Four years later, history is repeating itself.
A group of St. John's seniors has willed its way into its first NCAA Tournament with a big second-half run, and before they could even dream of a magical run, a key player is lost.
In 2011, it was D.J. Kennedy, the team's second leading scorer. This year, it's Chris Obekpa, the Red Storm's premier shot-blocker.
Four years ago, the sixth-seeded Johnnies were outclassed by No. 11 Gonzaga, losing 86-71. This group hopes the final chapter is different, when the ninth-seeded Johnnies meet No. 8 San Diego State in a South Region, second-round matchup Friday night in Charlotte, N.C.
"It's crazy," Sean Evans, a forward on the 2011 team, said in a phone interview from Israel, where he is playing professionally. "I feel it's a lot like us. The whole same story, having a lot of seniors, players getting hurt, losing players before the tournament. It's a carbon copy of when we were there."
Of course, the reasons for the absences are different. Kennedy tore the ACL in his right knee during St. John's Big East Tournament loss to Syracuse. Obekpa has been suspended for two weeks for, according to sources, failing a drug test.
Justin Burrell, Evans' frontcourt mate, has a few suggestions for how the Johnnies can compensate for the absence of Obekpa.
"Now it comes down to everybody doing a little more of the little things," Burrell said in a phone interview from Japan, where he also is playing professionally. "Whether it's boxing out that much harder or everybody gang rebounding, or now, instead of getting blocked shots, guys have to rotate over and take charges. It's those little things they have to do now. One of the guys on the bench will have to step up and make plays and do a great job."
Said Dwight Hardy, the 2011 team's leading scorer: "I think they can use that motivation because there will be people who will doubt their chances now that they lost their big man."
The biggest thing, Evans believes, is for St. John's not to make more out of Friday night than it is. Yes, it's the NCAA Tournament, but it's still a basketball game, still two 20-minute halves, the hoops are still 10-feet high, 10 players on the court at a time.
"I would just say don't get overwhelmed with the moment," Evans said. "Look at is as another game. It's definitely a big game, but you want to go in with the same mind-set: 'We're trying to win and move on to the next one.' Just focus on the game itself. At the end of the day, it's still a basketball game. It's the same goals, win, defend, execute on offense.
"I think we went into it with the hype, we're finally in the tournament. I wish I would have had somebody to tell me what I'm saying now, as far as to be locked in and focused. You don't want to just be there. You want to make a run, you want to be known, you want to make noise."
Win or lose, Burrell wants the current Red Storm to cherish the moment. While it was just one game, he still vividly remembers that trip to Denver, to play on college basketball's biggest stage. Whenever the old teammates get together, they talk about that experience.
"Honestly, we didn't play a bad game," Burrell said. "It's just Gonzaga played extremely well."
"I would say enjoy as much of it as possible, enjoy as much as you can, value every possession that much more. I'm super excited they have this opportunity to play at college basketball's highest level. They deserve it, they work hard. There's no better feeling for them."
Hardy, Evans and Burrell all plan to be tuning in Friday night. They've kept a watchful eye on their old program, developing relationships with the current seniors, and hope this time a St. John's group of veterans can move on in the NCAA Tournament instead of being one-and-done.
"I put my money all on them," Evans said. "I'm living through them right now."
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
The scary similarity between 2011 and 2015 St. John’s squads
Dengan url
http://susuvirus.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-scary-similarity-between-2011-and.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
The scary similarity between 2011 and 2015 St. John’s squads
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
The scary similarity between 2011 and 2015 St. John’s squads
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar