@Rutgers, Fri. Nov. 16, 7pm, BTN / 970 WNYM

I actually think this is going to be a tough test for St. John's.

Rutgers have a lot of big men. Judging by last game, when Mullin tried to "go small" with Heron guarding Bowling Green's big man in the post, he quickly changed his tune and brought Clark back in the game when he realized that wasn't going to work. Add to the fact that playing at the RAC usually isn't an easy task for many teams and you're going to see St. John's having to scrap it out for the win. So unless we get a magical night from one of our guys, I predict it will be another close one.

If I were Mullin, I might actualy try to utilize our depth early and press often to wear them down.
 
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The SJU roster is much better than Rutgers and it would be a big disappointment to drop one at RAC. Yes, the road is always tough, but get it done guys!
 
[quote="Amaseinyourface" post=301549][quote="oldschool Redmen" post=301523][quote="usguard" post=301412]Concur this will not be easy but we need this win. It will have an effect how others view the program and the team. Hope staff improves on its game plan and set plays etc[/quote]

did you see Mullin tonight on the sidelines? With his head in his towel, he looked like a deer lost in head lights.
Good luck on the staff improving.[/quote]

I’m not saying he’s John wooden or even just a good coach but credit him for making some adjustments in the second half that got us back in the game and eventually win. Turned up the press and changed up the lineup.[/quote]

Not meant at you at all but it is funny that people keep bringing up John Wooden as a great in-game coach. He was not, he even said many times he did his coaching in practice, not games. He became a great coach when he got Walt Hazzard, Kareem, Wicks, Walton, etc. As you pointed out, Mullin made good adjustments, etc., nothing more, nothing less. Doesn’t make him the second coming but it should be acknowledged. It generally is by the people on here who know the game and are reasonably objective.
 
[quote="fordham96" post=301555]Who for Rutgers would start at SJU?

Better yet if you combined the rosters you don't think SJU would have the 5 best players...Heron, Ponds, Simon, Clark and LJ?

As Mike Vaccaro said no more grading on a curve.[/quote]

Beating Rutgers will come down to coaching and preparation.
 
Rutgers is now 2-0
Pummeled Drexel 95-67 this afternoon
Scored 90 and 95 points in their first two games (FDU & Drexel)
Pikell is a very good coach and has an excellent staff
They will be more formidable than most of you seem to think
The RAC gets loud and the first two home games have been well attended
I think that we should win our first road game but would be surprised if it were a cakewalk
GO JOHNNIES!!
 
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Defense is our key every year. We have the talent. Interestingly it isn’t their size that is doing the damage, it’s all guys under 6’8”... they are shooting well. Gotta make em shoot badly and they turn the ball over a bunch. Lots of pressure on the ball.
 
Agree, it’s no-excuses time... need to come out for 40 minutes, play a complete game and remind Rutgers who’s boss. Time to show our talent, not play like a bunch of guys who haven’t played together. This is actually a very important one for us because it’s a true road game vs a major conference opponent, and one that might end up better than people think.
 
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Zach B:

"Very interested in the line for St John's-Rutgers Friday. My guess is #sjubb by a few"

Spot on - should be a good game with St John's pulling it out in our first road test
 
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if we are down towards end of game...lets say last 3-4 mins...foul the crap out of this team and we can get back in and win. They can't hit free throws!!!! Mully are you reading this???
 
[quote="cappy105" post=301663]if we are down towards end of game...lets say last 3-4 mins...foul the crap out of this team and we can get back in and win. They can't hit free throws!!!! Mully are you reading this???[/quote]

Don't bank on this. Our free throw defense sucks every season.
 
[quote="RedStormNC" post=301635]60% and 54% from 3 pt. range in their two games

Need to be relentless on D..[/quote]


Press and harass, keep the ball away from their biggies. And please don't get caught behind their picks.
 
Rutgers is going to be a nightmare...great shooting, lots of big men, well-coached and riding high off 2 big wins albeit against weaker programs. They will smell blood in the water knowing we are banged up and almost lost to BG. If there's one team we almost always get into a dogfight with, it's Rutgers. This isn't your father's Rutgers team though, now they have a seriously good coach and it has shown. I can only hope that their 3PT% is due to fall soon, hopefully against us and that they will be caught off-guard being too cocky off the two 30 pt wins. We really need to get back to the days where Rutgers and Seton Hall were routine wins. If we really are destined for the tournament this year, we should beat them for sure.

FWIW Rutgers fans confident about this one...just looked at their boards. They really like the coaching matchup. That's my big concern. Mullin has talent but other coaches have their teams playing as teams.
 
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Challenging game. Rutgers not a great team but Pikell is a phenomenal coach and this is probably Rutgers' biggest OOC home game. Would expect a crowd and some buzz in a gym that is difficult place to play and get road W's in the first place. One of the Rutgers players even said in one of the articles posted they've had this one circled.

Reality is this one should be circled for SJU as well as it's a critical road game against a P5 team on an OOC schedule that is lacking opportunity. Need to approach this like a big game because it is one.

Hoping for 3-0 in the next 3 obviously, but if it is 2-1 would prefer the 1 not be Rutgers and is instead a split in Brooklyn. Just feels like a road loss to a Big 10 bottom feeder is going to stick out like a sore thumb in March, difficult to explain away.
 
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SJU1512 wrote: oping for 3-0 in the next 3 obviously, but if it is 2-1 would prefer the 1 not be Rutgers and is instead a split in Brooklyn. Just feels like a road loss to a Big 10 bottom feeder is going to stick out like a sore thumb in March, difficult to explain away.

Agree. If we have to lose 1 out of next 3, would much prefer losing a tight one to Temple to losing to Rutgers. Having said that, we really should win these games. Hoping Keita is ok for Friday as Rutgers is really big.
 
I would disagree with the consensus on one point, Rutgers will not be "up" for this game any more than any other. Pikell is an outstanding coach and they play hard and focused every game. The idea that we are a "big game" for them; I just don't see it. Will it be a tough game, you bet. All our games are until we prove otherwise the only place it counts, on the court.
 
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