An important observation to recognize is that the Johnnies did not play well tonight, were without Harrison for approximately the last 10 minutes of the game (including OT), they were out rebounded by a hefty margin and still found a way to gut out a win. The team knows they are now capable of winning a close game without their "leader", which will only provide them with more confidence in the future. Georgetown looked great tonight against the Hall, but I couldn't be more pumped for the game. This is all I've been asking for.......it's fun to be a St. John's fan again!!
Important Observation
- Thread starter red0356
- Start date
DieHard Johnny
Member
I agree they grew up fighting off a vengeful desperate depaul team
why was the BLUE demons wearing RED they
always wore blue unis
why was the BLUE demons wearing RED they
always wore blue unis
we won. that's the most important observation. it was a mid major effort against a team that has lost five straight in the conference.
badly outrebounded. free throws are embarassing. bricklayers sampson, harrison, branch and greene doing their usual. thank god for sirdom and amir...otherwise depaul would have joined unc-ashville as underachievers who took us to school on our home court.
badly outrebounded. free throws are embarassing. bricklayers sampson, harrison, branch and greene doing their usual. thank god for sirdom and amir...otherwise depaul would have joined unc-ashville as underachievers who took us to school on our home court.
We looked dreadful last night but who among is willing to give back any of those ugly wins?
Harrison says they're determined to show that the bottom half of the league aren't the only teams we can beat and they intend to prove that on Saturday.
Love the attitude. Let's hope their performance matches DLo's words.
Harrison says they're determined to show that the bottom half of the league aren't the only teams we can beat and they intend to prove that on Saturday.
Love the attitude. Let's hope their performance matches DLo's words.
JackofVirginia
Active member
Talk about home court, what's our problem? It seems we struggle with mid majors and B.E. teams at Carnesecca Arena. Looked as if the crowd was buzzing, no excuse there.
JackofVirginia
Active member
I seem to believe our best chance for our next victory will be against the Hoyas. I don't expect us to play as poorly against them as we did in the garden. Not too confident we can win on the road against Cuse and Louisville.
DieHard Johnny
Member
GT will press us from the lockeroom must use the 3guard lineup green-branch-Harrison with Samson & pointer
That lineup can rebound well & match the speed of the hoyas
Its going be a great challenge but this team has bonded together & should play alot better
beast of the east
Active member
I've been very positive all year because expecations on my part have been moderate - jsut play well and improve, and next season will be better.
I'll take a very poorly played win over a well played loss any day.
However, with the prospect of Georgetown, UCONN, Louisville, and Syracuse in front o us, with 3 of those on the road, they'd better play better than last night, or can go 0-4. Throw in ND on the road, and that can mean 5 more losses.
I guess my major concern is that although Branch is a big big plus to the lineup, he's not really a floor general. Certain point guards have such a presence on the floor, like the conductor of a symphony. That's not Branch.
Obepka blocking shots is great fun... he blasted one into the SJU bench in the first half, and smothered a drive to the hoop in the second half. However, around the hoop on offense his skills are no more than a 2 out of 10. Hopefully a lot of work in the offseason and in practice, and he will become capable.
Together, Branch, Sampson, Greene, and Harrison - the core of our offense, shot 19-56, about 35% from the field. It wasn't stellar defense that contained them. It was poor shooting, and poor shot choices,
Went home happy, but this will be the roughest stretch of the season. Anything better than 1-4 against the above mentioned teams would be respectable, but it won't be easy.
jrhoops1949
Active member
Usually pointless to play the games in your head before playing them on the court. But it seems thats what your doing. Half the season is over and we got 6 in the bank, and it could of been 8 or less then the 6. All the home games winnable so why not figure that gets us to 10. ND not real good now even at home. Providence is ok for Providence. That could get us to 12. Your looking at the next 5 and saying we can lose them all. I'm looking at a team I figure is green as grass{Dom on way to being all BE) who has won 5 in a row and is getting better. Overtime win with no Harrison thrills me. What does worry me is Dom in foul trouble. The teams that most of us would put in the unbeatable column. well who knows if they're for real.
tom in salem
Well-known member
No way. Your lineup is atrocious on the boards.
Time to get Obekpa back in the starting lineup and make Greene the first guard off the bench.
Ray Morgan
Well-known member
The way this team plays, they can lost to almost anyone. But they can also beat almost anyone in the conference. Without Dom bailing out Branch's TO with a few seconds left, Depaul has a breakaway and slam dunk for the win. Branch seems to slip a lot and does this spin move where he completely exposes the basketball. Just means he needs to work on a few things, and build up strength and stamina. Team is much improved, but has a long way to go. They need to treat their possessions with more respect. Yes, turnovers are low, but they need to make better decisions on shot selection. What were they from the line in OT? 3 of 8 or something similar. Depaul worst rebounding team in league per announcers, yet beat us badly off the boards.
terrificboss
Member
I was at the game. The team found a way to win without their best player. The crowd was into it.
It sure is sweet to be 14-7 and 6-3 in the BE!
Hope we split the upcoming games.
Go Johnnies!
It sure is sweet to be 14-7 and 6-3 in the BE!
Hope we split the upcoming games.
Go Johnnies!
I'm not sure what in the world you're expecting from Branch, but he's the better than you're giving him credit for.
Take into account the type of offense he's being asked to run. The ball is out of his hands until about 12 seconds left on the shot clock.
He can hit the 15-18 footer. He plays with his head up. He's under control majority of the time.
Our floor spacing is terrible but hats due to the "offense" that we're running. No one is ever in a position where you know exactly where they'll be (think Heaslip of Baylor in the corners).
That, and our bigs having butterfingers, will keep Branch's options limited and his assist totals down.
When Branch was first eligible, he was racking up high turnovers because he was always looking to find someone. That's not how Lavin has us playing. Usually the last ball handler takes the shot.