(POST GAME ) #16 Arizona (Chase Ctr), Sat. Dec. 21, 10p, ESPN-2, 970 WNYW

I’m still just sitting here in shock. Can’t even sleep.

The WVU win was nice but this one... this is special.

We went across the country without a starter/senior leader and beat those f’ing cheaters. Mike A has this bench looking stacked.

Remember some of the Lavin and mullin teams where we could only run 6-7 guys? What a refreshing change of pace this is.

Players I’d never thought would contribute are now doing so. I was WORRIED tonight when Marcellus Earlington fouled out.

If a year ago today you told me I’d be upset about Marcellus Earlington fouling out against the #16 team, I’d say “Earlington played long enough to accumulate 5 fouls?”

This is just awesome. There will be a lot of speculation and hot takes the next few days about where this team could possibly go and if NCAAT Is in the picture, but I’m just going to take this win and enjoy my Christmas knowing the good guys are 11-2 with two massive wins going into big east play
 
Congrats to St John's for an exciting and hard fought game. Mike's players showed a lot of toughness and heart.

There are obviously things to work on going into the BE. But this win is a major boost for the program.
 
Missed the game, but curious about how Steere played. Does he look like he will contribute this season?
 
[quote="Steve Knortz" post=369055]Missed the game, but curious about how Steere played. Does he look like he will contribute this season?[/quote]

I’m sure he will but not enough time to tell just what yet. He’s rusty and needs game time experience.
 
[quote="MCNPA" post=369045][quote="Logen" post=369039][quote="MCNPA" post=369030][quote="Logen" post=369026]Not usually a stat guy but two interesting things jump out, 28-7 in bench points for the good guys and a tremendous difference in the +/- between our starters and bench in favor of the bench; statistical testimony to the depth Anderson and co. have created.[/quote]

I absolutely love having a team that plays almost the entire bench depth-wise. Like I said, just wait until our talent level increases significantly over next few years. We will be bring waves of talent into the game. Love this style of play and great coaching to maximize our strengths despite have a generally poor offensive team without arguably our best player. Depth is what will carry us this year.[/quote]

Maybe; but right now we are winning as a blue collar TEAM, effort, commitment to the collective and heart are talents also. You can very easily lose that vibe and chemistry with higher ranked recruits who buy into their stats and pro aspirations. Not saying that is an absolute by any means but I could not help but think that watching Texas today. I am not familiar with them but at least today, they looked nothing like Shaka Smart’s VCU teams in terms of blue collar effort.[/quote]

Agree and you make a good point. I actually think Anderson is recruiting similar types of kids, of which Posh and Wusu definitely are and I’m gonna guess Cole and Moore are likely to be too. Forget that now though, these kids deserve the credit and SJU is getting our identity back. Really playing the way nyc basketball fans love to watch. Great win.[/quote]

Have not seen any of the four play but have talked to friends who scout for colleges and it certainly appears Alexander and Wusu are Anderson “types”. As you say though, enough said on that, loving the here and now.
 
Anyone have links to Sean Millers post game interview?

I finally found Mike's on redstorm. I'm so thrilled that Mike is finding success in NY. He's coached these kids up and it's paying off. The players are having fun and they've bought into the program. Good things will come in the BE for St John's.
 
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Barely slept last night after that. Love this team can't wait for conference play.
 
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First off the game was not shown in Canada so a huge thank you to everyone who posted on the game thread with constant updates, greatly appreciated, at times I felt the surge of energy. Fell asleep halfway through the first half , woke up at 3 and read the entire game thread. Nothing I can add that has not already been said.
Secondly, a few months ago when I read we were playing this crooked coach, who every year gets a top recruiting class, on the road, I said what are we doing, this is a guaranteed 30 point loss. After WVU game I said great but this game is still a loss. After Heron got Injured I was back at a 30 point loss. Well as I tell my son all the time hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard enough. I can’t give enough credit to this staff for getting everyone to a man to buy into the team first defensive concept. Our weakly constructed roster is playing to its strengths to a man and in the process the sum is much greater than the individual parts.
What a way to have a break before Christmas.
 
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Unlike in the past, we have a coa h who instills faith in our bench. He shows the kids trust and they respond with premium effort. This was on full display in this game. If you struggle you might sit more but, the next game he has you back out there. That's why they all buy in. Love this coaching staff and love this team. The saying is "it gets greater later" , I believe and I am enjoying the ride
 
What a great win!! 40 minutes of hell!! This team has really taken on the identity of their coach in a very short period of time. Kudos to the staff and players for their efforts. Very pleased to see our record at 11-2, especially with no throw ups against a bad mid-major team or two along the way.

I can't remember the last time I stayed up past midnight and felt that it was worth it. I was yelling at the TV nonstop (especially when the lead started to shrink) and was "semi worried" that I would wake up my wife.

I couldn't stop laughing at Bill Walton, from his idiotic shirt to his moronic comments. He must have been high during the broadcast. One of his funnier comments was confusing UCF with UFC.

