As it turns out, that ugly loss to Boston College may have been a blessing.
A slap in the face. A wake-up call.
Rick Pitino called his team’s defense that night “abominable.” St. John’s has defended very differently since.
Yes, it’s just two games, but it’s two games in which the Johnnies have not looked anything like the group that was so defensively challenged over the season’s first nine games.
Holding Fordham to 25.4 percent shooting was one thing. Locking down Xavier, a quality offensive team with a talented backcourt, was a major step forward.
“I haven’t been impressed with my team at all this year — except tonight,” an encouraged Pitino said after the Johnnies won their Big East opener, 81-66 over Xavier, in convincing fashion Wednesday night.
He added, with a smile: “They thought defense was COVID, and they didn’t want to catch it. Until tonight [and the Fordham game].”
St. John’s Chris Ledlum (8) shoots over Xavier guard Desmond Claude (1) during the first half at Carnesecca Arena on Wednesday. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
St. John’s center Joel Soriano (11) celebrates a dunk during the second half against Xavier at Carnesecca Arena on Wednesday. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTIn front of a sold-out crowd at Carnesecca Arena, St. John’s led wire-to-wire, starting each half in dominant fashion and it never had to sweat after building a 15-point lead early in the second half.
New starter Nahiem Alleyne (15 points, four rebounds) provided a spark at both ends of the floor and Joel Soriano owned Xavier’s undermanned frontcourt, producing 18 points, 14 rebounds, six blocks and five assists. Chris Ledlum added 13 points and six rebounds, Daniss Jenkins had 11 points and five assists and Jordan Dingle had 10 points off the bench.
The Johnnies’ defense, though, was the difference.
Rick Pitino and St. John’s defeated Xavier in their Big East opener on Wednesday. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTXavier’s (6-6, 0-1) star duo Desmond Claude and Quincy Olivari was held to 8 of 17 shooting and just one made 3-pointer in six attempts.
The Musketeers scored 10 points under their season average, shot 34.9 percent from the field and made only 1 of 11 3-point attempts after halftime.
They managed just eight assists, after entering the game tied for 20th in the country at 17.9.
For the first time this year, Pitino went to a zone — he saw how well it worked for Delaware and Oakland in wins over Xavier — and it worked.
St. John’s guard Daniss Jenkins (5) passes around Xavier forward Sasa Ciani (21) during the second half at Carnesecca Arena on Wednesday. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTXavier shot 3 of 21 when St. John’s was in the zone.
“I have to give our guys a lot of credit,” Pitino said. “It’s not easy in two days to implement something and to play it so well.”
St. John’s guard Jordan Dingle (3) shoots over Xavier guard Dayvion McKnight (20) during the first half at Carnesecca Arena on Wednesday. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTJenkins set the tone, scoring seven points over the first four minutes as St. John’s (8-3, 1-0) raced out to a nine-point lead. It scored the game’s first eight points and started the second half the same way, locking up Xavier and padding the lead. The Johnnies’ lead went to 15 quickly as it took the Musketeers 3:30 to break the ice.
It will only get harder from here. St. John’s travels to Hartford, on Saturday to face fifth-ranked Connecticut, which will be angry after losing to Seton Hall on Wednesday. But the Johnnies are playing with newfound confidence of late. The early setbacks may have been beneficial.
“I feel like those three losses that we took, we learned a lot as a team. It helped our team grow,” Soriano said. “Of course I don’t want to lose those three games. But at the same time, I wouldn’t want to be coming into this game [undefeated] not learning anything.
“It was a great punch in the face. Guys are finally learning what it takes to be a great team. Really, I feel like our defense is the best it’s ever been, and we’re going to keep growing, keep striving to be better.”
