Thanks for the reminder DK. I forgot they needed OT to beat DePaul and lost to Xavier at home. Johnnies can be Marquette on Tues. at home. Sometimes we SJU fans sound like Mets fans.
#11 Marquette (MSG), Tue., Feb. 4, 6:30p, FS-1
- Thread starter Knight
- Start date
Good points on who defends Jones . I agree Smith is too small and Wilcher , well he is what he is on Defense . He does come up with the occasional steal but , gets beat off the dribble often.
Jones to me , is a difficult match up for KR because he’s a shifty lefty .
He goes left almost always and often starts on the right side but , shoots across the lane to shoot his lefty pull up or goes to the rim .
Plus , we can’t risk KR getting in foul trouble trying to guard him . We need him for scoring , rebounding and playmaking .
Which leaves , either Scott or Luis on Jones . I like their size on him , although he’s 6’5 . We need to have both , Luis and Scott try and guard him . Scott will get in foul trouble but , it’s ok . I think we will need Prey out there on switches , more than he was used against PC
Luis can’t give up his offense and he and Scott could alternate on Jones . With Prey annoying him on switches .
I have the opinion that KR and Smith on the floor together is not our best lineup .
Smith was rusty , albeit very rusty and didn’t play well yesterday . I’m not sure if he should be shooting it 10 times a game when KR only shoots it 13 -14 . Wicker shouldn’t be shooting it 10 times a game either .
I would like KR shooting it 15-18 times a game . Especially this week .
I think it is hard to say because we switch everything but a quick glance at the matchups would be:
Smith/Wilcher - Mitchell
Richmond - Ross/Jones/Joplin
Luis - Jones/Joplin/Ross
Scott - Joplin/Ross/Jones
Zuby - Gold
Historically, scoring droughts were a staple here. Johnnies have been much better in that regard, but yesterday was a reminder. (Hopefully an anomaly) Granted we don’t shoot well and generate a fair share of our scoring from defensive pressure, turnovers, offensive rebounding, but obviously we can’t afford those prolonged lulls v M’Q, UConn or Creighton.
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Gold vs. Zuby is such a massive mismatch.
Gold's 21 minutes against UConn box score: 0 pts, 0-2 FG, 0 rebounds, 0 blocks, 1 steal, 0 fouls.
I literally think that is impossible for Zuby to do in a Big East game.
I think you go Scott (or Richmond) on Gold as he hangs around the perimeter. Zuby can keep up with Joplin’s athleticism. But as you say the switches will make a lot of this inconsequential.
Zuby, Zuby & more Zuby from the opening tap.
Id go RJ on Kam... give him the assignment...
Not a must win game. Plenty of season left beyond Tuesdays game.
Like it or not there is a “narrative” being built around this team. I watched Inside College Basketball and Jon Rothstein was stating that (obviously) this is a big week for St John’s. Mentioned that we haven’t beaten/played a lot of Quad 1s. The whole until proven otherwise the BE goes through Storrs.
We lose both these games Marq/Yukon you can expect a lot of “who have they beaten” stories. Let’s get at least one if not both to shut people up before it really gets going.
Like it or not there is a “narrative” being built around this team. I watched Inside College Basketball and Jon Rothstein was stating that (obviously) this is a big week for St John’s. Mentioned that we haven’t beaten/played a lot of Quad 1s. The whole until proven otherwise the BE goes through Storrs.
We lose both these games Marq/Yukon you can expect a lot of “who have they beaten” stories. Let’s get at least one if not both to shut people up before it really gets going.
Fun part of this “win”
for us will be a matchup of two effective defenses, M’Q’s premised on athleticism, cheating and jumping passing lanes v SJU’s disciplined help approach w a lot of physicality. Both teams deflect well and generate a lot of their scoring off their D. M’Q obviously has very athletic guards/perimeter players and perhaps a tad better than our group.(good game to get going Sim), but we have interior edge by wide margin and they may struggle with our O rebounding, second chances. Run stuff through Kadary and Zaby and we should be fine.
is this an invite to the suite? how suite of you
carmineabbatiello
Well-known member
I'd be amazed if they go to class Monday or Tuesday.
Silly Donovan
Well-known member
Nit pick much? To me a “fine” season borders on the outstanding. When we beat more highly ranked teams (hopefully this week) get to the finals of the Big East tourney and make some big noise in the Dance, then I’ll label it “fabulous”.
I understand your standards as a fan may be low from the beating we have taken the past few decades but to label this season as “effin fabulous” at this point in time actually undermines the team’s potential going forward.
I agree with your defensive matchups. I’d only add that the team should reallocate some of the Wilcher and Smith (until fully healthy) shots to Ejofor. The guy is always busting it and rarely a focal point on offense. I’d live with more higher percentage shots from him vs 3 point shots feet behind the NBA line.
Goosebumps
Silly Donovan
Well-known member
The only problem I have with KR on Jones is the amount of energy he will have to use guarding him. Should that energy not be more dedicated to the offensive side of the ball, scoring or running the team. Wilcher may not be strong enough and Smith not big enough but at least he has the quickness. As of late, our offensive options have been limited so it’s a tricky match up for the team.
Good post and I will make a small add on point. The Providence thread is littered with posts that SJU could never beat Marquette playing the way they did in the second half. Including after the UConn game where Marquette played putrid for a half. I’m not sure who would win a contest between those two efforts.
Teams have good halves and bad halves, good games and bad games. Nobody in this years Big East has a team that approaches last years UConn team. After the game Kim English put it well, saying the league is wide open between four teams.
SJU is one of those four.
Worse, Jets fans.