On to a date with Butler on New Year's Eve. Looking forward to shocking the people that picked us to finish last in the Big East. Didn't think it would happen before practice started in the fall and feel even more strongly about it now.

GO JOHNNIES!!!
 
Random thoughts: That game was so much fun. I love how we take teams out of their comfort zone and game plan. It’s been forever since we’ve been a team who dictates pace. When we heard in the preseason how teams will hate to play us, now it makes sense. However, I wish our shot selection was better in the 2nd half, as that to me is what stalled our offense, but I’ll give Zona credit for making some defensive adjustments that we didn’t handle well. Sears played very well, although I thought several times he’d get pulled for Steere late to give us one more offensive weapon. Coach must have liked what he saw in terms of his effort and defense and didn’t want to mess with the flow. And honestly it’s very easy to trust Coach Anderson’s judgment given how well he has this team playing.

On a different note, I am eating crow this morning. For Mullins Revenge, Bamafan, Duke of Earlington and other Walton lovers out there, I thoroughly enjoyed his call of the game last night. And I don’t think I’ve ever said those words before. Early in the game, he bought into what Coach is doing with our bunch, and he was spot on with his comments. And it was refreshing not to hear anything about “conference of champions” or all the non-basketball crap that he spews in Maui every year. Safe to say, I’ll keep, listening as he does have some great observations.
 
Bottom line.....in just 8 months, CMA has completely changed the culture of our men's basketball program. This guy was really a great find.
 
Everyone has written about every angle of this game so I’ll just add this.

Damien Sears, Josh Roberts and Greg Williams tied for the team lead Iast night in rebounds. Each had 6. Now I would expect that from JR. But DS and GW? Excellent effort from these guys. Well done.
 
IMHO the ceiling on this season just was raised last night. I think that game proved we should
Be competitive most nights. NCAA bid is in reach if we can sustain this kind of effort. And to me it clinched Extending coach’s .500 record for another year.
 
[quote="CMA TIME" post=368998][quote="Jack Williams" post=368992]I’m blown away right now.

Extend Mike Anderson right now I don’t even care what his contract is[/quote]

cma is a blessing to SJU.[/quote]

I am impressed and surprised. Anderson seems to be a good game coach so far. Let's see how things develop in big east competition
 
[quote="Logen" post=369057][quote="MCNPA" post=369045][quote="Logen" post=369039][quote="MCNPA" post=369030][quote="Logen" post=369026]Not usually a stat guy but two interesting things jump out, 28-7 in bench points for the good guys and a tremendous difference in the +/- between our starters and bench in favor of the bench; statistical testimony to the depth Anderson and co. have created.[/quote]

I absolutely love having a team that plays almost the entire bench depth-wise. Like I said, just wait until our talent level increases significantly over next few years. We will be bring waves of talent into the game. Love this style of play and great coaching to maximize our strengths despite have a generally poor offensive team without arguably our best player. Depth is what will carry us this year.[/quote]

Maybe; but right now we are winning as a blue collar TEAM, effort, commitment to the collective and heart are talents also. You can very easily lose that vibe and chemistry with higher ranked recruits who buy into their stats and pro aspirations. Not saying that is an absolute by any means but I could not help but think that watching Texas today. I am not familiar with them but at least today, they looked nothing like Shaka Smart’s VCU teams in terms of blue collar effort.[/quote]

Agree and you make a good point. I actually think Anderson is recruiting similar types of kids, of which Posh and Wusu definitely are and I’m gonna guess Cole and Moore are likely to be too. Forget that now though, these kids deserve the credit and SJU is getting our identity back. Really playing the way nyc basketball fans love to watch. Great win.[/quote]

Have not seen any of the four play but have talked to friends who scout for colleges and it certainly appears Alexander and Wusu are Anderson “types”. As you say though, enough said on that, loving the here and now.[/quote]

Hard work is contagious, and it’s starts at the top. So is effort. This group of kids is the epitome of the word “team”. We’ve talked before about how we’ve lacked a “culture” around here for many years. Well we’re seeing a culture being built here by the staff and the kids. Very exciting and promising times for the school and the fan base.
 
Oh What a Day !!

* Villanova defeated #1 Kansas 56-55
* Providence crushed Texas 70-48
* Butler downed Purdue 70-61
*Creighton beat Arizona State 67-60
* DePaul over inter state rival Northwestern 83-78
* Georgetown stomped Samford 99-71
* St. John's out worked #16 Arizona 70-67
————

Kenpom now has the Big East as the #3 Conference behind the Big 10 and Big 12 and ahead of the ACC, Southeast, PAC 12.

————

Kenpom now projects StJohn’s to finish with a regular season record of 17 wins and 14 losses being 6 & 12 in conference. The sometimes accurate computer rankings started StJohns with a losing record of something like 12 wins and 19 losses and 2 and 16 in conference.
——————

The good news is that good guy Coach Mike Anderson will very likely preserve his distinction of never having a season with a losing record which no one would have bet on before the season started

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