Time for St. Johns to get it together
Although it's still November, all the enthusiasm so many of us had for the Johnnies upcoming season, is being drained little by little after each lackluster performance. For the sixth consecutive game, they came out flat in the first half, and a furious second half comeback attempt came up short as they fell tonight in overtime to Penn St. In their four wins, against four cupcakes, they've played uninspired, flat basketball, finding themselves trailing a couple of times in the second half. Against better competition they've fared no better. They don't defend the three against anyone, and coming into tonights game they were the third worst team in the nation shooting the three themselves, although they did shoot it well tonight. There are way too many undisciplined, idiotic mistakes, like tonights foul by Sampson behind the three point line with 8 seconds to go and a two point lead. ( All three foul shots were made) Even in games they won, they're heaving up three's when they should be running clock, it's like there's no fundamental understanding of the game. In each game they play, they're clearly the more athletic team, they can all run and jump out of the gym, but playing good team basketball is another story. So far the only thing that's been note worthy about heralded recruit Rysheed Jordon, is his getting suspended three games into the season, although he is back now. The past two years, the teams youth and lack of depth, were reasonable excuses for the teams lack of success. This year though, they have a couple of seasons under their belt, and there's plenty of depth, so thats no longer an excuse. Lavin's been great at getting the four star recruits to commit, now it's time to mold them into a basketball team and start beating some teams that actually have a pulse. It's probably in the whole leagues interest to see St. Johns have a successful season. People will be curious to see what kind of buzz the BE tournament has this year without a lot of old familiar faces. Having St. Johns captivating NYC's interest come tournament time would count for a lot. In any case, for six games now we've seen nothing but sloppy, uninspired basketball from this group. It's time to get serious and start playing basketball from the opening tip, and playing up to the potential we've been hearing so much about for so long. Enough is enough.
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