(PRE-GAME) @Xavier (Cintas Ctr), Sun. Jan. 5, 4:30pm, FOX / 970AM

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[quote="redmannorth" post=370597][quote="CMA TIME" post=370590][quote="redmannorth" post=370588][quote="CMA TIME" post=370585][quote="mjmaherjr" post=370580]definitely not confident in this game[/quote]

LJ and Heron better step up. still waiting.
If not then it's likely 0-2 for

Those 2 need to carry this team.[/quote]

We just lost to a top 20 team by 2 points with LJ laying a goose egg and Heron on the bench. If LJ played half as well as normal we win nicely. They absolutely do not need to carry the team but rather just to play well and we will be in every game.[/quote]

True, but maybe if LJ gave us something in the 1st half vs. Butler, we don't go down 21 at the half, maybe down 13-14pnts instead of 21. Then spend all that energy just to get back in the game in the 2nd half.
sorry North, but he and Heron has to show up. They were the 2 stars returning right?[/quote]

I agree they have to show up and play well but you said “ they have to carry the team “.
There is a world of difference between the two statements.[/quote]

Agree, in Heron and Figueroa doesn't have to carry the team. They just need to show up and play well. If they do those things, then I think we'll be fine.
 
I just discovered the source of my confusion. I write all the games on my big wall calendar every year. I got the schedule from the "Official" St. John's on line schedule. They have the game listed as on "Saturday January 5th" DUH! :huh:
 
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Zach B
St. John's opens as a 7.5-point underdog tomorrow at Xavier

About right imo.
 
[quote="gregbodkin" post=370610]I just discovered the source of my confusion. I write all the games on my big wall calendar every year. I got the schedule from the "Official" St. John's on line schedule. They have the game listed as on "Saturday January 5th" DUH! :huh:[/quote]
You never have to explain confusion here. :)
 
Zach B
Anderson said he expects Mustapha Heron (ankle) to play tomorrow against Xavier.
 
I'm getting a feeling that X will hate playing us tomorrow. Call it the Butler Effect.
 
[quote="Amaseinyourface" post=370569][quote="Knight" post=370567]I rewatched the Butler game to see why we were getting beaten on the boards. One thing I noted was that Earlington changed his tactics when we were trying to score. He was away from the basket and when shots went up he looked for the player that was his defensive assignment and retreated back to the defensive side of the court following his man, with no attempt for offensive rebounds, which has been a strength for us this season.[/quote]

Down the stretch in crucial game deciding possessions I seem to remember (and can’t get myself to rewatch) butler getting 2-3 long offensive rebounds that were in the area of the court where LJ would have been a big help. Obviously as one of our better rebounders, but in particular his penchant for chasing then down away from the rim. That is where I thought we missed him most in last few minutes of game.

BTW I’m probably his biggest fan but that fourth foul was legitimately one of the most surprising things I’ve seen from an sju player. I couldn’t believe what I was watching, especially from him.[/quote]LJ has become very predictable with the ball on the left wing/baseline...only goes left...the defender knew it and was ready...
 
[quote="Section3" post=370618][quote="Amaseinyourface" post=370569][quote="Knight" post=370567]I rewatched the Butler game to see why we were getting beaten on the boards. One thing I noted was that Earlington changed his tactics when we were trying to score. He was away from the basket and when shots went up he looked for the player that was his defensive assignment and retreated back to the defensive side of the court following his man, with no attempt for offensive rebounds, which has been a strength for us this season.[/quote]

Down the stretch in crucial game deciding possessions I seem to remember (and can’t get myself to rewatch) butler getting 2-3 long offensive rebounds that were in the area of the court where LJ would have been a big help. Obviously as one of our better rebounders, but in particular his penchant for chasing then down away from the rim. That is where I thought we missed him most in last few minutes of game.

BTW I’m probably his biggest fan but that fourth foul was legitimately one of the most surprising things I’ve seen from an sju player. I couldn’t believe what I was watching, especially from him.[/quote]LJ has become very predictable with the ball on the left wing/baseline...only goes left...the defender knew it and was ready...[/quote]

That was his 3rd foul.
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=370616]Zach B
Anderson said he expects Mustapha Heron (ankle) to play tomorrow against Xavier.[/quote]

The real concern is we need to win home games. We just lost one. Now we have away games coming. They are a lot harder to win in BE. We may be basement Bertha's if they dont wake up.
 
I guess every BE game we play we will be underdogs Think if we just realize that we my not have many wins in confr and don’t go overboard thinking we are better than we actually are and enjoy the team there energy and no quit than if they give us more we can all celebrate
And just maybe get into the NIT
 
What’s with steere thought he was suppose to be our rebounding answer. They said he was athletic Looking for some opinions
 
Anderson's point of concern on so many players playing first game in a hostile environment is legit.
 
