St John's thoughts

[Blackman]

The more I look at St John's getting 24 tonight @ home, the more I like it. We all know the problems this team has had, and the lack of talent on this squad, but since the dust has settled and they've got some time to practice with the walk-ons they have played a bit better.

The one think I have liked about these walks ons and the guys left is that they don't quit. For some of them this is a chance to play that they never would have gotten and they are going 100% for every second of that. Because of this I think that getting 24 tonight could set up for a great backdoor cover, even if UConn gets up early these kids are going to play to the final buzzer. Also I've read a theory or two that the other Big East coaches won't be laying it on vs the Jonnies once the game is in hand due to the circumstances surrounding the team. Don't know if I buy into that but just wanted to throw it out there.

Of course UConn has the talent here, and could route this team, but I also think that the Huskies have bigger fish to fry at this point in the season. 24 is a lot of points for a home dog with nothing to lose.

Hoping some of you guys could comment on this - it wouldn't be a big play for me, but as I was capping tonights slate these thoughts came to me. Might be worth a (small) shot.

 

[boilermaker]

Blackman another thing you have to like about the backdoor cover is UConn's poor free throw shooting of 59 %.

 

[Blackman]

Boiler - I didn't really even look at the statistics behind this game, I was just going on my observations of St John's over the past few games.

59% from the line is going to hurt UConn, if not tonight, during the tournament for sure.

 

[Master Capper]

Have to agree with the johnies tonight, when I ran my system plays last night they came up as a double play but I have heldoff posting them because I wanted to make sure there were no new issues with the team today.

 

[txag]

sorry for the dumb question but what actually happened with this team? i know they are playing with a bunch of walk-ons, but what happened did some of the players just quit or get kicked off or what? thanks in advance.

 

[Blackman]

Txag - it's a long complicated story but here's the short version.


After the game @ Pitt, a bunch of the players went to a strip club, and a few brought a hooker back to the team hotel. They had an orgy and then refused to pay the lady for her services. She went to the cops and claimed rape, but one of the players taped her threatening to fabricate a rape story if they didn't pay on his camera phone.


When it all came out to the public the players were supsended and some expelled. Sorry for the lack of specifics but I'm in a rush - I'm sure you can search somewhere to get much more detail.

 

[gman2]

Have to agree with the johnies tonight, when I ran my system plays last night they came up as a double play

how can any system account for the unique st.johns variable this season?

 

[winagainjoe]

just my opinion blackman.. but is taking the johnnies really worth it? they may infact cover. But uconn is one of the most talented teams in the country.. a far stretch from G-Town and V tech. I like that coaches wouldn't run up the score.. so over 40 would surprise me.. but 25 seems like the first half. Looks like a good value to me. Remeber BC and W.V. had no problems winning by that margin. GL

 

[Blackman]

WinagainJoe - you bring up some valid points, but to counter the BC and WV games, they did practice before the BC game really after the incident, and the WV game also was while the chaos was at its pinnacle. But you are right - kinda a high risk/low reward situation, and in my opinion there are stronger plays on the board tonight.


Thanks for the input guys - BM.

 

[Master Capper]

Gman,


The variables were altered after the suspensions and the stats before the suspensions have been tossed out and I believe I have played two fo the games since the suspensions and have hit both. To get into the math and statistical variables that are used is beyond the scope of this forum for what Jack intended it to be.

 

[JCB]

looks to me like you might agree on UCONN -13 1st half? All I read about is the back door cover. Isn't that an assumption that they will be up handily early on in the game? What do you guys think?