from Boston Globe staff member Joe Sullivan
Sully's Court: St. John's has talent but has to learn to be a team
About last night: After watching the first game of the season, here’s what I’m sure of: The St. John’s team I saw Monday night will probably not look anything like the St. John’s that finishes the season. The Redmen were missing their coach, Steve Lavin, who is still recovering from treatments for prostate cancer. Lavin has one of the best recruiting classes in the country but three of the players were missing too. They haven’t qualified academically yet. What was left was an obviously talented group that needs to learn to play together. There was enough talent to beat William & Mary but the Redmen need to become a team in the next few months. It should be interesting.
Nurideen Lindsay looks like he’ll be a terrific point guard for the next there years; freshman forward Maurice Harkness has the look of a top-notch player. The next most obvious weakness beside cohesion was outside shooting. They will need to sharpen up considerably. Next would be post play, JC transfer God’sgift Ashiuwa was the only one really interested in making an impression in the lane. It’s going to take a lot to get this talented group playing well together. If Lavin does add in more players, providing they get past the NCAA Clearinghouse, it’s going to be that more difficult.
William & Mary has a good three-point attack but lacks any kind of inside game. Quinn McDowell, a 6-5 forward, is a gritty type with an outstanding face-up game. Based on last night, I see W&M has a middling CAA team.
Sully's Court: St. John's has talent but has to learn to be a team
About last night: After watching the first game of the season, here’s what I’m sure of: The St. John’s team I saw Monday night will probably not look anything like the St. John’s that finishes the season. The Redmen were missing their coach, Steve Lavin, who is still recovering from treatments for prostate cancer. Lavin has one of the best recruiting classes in the country but three of the players were missing too. They haven’t qualified academically yet. What was left was an obviously talented group that needs to learn to play together. There was enough talent to beat William & Mary but the Redmen need to become a team in the next few months. It should be interesting.
Nurideen Lindsay looks like he’ll be a terrific point guard for the next there years; freshman forward Maurice Harkness has the look of a top-notch player. The next most obvious weakness beside cohesion was outside shooting. They will need to sharpen up considerably. Next would be post play, JC transfer God’sgift Ashiuwa was the only one really interested in making an impression in the lane. It’s going to take a lot to get this talented group playing well together. If Lavin does add in more players, providing they get past the NCAA Clearinghouse, it’s going to be that more difficult.
William & Mary has a good three-point attack but lacks any kind of inside game. Quinn McDowell, a 6-5 forward, is a gritty type with an outstanding face-up game. Based on last night, I see W&M has a middling CAA team.