Villanova, Sat. Jan. 14, 12 Noon, FS1/570AM

Either one of our guards will have trouble staying with Brunson, especially with his drives, spins and moves under the basket. Once we try to help he hits Reynolds or Paschal. I'm guessing Ahmed guards Hart, Ellison on Jenkins, Lovett on Brunson, Ponds with Bridges and Yakwe takes Reynolds. God help us to keep the game watchable and exciting.
 
I really wanted to pick the upset in this game. Have thought from the beginning that we match up better with Nova than we do with some other teams, and figured on a big effort at home in the Garden against a highly ranked team.

The problem is that even with that I don't see how we hold Nova under 90, and even if I'm right about us playing a good game I don't see us scoring more than 83.

So 95-83 Nova.
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you see us scoring 83? We have some bad scoring droughts.

i could see 95-70.
 
Word is St John's-Villanova is close to a sellout Saturday, and belief is it will be. #sjubb

Per Zach
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80% Nova - 20% SJU
Can't blame our fans for not wanting to witness out boys getting slaughtered.
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No chance. Majority will be johnnies though I doubt it will sound that way.

I wonder if MSG opens the door before 11:45.
 
Either one of our guards will have trouble staying with Brunson, especially with his drives, spins and moves under the basket. Once we try to help he hits Reynolds or Paschal. I'm guessing Ahmed guards Hart, Ellison on Jenkins, Lovett on Brunson, Ponds with Bridges and Yakwe takes Reynolds. God help us to keep the game watchable and exciting.
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Switch Ellison and Ahmed.
 
The results against Villanova have been very similar In the last seasons. SJU makes a good first half, but after halftime Villanova is much better:

2015-16 Halftime SJU loses by 1. Final SJU loses by 15.
2014-15 Halftime SJU wins by 1. Final SJU loses by 18.
2013-14 Halftime SJU wins by 2. Final SJU loses by 7.
2012-13 Halftime SJU is tied. Final SJU loses by 13. (BET Tournament).
2011-12 Halftime SJU loses by 5. Final SJU loses by 3 in OT. It is the exception.
2010-11 No game at MSG.
2009-10 Halftime SJU wins by 1. Final SJU loses by 10.
 
It is going to be sold out , less than 300 seats unsold now . I am afraid more Villanova fans than us.
It is amazing that wining teams gain so many subway alumni , we need to win.
 
Nova, always a good draw in NY, is out in full force this year off the NC. Number of ppl at Nova/ND told me it may have been close to 80-20 Nova in Prudential, and that was against another quality team that draws decent in NY. Expecting this to be in range of some of our Cuse/UConn experiences at the Garden unfortunately. Hoping some of that energy actually helps our kids who have seemed to play better in those types of enviros this year.
 
Maybe with a packed MSG Derrick Walker will care less if SJU loses & more about some potential PT here when he sees our frontcourt up close.
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In your view would this be a quality get and not a fall back option? Seems to me the former, not a Year 1 program changer, but strong 4-year lunch pail type kid that frankly we've lacked that probably has a chance to be a central piece as an upperclassman. That's obviously based on very little so curious what you and others may have seen and heard here.
 
Rothstein;

"Villanova has assisted on 43 of its last 60 made field goals. Not many share the ball or make the extra pass like the Wildcats. Unselfish."

Obviously we don't have the talent and maturity of Nova, but this is the formula we have abandoned it seems. Some earlier games we were really moving the ball better. Tougher competition can cause a reduction in that efficiency, but not to this extent IMO. I fully realize the main problem is on defensive end, but crisp, consistent ball movement usually makes everyone happy.
 
Maybe with a packed MSG Derrick Walker will care less if SJU loses & more about some potential PT here when he sees our frontcourt up close.
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In your view would this be a quality get and not a fall back option? Seems to me the former, not a Year 1 program changer, but strong 4-year lunch pail type kid that frankly we've lacked that probably has a chance to be a central piece as an upperclassman. That's obviously based on very little so curious what you and others may have seen and heard here.
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I agree with you, not an immediate program changer, but sense he is a late bloomer and four year blue collar player. That coming from a guy who has never seen him. :)

He has played with a very good and successful AAU program fwiw.
 
Maybe with a packed MSG Derrick Walker will care less if SJU loses & more about some potential PT here when he sees our frontcourt up close.
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In your view would this be a quality get and not a fall back option? Seems to me the former, not a Year 1 program changer, but strong 4-year lunch pail type kid that frankly we've lacked that probably has a chance to be a central piece as an upperclassman. That's obviously based on very little so curious what you and others may have seen and heard here.
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I agree with you, not an immediate program changer, but sense he is a late bloomer and four year blue collar player. That coming from a guy who has never seen him. :)

He has played with a very good and successful AAU program fwiw.
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Good to hear. Fine line, especially when rebuilding, between whether you are staying the course and getting the type of kids you think are right for the program, and settling for back-up options because you aren't getting the kids at the top of your board.

It appears we may have more than a few scholarships available, and certainly have plenty of PT to offer, so on the one hand it's disappointing we haven't been able to build upon Ponds in the 17 class, although I recognize players like him aren't available every year. On the other this staff seems to have the ability to land kids and the patience to target kids they want in big picture (even if not going to necessarily generate immediate results), the lack of one or both of which has seemed to trouble prior staffs.

Apologies for slightly off-topic post, intrigued by this kid and glad he's going to be in the house on Saturday.
 
According to ticketmaster there is about a little less than 1,000 available (definitely more than 300) Believe we will have decent amount of supporters, seem to draw well with families on weekends at MSG. I am sure some will be coming because we are playing Villanova as well.
 
Rothstein;

"Villanova has assisted on 43 of its last 60 made field goals. Not many share the ball or make the extra pass like the Wildcats. Unselfish."

Obviously we don't have the talent and maturity of Nova, but this is the formula we have abandoned it seems. Some earlier games we were really moving the ball better. Tougher competition can cause a reduction in that efficiency, but not to this extent IMO. I fully realize the main problem is on defensive end, but crisp, consistent ball movement usually makes everyone happy.
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Touches matter a lot more than many realize, and not just because they oftentimes result in the best shot option. Touches keep the entire offense in the flow of the game, and happy as you say. A touch by a kid like Yakwe on one possession, could very well result in a basket on the next because he feels more comfortable the more touches he gets. It also keep the defense guessing, preventing them from keying on one or two guys, and preventing them from cheating. Myriad benefits from working the ball around before taking a shot.
 
Rothstein;

"Villanova has assisted on 43 of its last 60 made field goals. Not many share the ball or make the extra pass like the Wildcats. Unselfish."

Obviously we don't have the talent and maturity of Nova, but this is the formula we have abandoned it seems. Some earlier games we were really moving the ball better. Tougher competition can cause a reduction in that efficiency, but not to this extent IMO. I fully realize the main problem is on defensive end, but crisp, consistent ball movement usually makes everyone happy.
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Their ability to draw extra help on dribble pen and find open man clearly projects to tax our D that is often porous to begin with. Could see a lot of dunks and open 3s.

But might be even more concerned about their size and physicality defensively at the guard and wing spots. They've only allowed 80 once all season and are fresh off holding X to 54. Back to your point, if we are in 1 on 1 mode Saturday that is likely to get eaten alive. You have to make a defense like this work to even have a chance to get decent looks and put up points.
 
Who else on here believes that we are going to win Saturday. Sure hope that I am not the only one.
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I am as optimistic as they come but my glass is half empty on this one. Be happy if we keep it to low double digits.
 
I hope following this game that the recent group of games turns out to be the worst in being outmanned for many many years.
 
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