[quote="usguard" post=370631]What’s with steere thought he was suppose to be our rebounding answer. They said he was athletic Looking for some opinions[/quote]


Just my humble opinion watching him in warmups last game. He looks like he’s carrying a few extra pounds and all he was doing was attempting highlight reel dunks. He gets way up there even with the extra weight so I have no doubts about his athletic ability but I get the impression he needs to take things more seriously and forget about the highlight reel
 
[quote="thetux1" post=370638][quote="usguard" post=370631]What’s with steere thought he was suppose to be our rebounding answer. They said he was athletic Looking for some opinions[/quote]


Just my humble opinion watching him in warmups last game. He looks like he’s carrying a few extra pounds and all he was doing was attempting highlight reel dunks. He gets way up there even with the extra weight so I have no doubts about his athletic ability but I get the impression he needs to take things more seriously and forget about the highlight reel[/quote]

Just another example of some posters hyping a player they had never seen play. No one knew what he was and made assumptions built on tape and rating stars. It largely gets ignored but desire, commitment, and hard work are talents also. Being big and athletic will only take you so far, look great on tape though.
Having said that, I hope the light bulb goes off for him, both for the team and himself.
 
"It's what they do," said Steele. "They press for 40 minutes. They're relentless. I always say this, they're never out of the game. I think they were down by about 20 in the first half against Butler and they came storming back. LJ Figueroa only played 14 minutes. Mustapha Heron didn't even play. I think that's a testament to Mike Anderson. He does a great job. Their kids play really hard and they believe in the way they're playing. You gotta have poise. You gotta be a man with the ball, be strong with it, you gotta see before you pass. They're gonna contest every pass. Every time you bring it up the floor you're gonna have a guy turning you like crazy. They're unique. It's hard to simulate and I told our staff this ... we have to try to simulate as best as we can how the game's gonna be played on Sunday because it's odd and it's different and it's 40 minutes of it. It's not like it's gonna be off and on. It's the whole game and they're relentless with it."

[URL]https://www.cincinnati.com/sto...elcomes-st-johns-heres-what-watch/2795143001/[/URL]
 
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[quote="usguard" post=370631]What’s with steere thought he was suppose to be our rebounding answer. They said he was athletic Looking for some opinions[/quote]

I can only go by what I saw when he played in the AZ and he looked lost out there. Theres really not a spot in the rotation for him unless he proves that he is better then sears. And Sears is busting his butt out there so I dont think steere is going to play.
 
Josh Roberts had a big transformation between his Freshman and Sophomore seasons. A new coach meant a fresh start for last year's bench warmers. Roberts, Earlington, and Greg Williams made the most of it.

Steere can do the same thing if he's committed to starting for the Johnnies. A lot of fans assumed he put in that work after CMA was hired. Apparently he didn't. It's not too late. Steere has to fully commit to Mike's program and his assigned role and responsibilities. That's the only way he can earn a chance to play significant minutes next season.

I've come to appreciate this team because these kids have worked so hard and are over achieving. The Johnnies put up a great fight and that's all I can ask as a fan. I hope they will have success in the BE. I'm enjoying the games and hopefully they'll earn a shot in the NIT. That's reasonable for CMA's first season with players he didn't recruit. A invitation to the Big Dance would be a wonderful bonus.
https://nypost.com/2019/11/25/josh-roberts-is-big-st-johns-surprise-oozing-with-potential/
He admitted spending so much time on the bench discouraged him.
But Roberts spent the offseason working to not let that happen, adding significant muscle to his slim frame to avoid getting pushed around. During the preseason, teammates talked up his progress. It quickly became clear it was more than just talk,
Click to expand...
 
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8 point dogs at Cintas in our first true road game against a veteran Xavier team is very tough but we can win this (assuming our guys don't get too rattled in a hostile arena)

Scruggs and Marshall are very good players but they turn the ball over. Goodin too. If our pressure is even close to what it was in the 2nd half of Butler, we can rattle them. Just need to hit enough shots to set the press up. Don't need LJ and Heron to score twenty apiece but they have to be effective enough to keep them honest.

Also need Roberts, Champagnie, Earlington, etc to hit the boards hard today. Must improve in that area from Butler. Roberts needs to be effective for us. Marshall torched us last season but in my opinion the reason they clowned us was because we got dominated inside by Jones, Hankins and Marshall. Thankfully Hankins is gone now but we can't let Jones feel like he's the toughest kid on the block today. Gotta bang with this guy, get him frustrated, maybe get a few calls going against him. Keeping Jones in check and turning them over should keep us in this even if Marshall and Scruggs are scoring. Would be a big win. Not must win but losing puts a lot of pressure on the Georgetown game if we want to keep the recent positive narrative around our team going. Win the tougher game today and then go to Georgetown confident without feeling too much pressure.
 
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