• About
  • Team Members
  • Contact
  • Cookie Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Journal News
No Result
View All Result
  • US
  • News
    Mark Levine powers Manhattan BP run with unpaid interns

    Mark Levine powers Manhattan BP run with unpaid interns

    Asian man sucker-punched in unprovoked Central Park attack

    Asian man sucker-punched in unprovoked Central Park attack

    Long Island woman dies after car rolls over her in own driveway

    Long Island woman dies after car rolls over her in own driveway

    Off-duty MTA workers caught spray-painting van in NYC: cops

    Off-duty MTA workers caught spray-painting van in NYC: cops

    Cuomo signs law granting families increased visitation to nursing homes

    Cuomo signs law granting families increased visitation to nursing homes

    NY’s Legoland hit with $600K in environmental fines

    NY’s Legoland hit with $600K in environmental fines

    Trending Tags

    • Commentary
    • Featured
    • Event
    • Editorial
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Travel
  • US
  • News
    Mark Levine powers Manhattan BP run with unpaid interns

    Mark Levine powers Manhattan BP run with unpaid interns

    Asian man sucker-punched in unprovoked Central Park attack

    Asian man sucker-punched in unprovoked Central Park attack

    Long Island woman dies after car rolls over her in own driveway

    Long Island woman dies after car rolls over her in own driveway

    Off-duty MTA workers caught spray-painting van in NYC: cops

    Off-duty MTA workers caught spray-painting van in NYC: cops

    Cuomo signs law granting families increased visitation to nursing homes

    Cuomo signs law granting families increased visitation to nursing homes

    NY’s Legoland hit with $600K in environmental fines

    NY’s Legoland hit with $600K in environmental fines

    Trending Tags

    • Commentary
    • Featured
    • Event
    • Editorial
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Travel
No Result
View All Result
Morning News
No Result
View All Result
Home Entertainment

St. John’s in for crucial week that could decide its future

admin by admin
March 3, 2021
in Entertainment
0
St. John’s in for crucial week that could decide its future
0
SHARES
4
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

[ad_1]

This purpose of this year was progress. Seeing that the plan was working. Proving this program, after two decades of inconsistency and wayward leadership, was finally on the right path.

It started poorly for St. John’s and Mike Anderson, with a 1-5 record in the Big East. Then came a month of terrific basketball, six straight wins and seven victories in eight games. A commanding upset of league powerhouse Villanova. NCAA Tournament talk arose. Buzz began to circulate. Local players Posh Alexander and Julian Champagnie were emerging as two of the best players in the conference.

But just as soon as hopes heightened, the Johnnies took massive steps backward. They blew a 15-point lead at Butler. They played their worst game of the Anderson era as an 11-point favorite in a loss to DePaul, the perennial bottom-feeder in the conference, and they failed to rebound in an ugly 23-point setback at Villanova.

Now comes the true litmus test of where this program stands. Can it get off the mat again, finish the year well and reach the NIT? Or will this recent poor stretch continue to mushroom?

It’s why this week is so important for St. John’s — not only for how we remember this season, but what it can tell us about the future.

St. John’s, 14-10 overall and 8-9 in the league, can finish with a winning conference mark, a top-five finish and a bye in the Big East Tournament for the first time in six years, giving it a chance to make a legitimate run next week at the Garden. It can show real progress and prove the culture is really different under Anderson, that winning is now expected and losing isn’t tolerated. Or we will remember the loss to DePaul as the beginning of this season’s end, a performance that sapped this team of its confidence.

Posh Alexander
Posh Alexander
Robert Sabo

The NCAA Tournament is a major longshot no matter what happens. The no-show loss at home to DePaul — the dreaded Quad 4 defeat — combined with a 2-6 record in Quad 1 games, made reaching the Dance less feasible. Two wins this week might get the Johnnies back in the conversation somewhat. At least two additional wins in the Big East Tournament will be needed to give them a legit shot at an at-large berth.

But that’s not why I believe this week is pivotal. It’s because of what it says about where the program is going. It’s about setting a standard. The core of this group should be back next year. A strong finish will only help recruiting and make it easier to land a much-needed big man on the transfer market. Perception in recruiting is everything. It would set up big expectations next year when St. John’s should be a projected top-four team in the conference, barring major defections. 

