Johnnies "poised to make big strides'

[SJU61982]

Jason King of espn.com has St. John's at #2 on this list, behind only Kentucky.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebask...d-to-improve-teams-poised-to-make-big-strides

2. St. John’s: Sportswriters are expected to make bold predictions from time to time, so here’s mine: St. John’s will spend most of the upcoming season ranked in the top 25 and will challenge Marquette and Creighton for the Big East title. This team is loaded. Jakarr Sampson was one of the country’s most underrated freshmen in 2012-13, when he averaged 14.9 points and 6.6 rebounds. Imagine how much better he’ll be this season after bypassing the NBA draft. I’m also expecting even more out of D'Angelo Harrison, who was averaging a team-high 17.8 points before being suspended at the end of last season for disciplinary reasons. Chris Obekpa, who ranked second in the country with 4.0 blocks per game, is back along with bruising forward God'sgift Achiuwa, who redshirted last season. Two other important pieces will be incoming freshman Rysheed Jordan, the No. 3-ranked point guard in the class of 2013, and Orlando Sanchez, a 24-year-old forward who wasn’t deemed eligible by the NCAA until late February. He’ll only be able to compete for one season, but Sanchez could end up being the top player on the Red Storm roster.

 

[NYCRedmen]

Don't let Resurrection of Joe AKA Joe3 read that article, he won't be happy to see that Creighton is being considered one of the teams to win the Big East : )

 

[ccnobz]

Finally someone who did some homework.

 

[Moose]

Finally someone who did some homework.

Everything looks kosher except Obekpa led the nation in blocks

 

[ccnobz]

Finally someone who did some homework.

Everything looks kosher except Obekpa led the nation in blocks

I think he stated he averaged 4.0 which was 2nd, regardless I think it was the best team capsule I have read so far. I'm pumped for the season already and it's not even August.

 

[salty dog]

these articles will lead to pressure. It's better to be undervalued and use that as the rally cry.

 

[Moose]

Finally someone who did some homework.

Everything looks kosher except Obekpa led the nation in blocks

I think he stated he averaged 4.0 which was 2nd, regardless I think it was the best team capsule I have read so far. I'm pumped for the season already and it's not even August.

All good but NCAA sent us plaque that had Obekpa leading the country in blocks. Fratto showed pictures of his plaque and the overall team leading plaque recently

 

[ccnobz]

Finally someone who did some homework.

Everything looks kosher except Obekpa led the nation in blocks

I think he stated he averaged 4.0 which was 2nd, regardless I think it was the best team capsule I have read so far. I'm pumped for the season already and it's not even August.

All good but NCAA sent us plaque that had Obekpa leading the country in blocks. Fratto showed pictures of his plaque and the overall team leading plaque recently

Yep, I saw the picture of Chris holding that -- ok he led the country!! :cheer:

 

[NYCRedmen]

I can't help but think back to the 1992 season. We had just made an Elite 8 appearance the year before, we had everyone back with a pretty loaded team, expectations were high but before the start of the season Lou Carnesecca put up a sign outside his office saying "remember Humpty Dumpty". Man did that turn out to be prophetic. The team stumbled out gate, rebounded to win 19 games and lost in the First Round of the NCAA to Tulane.

That said, I'm really pumped for the upcoming season but history has thought me to be a cautiously optimistic.

 

[ccnobz]

I appreciate your story, but it doesnt really apply to this year's team-- we stunk last season.

 

[NYCRedmen]

I appreciate your story, but it doesnt really apply to this year's team-- we stunk last season.

I wouldn't be that hard on them as far as last year but you make a good point.

 

[ccnobz]

I appreciate your story, but it doesnt really apply to this year's team-- we stunk last season.

I wouldn't be that hard on them as far as last year but you make a good point.

Lets hope we can use that story next season- Elite 8 would be sweet

 

[Andrew]

Good publicity is good for recruiting.

 

[TheSummit]

Rob Werdann missed much of the '91-'92 season with an injury. When he returned at the end of the season, he was far from 100%.

 

[austour]

Finally someone who did some homework.

Everything looks kosher except Obekpa led the nation in blocks

I think he stated he averaged 4.0 which was 2nd, regardless I think it was the best team capsule I have read so far. I'm pumped for the season already and it's not even August.

All good but NCAA sent us plaque that had Obekpa leading the country in blocks. Fratto showed pictures of his plaque and the overall team leading plaque recently

Yep, I saw the picture of Chris holding that -- ok he led the country!! :cheer:

Nerlens Noel led the nation in blocks per game but he only played in 24 games which was not quite the 75% of total games needed to qualify for the title. Kentucky played 32 regular season games include SEC tourney. If Kentucky had not received or turned down the NIT bid where they lost in the first round then Noels would have won the title.

 

[LJSA]

these articles will lead to pressure. It's better to be undervalued and use that as the rally cry.

We're not going anywhere in March if the kids can't handle pressure. Bring on the high expectations!

 

[redmanwest]

these articles will lead to pressure. It's better to be undervalued and use that as the rally cry.

I generally agree that it is best to be the underdog, but that can't really credibly be said about this team, which is indeed "loaded." And, we've been undervalued for so long, it's nice to get some props. :cheer:

 

[SJU1512]

Agree that it is usually better to fly under the radar, but this particular team has to push all that stuff to the side. We're not young, we're not inexperienced, we're not undersized, and we're most certainly not giving credit to the other team. What we are is a talented team that has little excuse to do anything but win a bunch of games.

 

[sirvoo]

i love reading articles and having to scroll down, down, down to see our team rated #2 in a specialty ranking piece. Without these types of expectations and pressures who are we? Without a spectacular season where are we going? We need to be a top 15 team. If not now then when?