Providence, Fri., Dec. 20, 8p, FOX

As Mean “Where is my life boat” Gene noted this team obviously still suffers from perimeter shooting woes. Hopefully that comes around, because it makes it easier for opponents to play off shooters and collapse, clogging driving lanes.

Gene’s point re this group having to overachieve via intense, consistent defense to generate some easy buckets and disrupt offensive flow of opponents is spot on. The second half D won the game. Best case scenario is the D functions at mega high level, while there is adequate improvement in outside shooting. Realistically, until latter improves I expect a lot of rock fights. Valuing the ball and playing smart is also a work in progress, but trust staff to remedy that. (hopefully).

Lastly, I think toughest opponent for us will be teams who match our physicality and defense, while demonstrating better shooting and ball movement. UConn may fit that profile.
 
Having been a St John's fan for 60 years, I have seen us play a lot of games like this one
In the past, we often found a way to lose and typically lost most of them
To see us win like this on the road in a hostile environment says a lot about the character of this team
This could bode well for us down the road
It wasn't pretty by any stretch of the imagination but it's a W and we should gladly take it and happily move on
 
Silly Donovan said:
My concern with Scott is that the only offense he exhibits is taking threes. Last season he had a more well rounded game of going to the basket and a midrange game. Yes his defense has been very good but the last few games his shooting has been way off and going 1-7 against PC translates into too many wasted possessions.
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And , is Scott really a upgrade over Glenn Taylor ? So far ?
 
paultzman said:
Aaron Scott had 3 steals & a few rebounds, but his scoring drought continues. Have to get him going to regain confidence. Maybe team should give him one game Delaware suspension ala Smith 😇
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I know you were joking, but Delaware game may be what he needs to shoot his way out of this. Seems like a crisis of confidence right now.
 
paultzman said:
As Mean “Where is my life boat” Gene noted this team obviously still suffers from perimeter shooting woes. Hopefully that comes around, because it makes it easier for opponents to play off shooters and collapse, clogging driving lanes.

Gene’s point re this group having to overachieve via intense, consistent defense to generate some easy buckets and disrupt offensive flow of opponents is spot on. The second half D won the game. Best case scenario is the D functions at mega high level, while there is adequate improvement in outside shooting. Realistically, until latter improves I expect a lot of rock fights. Valuing the ball and playing smart is also a work in progress, but trust staff to remedy that. (hopefully).

Lastly, I think toughest opponent for us will be teams who match our physicality and defense, while demonstrating better shooting and ball movement. UConn may fit that profile.
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I slightly disagree about the overachieving part. I don't really think this is a team of guys who are playing up a level and that this is a "moneyball" NIL operation. They're guys with a strong pedigree who have shown they can compete with the best. Just because we aren't going to win games with a more finesse style doesn't mean that we're overachieving. If our identity is physicality, offensive rebounding, sturdy defense, than we'll be a top 15-20 team in the country because we're so talented and big.

But I completely agree with the bolded part. There will be a time when we aren't able to come back in a game since the other team simply has shooters that hits shots and/or, we can't keep up. We really need Scott/Wilcher/Luis to be more consistent shooters.
 
Jnaw17 said:
I know you were joking, but Delaware game may be what he needs to shoot his way out of this. Seems like a crisis of confidence right now.
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Scott is doing everything well but shoot which is why Pitino had him on the floor for 28 minutes despite awful shooting. I'd like to see him getting some plays called for him down low where he can use his height to either score or get fouled and he is one of our best foul shooters. He is taking too many long range threes right now.
 
I found the broadcast frustrating. There were SO many difficult/controversial calls/non calls that they wouldn't show replays of. Seemed like they only wanted to give replays if the refs were going to video review.
 
Silly Donovan said:
While I’m relieved the Johnnies won, for those of you who want to justify the struggle due to Providence’s tough home court advantage, prior to our game it looks like St. Boniventure didn’t buy into that hype as they beat the Friars at their home court while controlling the game throughout till the last minute or so.

The close game was NOT due to any home court advantage, I don’t buy that at all. This is not your typically competitive PC team.
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Providence clearly amped up their intensity and played like a desperate team at home, and we still overcame that.
 
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“We know we got to work on it. We’re not going out there trying to miss shots,” Ejiofor said. “I think it was a little bit of jitters. Obviously, it’s our first road game in a rowdy environment. It was really loud. That’s something we have to work on.”

Really hope next year when they're crafting the schedule that they try to schedule an away game in the OOC for exactly this reason. The neutral court stuff is not close to the same thing. Work out these kinks in November.
 
paultzman said:
As Mean “Where is my life boat” Gene noted this team obviously still suffers from perimeter shooting woes. Hopefully that comes around, because it makes it easier for opponents to play off shooters and collapse, clogging driving lanes.

Gene’s point re this group having to overachieve via intense, consistent defense to generate some easy buckets and disrupt offensive flow of opponents is spot on. The second half D won the game. Best case scenario is the D functions at mega high level, while there is adequate improvement in outside shooting. Realistically, until latter improves I expect a lot of rock fights. Valuing the ball and playing smart is also a work in progress, but trust staff to remedy that. (hopefully).

Lastly, I think toughest opponent for us will be teams who match our physicality and defense, while demonstrating better shooting and ball movement. UConn may fit that profile.
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I love rock fights. Hell, throw in surly guys carrying six shooters handling things between them, and some cool cinematography and we have a good old fashioned western.

I go back and forth, but I think remaining poised during the massive swings and finding a way to win a road game like they did last night will benefit them down the road more than if they had made even half their free throws and won comfortably.

This group has moxie and resolve. Cannot wait to watch more western duels this season.
 
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dk423 said:
“We know we got to work on it. We’re not going out there trying to miss shots,” Ejiofor said. “I think it was a little bit of jitters. Obviously, it’s our first road game in a rowdy environment. It was really loud. That’s something we have to work on.”

Really hope next year when they're crafting the schedule that they try to schedule an away game in the OOC for exactly this reason. The neutral court stuff is not close to the same thing. Work out these kinks in November.
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We did open the year at Rutgers (exhibition) but totally get your point.
 
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