It won’t be easy to win two games this week. Providence is playing better of late, winning three of its past four games, and big man Nate Watson will give undersized St. John’s fits. Seton Hall will need Saturday’s game for its NCAA Tournament hopes. Alexander, the Big East Freshman of the Year Frontrunner who was so key to that big streak, is a question mark. He suffered a sprained right thumb in the loss to Villanova and will be a game-time decision against the Friars, according to sources.

But St. John’s opened as a two-point favorite over Providence on Wednesday night and should be favored against Seton Hall on Saturday night as well. They are both winnable games at home. The Johnnies have to respond after eight days off. They need to get back to playing the kind of defense that keyed that winning streak, to move and share the ball like they were during all those victories, to attack at both ends of the floor. 

A big week would really show that next year could be a terrific season and give this program a lot to build on. A bad week would put a major damper on what was until recently looking like a quality campaign.

The NCAA Tournament might not be on the line for St. John’s, but that doesn’t mean the next two games are not very important. They will not only determine how this team is ultimately judged, but reveal where it is headed, too.

[ad_2]

Source link

READ ALSO

Jerry Seinfeld to headline Gotham Comedy Club reopening

NYC’s iconic Pyramid Club closes

Related Posts

Jerry Seinfeld to headline Gotham Comedy Club reopening
Entertainment

Jerry Seinfeld to headline Gotham Comedy Club reopening

April 2, 2021
NYC’s iconic Pyramid Club closes
Entertainment

NYC’s iconic Pyramid Club closes

April 1, 2021
Jen Shah’s house—the ‘Shah Ski Chalet’—is an alleged fraud, too
Entertainment

Jen Shah’s house—the ‘Shah Ski Chalet’—is an alleged fraud, too

March 31, 2021
TikTok star Rochelle Hager killed in freak accident
Entertainment

TikTok star Rochelle Hager killed in freak accident

March 30, 2021
‘Cute’ new spider species named ‘Nemo’ after animated fish
Entertainment

‘Cute’ new spider species named ‘Nemo’ after animated fish

March 29, 2021
SNL takes aim at Joe Biden, Kamala Harris with Unity Seder skit
Entertainment

SNL takes aim at Joe Biden, Kamala Harris with Unity Seder skit

March 28, 2021
Next Post
How Andrew Cuomo plans to buck calls to resign: Goodwin

How Andrew Cuomo plans to buck calls to resign: Goodwin

POPULAR NEWS

Rutgers makes COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for students

Rutgers makes COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for students

March 25, 2021
The best Suez Canal memes the stuck ship Ever Given inspired

The best Suez Canal memes the stuck ship Ever Given inspired

March 25, 2021
Buffstreams UFC 260 Reddit Live Stream Reddit Free Crackstreams for Miocic vs. Ngannou 2 Fight

Buffstreams UFC 260 Reddit Live Stream Reddit Free Crackstreams for Miocic vs. Ngannou 2 Fight

March 28, 2021
‘Tik Tok Doc’ accused of sexual abuse in $45 million lawsuit

‘Tik Tok Doc’ accused of sexual abuse in $45 million lawsuit

February 28, 2021
Dr. Fauci says people with COVID vaccine could soon socialize

Dr. Fauci says people with COVID vaccine could soon socialize

February 26, 2021

EDITOR'S PICK

NYC mayoral hopefuls quiet on COVID-19 nursing home deaths

NYC mayoral hopefuls quiet on COVID-19 nursing home deaths

February 17, 2021

UConn’s Paige Bueckers wins AP Player of the Year

March 31, 2021

Final Four storylines: Gonzaga’s chase for perfection

April 1, 2021
DC police warn extremists want to ‘blow up’ Capitol

DC police warn extremists want to ‘blow up’ Capitol

February 25, 2021

About

We bring you the best Premium WordPress Themes that perfect for news, magazine, personal blog, etc. Check our landing page for details.

Follow us

Categories

  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Fashion
  • Food
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • National
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • US
  • World

Recent Posts

  • How to Watch Masters Golf 2021 Live Stream Online From Anywhere and TV Listings
  • Rangers pack Globe Life Field for home opener
  • The plan for post-pandemic life in England includes free testing and Covid certificates.
  • 55 firms paid no federal income tax last year, report finds
  • Contact
  • Cookie Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy

©️ 2021 Journalwild.com Powered by BritMedia360

No Result
View All Result
  • Homepages
    • Home Page 1
    • Home Page 2
  • News
  • Politics
  • National
  • Business
  • World
  • Entertainment
  • Fashion
  • Food
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Science
  • Tech
  • Travel

©️ 2021 Journalwild.com Powered by BritMedia360