[Rosiak's Blog] Game 25: St. John's

[ToddRosiakSays]

Game 25: St. John's


Feb. 13, 2009 6:53 p.m.  




Those interested in the history of MU basketball should enjoy Saturday night.

Prior to the national anthem, a pair of current Golden Eagles players will be honored: Lazar Hayward, who will be presented a basketball by coach Buzz Williams commemorating his 1,000th point, and Jerel McNeal, who will be presented a basketball by George Thompson commemorating his becoming MU's all-time leading scorer.

In addition, four of MU's top five all-time scorers will be in attendance: McNeal, Thompson, Dominic James and Travis Diener.

As far as the Golden Eagles' opponent, the St. John's Red Storm (12-12, 3-9), they'll enter the Bradley Center on a three-game losing streak, and having not won a road game this season (0-7)

St. John's is about as offensively challenged a team as there is in the Big East, shooting 43.1% from the field, 29.6% from three-point range and 64.2% from the free-throw line.

On the flip side of that coin, the Red Storm is holding teams to 43.3% and out-rebounding its opponents by more than three boards per game. Its average of 14.0 offensive rebounds per game is fifth in the Big East.

St. John's does allow opponents to shoot 35.3% from beyond the arc, which ranks it last in the league.

Only two players average in double figures -- Paris Horne at 14.7 ppg and D.J. Kennedy at 12.8 -- but burly Justin Burrell (9.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg) could also present some problems for MU.

Kennedy and Sean Evans lead the way at 6.7 rpg.

You can find St. John's up-to-date statistics here.

Wesley Matthews said in his opinion St. John's plays with more effort than perhaps any team in the Big East, which is definitely saying something.

The Red Storm also aren't afraid to get physical, a lesson Louisville freshman star Samardo Samuels learned the hard way last Sunday when he had two teeth knocked out by a driving Kennedy during a game at Madison Square Garden.

MU has won seven consecutive games against St. John's, dating all the way back to Feb. 1, 1967. The Golden Eagles are 3-0 against the Red Storm since joining the Big East.

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