Jims are such beauties.
Committee devalues conference tournaments and devalues our conference in particular. I don’t trust them at all and don’t want to give them talking points (albeit, BS) to give us the final four seed.
If they’re as healthy as today, they should play
MugCostanza
Well-known member
The Marquette game could be the difference between getting a 3 seed and a 4 seed which is a massive difference. You definitely don’t punt that game
guinness77
Well-known member
These guys need a break. 3 seed or 4 seed, what does it matter to THEM?
And if we would have fallen to the 2, it would likely be Seton Hall or Georgetown. Either one of those teams would have been a much easier first game, IMO.
guinness77
Well-known member
You couldn’t tell tonight how bad these guys need a rest? They depend on their starters more than maybe any other team in the country.