Game Notes
--St. John's was picked 10th of 16 Big East teams in the pre-season poll.
--Georgetown has lost six straight to St. John's on the road and 10 of 12 since 1990.
--This is Georgetown's 130th game at Madison Square Garden, whether at the building on 50th St. or at 33rd. St. John's has played 590 games at the Garden.
Preview
Two of the Georgetown program's most disillusioning losses having come in Madison Square Garden in consecutive seasons. The 2004 loss started the wheels moving toward Craig Esherick's departure, while a loss in 2005 put the brakes on Georgetown's NCAA hopes. In 2006, the goal is clear: the Hoyas must break a decade-long losing streak to the Redmen at the World's Most Famous Arena.
Like Georgetown, St. John's is a program on the rise, but one which is battling through injuries. Guard Daryl Hill, with big games in each of the last two games in New York versus the Hoyas, did not play Wednesday versus Seton Hall and will not play Sunday. Nonetheless, the Redmen lead the league in defense and are 2nd in rebounding, employing a style not unline Georgetown's teams of the late 1990's--teams that might have been a player or two short but still wore their share of opponents down.
Three starters return for the Redmen from last season's game. Guards Eugene Lawrence and Cedric Jackson play well in defense, but have struggled offensively, shooting a combined 59 for 160 from the field and 16 for 68 from three point range (.235). Lawrence scored 14 poins to help boost St. John's to an early lead on Seton Hall, which eroded by the end of overtime due to much better shooting from the Pirates, who were held to 26% in the first half.
The SJU frontcourt is much improved. Freshman Anthony Mason, Jr. is making his own name of late, averaging 8.3 points a game and avoiding foul trouble. Senior Lamont Hamilton continues to play solid this season, leading the team in rebounding and second in scoring. 6-10 Aaron Spears is improving in each game, scoring 15 points against Seton Hall and averaging nearly 11 a game since mid-December.
St. John's bench has done in the Hoyas each of the last two season, but in Hill's absence the starting five may see even more action. Dexter Gray (5.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg) could see time, as well as Phil Missere-the 6-9 walk-on averages 1.6 points a game but scored 18 in the last two Garden games with the Hoyas.
For the Hoyas to play well, they must be patient with the St. John's defensive sets and work Jeff Green back into the flow. The leading inside scorer for last year's team, green has fallen to the bottom of the starters in scoring. Against St. John's, Green matches up well with Hamilton, and if Green can get more touches of the ball, this could open up Roy Hibbert to stay effective inside on the rebounding. St. John's 41 rebounds a game and averaged a +9 on rebounds in the last two Garden games versus Georgetown.
Another key must be three point shooting. St. John's is ranked last in three points made and attempted, so any threes the redmen get are a bonus. In the last two Garden games, GU was a combined 9 for 42 (.214) and must do a better job of making the shots. St. John's is the kind of opponent that will make things difficult if Georgetown lets them hang around...but you knew that already.
The first of three road games in the early Big East season looks to test Georgetown with a team they have struggled with for a decade. In many of these games, the wounds were self-inflicted. With equal doses of caution and resolve, it's a game that Georgetown can win.
--St. John's was picked 10th of 16 Big East teams in the pre-season poll.
--Georgetown has lost six straight to St. John's on the road and 10 of 12 since 1990.
--This is Georgetown's 130th game at Madison Square Garden, whether at the building on 50th St. or at 33rd. St. John's has played 590 games at the Garden.
Preview
Two of the Georgetown program's most disillusioning losses having come in Madison Square Garden in consecutive seasons. The 2004 loss started the wheels moving toward Craig Esherick's departure, while a loss in 2005 put the brakes on Georgetown's NCAA hopes. In 2006, the goal is clear: the Hoyas must break a decade-long losing streak to the Redmen at the World's Most Famous Arena.
Like Georgetown, St. John's is a program on the rise, but one which is battling through injuries. Guard Daryl Hill, with big games in each of the last two games in New York versus the Hoyas, did not play Wednesday versus Seton Hall and will not play Sunday. Nonetheless, the Redmen lead the league in defense and are 2nd in rebounding, employing a style not unline Georgetown's teams of the late 1990's--teams that might have been a player or two short but still wore their share of opponents down.
Three starters return for the Redmen from last season's game. Guards Eugene Lawrence and Cedric Jackson play well in defense, but have struggled offensively, shooting a combined 59 for 160 from the field and 16 for 68 from three point range (.235). Lawrence scored 14 poins to help boost St. John's to an early lead on Seton Hall, which eroded by the end of overtime due to much better shooting from the Pirates, who were held to 26% in the first half.
The SJU frontcourt is much improved. Freshman Anthony Mason, Jr. is making his own name of late, averaging 8.3 points a game and avoiding foul trouble. Senior Lamont Hamilton continues to play solid this season, leading the team in rebounding and second in scoring. 6-10 Aaron Spears is improving in each game, scoring 15 points against Seton Hall and averaging nearly 11 a game since mid-December.
St. John's bench has done in the Hoyas each of the last two season, but in Hill's absence the starting five may see even more action. Dexter Gray (5.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg) could see time, as well as Phil Missere-the 6-9 walk-on averages 1.6 points a game but scored 18 in the last two Garden games with the Hoyas.
For the Hoyas to play well, they must be patient with the St. John's defensive sets and work Jeff Green back into the flow. The leading inside scorer for last year's team, green has fallen to the bottom of the starters in scoring. Against St. John's, Green matches up well with Hamilton, and if Green can get more touches of the ball, this could open up Roy Hibbert to stay effective inside on the rebounding. St. John's 41 rebounds a game and averaged a +9 on rebounds in the last two Garden games versus Georgetown.
Another key must be three point shooting. St. John's is ranked last in three points made and attempted, so any threes the redmen get are a bonus. In the last two Garden games, GU was a combined 9 for 42 (.214) and must do a better job of making the shots. St. John's is the kind of opponent that will make things difficult if Georgetown lets them hang around...but you knew that already.
The first of three road games in the early Big East season looks to test Georgetown with a team they have struggled with for a decade. In many of these games, the wounds were self-inflicted. With equal doses of caution and resolve, it's a game that Georgetown can win.
