Playing down to St Johns level

[NotAnAlum]

First of all it was a win BUT
No killer instinct. Let them off the ropes many times.
Once again we made the other team's back-up look like Kareem.  How is it we can play well against Gray but let a guy this have a career night
5 consecutive empty trips will not get it done in the tournament against a good team.
We won it because we got hot shooting from Dan and Kinsella something I don't think we can count on every night.  Got to do a better job of contesting without fouling and being more efficient on offense.  We would have lost to a 12 seed in the NCAA tournament if we played like this.

[ozmetal71]

James was 2-14 and 0-everything from 3 point range.

McNeal was out for the game.

We were playing a road game for all intensive purposes, and we won a conference tournament game for just the third time in eight seasons.

It wasn't pretty, but its a win.  I'm happy with the much improved FT shooting, and also the fact that the team has learned to play through the absence of McNeal and the ineffectiveness of James.

[rocky_warrior]

St. Johns has played tough at MSG, no shame in the less-than-dominant win.

They were missing their best player, but the others stepped up.

Luckily, we wouldn't have to play a 12 seed on their home court....

[mviale]

24-8/11-6 Unbelievable

[NotAnAlum]

I'll gladly take the away game RPI boost but come on guys.  St Johns doesn't draw well during the season.  Very few Johnny fans are going to pay the big east tournament ticket price to watch a team that they pretty much figure is going to lose.  Did you look into the stands, did you listen to the game?  That was not a home crowd.  No that was much more playing a team that won't make the NIT at a "neutral" site.
I would bet tha Pitt has stronger fan support tomorrow.

[mutpm]

Any win in March is a good win.  Period.

[Marquette84]

St. Johns beat DePaul, Syracuse, Notre Dame and Providence at MSG this year. 

The fact that we didn't blow them out is hardly a cuase for concern. 

[RawdogDX]

St. Johns beat DePaul, Syracuse, Notre Dame and Providence at MSG this year. 

The fact that we didn't blow them out is hardly a cuase for concern. 

RE-SEARCH!
bum bum
RE-SEARCH!
bum bum

Seriously I think we should have won by 15 not 9 posts are some of the weirdest things on the planet.  Right behind the Platypus: it's a mammal and it lays eggs. just plain odd.

[Big Papi]

I'll gladly take the away game RPI boost but come on guys.  St Johns doesn't draw well during the season.  Very few Johnny fans are going to pay the big east tournament ticket price to watch a team that they pretty much figure is going to lose.  Did you look into the stands, did you listen to the game?  That was not a home crowd.  No that was much more playing a team that won't make the NIT at a "neutral" site.
I would bet tha Pitt has stronger fan support tomorrow.

Its not always about the fans when it comes to home field advantage.  Lighting, rims, deadspots and just a better comfort level at home all play a role in a home field advantage.  Than add in our lack of recent post season success, our far from stellar record late in the year, being a higher seed that everyone except MU fans want to see lose and the pressure to win gets to be a lot more intense. 

I would have liked us to win by a larger margin but we did get a monkey off our backs last night.  Now we are the underdog with no pressure from here on out the rest of the week. 

[WashDCWarrior]

St. Johns beat DePaul, Syracuse, Notre Dame and Providence at MSG this year. 

The fact that we didn't blow them out is hardly a cuase for concern. 

RE-SEARCH!
bum bum
RE-SEARCH!
bum bum

Seriously I think we should have won by 15 not 9 posts are some of the weirdest things on the planet.  Right behind the Platypus: it's a mammal and it lays eggs. just plain odd.

Spread was 7.5.  We won by 9.  I'll take it.  Our "second-best" player was out and our "best" player was trying to break the backboard from 3 point range.  Other people really stepped up.