It takes a New York minute to go from a full service penthouse to a six-story walk up.
Ask St. John’s.
The Red Storm were gazing out at the bright lights less than two weeks ago after upsetting Georgetown in the Garden to go to 3-0 in Big East play.
Then came losses at Notre Dame and home to Syracuse and going into today’s rematch with the Irish in Garden, St. John’s found itself pleading for a second chance from their fans if not a rent control apartment.
“I hope they stick with us because we’re going to get it back,” senior forward Justin Burrell said after the 76-59 loss to Syracuse.
But the Red Storm (10-5 overall, 3-2 in the Big East) never lost anything they need to get back. That’s because they gutted out road wins at West Virginia and Providence. Any league road win in this league is worth its weight in blood, because this is a no blood, no foul league. The Hoyas went into yesterday’s game at Rutgers on a three-game league skid, but they were 1-1 and feeling pretty good before St. John’s started Georgetown’s slide. Get back what?
St. John’s, at 3-2 in the league, is about where it should be.
Of course, this is a winner’s town and Red Storm fans who were beginning to return to the Garden are understandably hedging again. That’s the residue of two losses by a combined 31 points.
The Red Storm are playing a better brand of ball under coach Steve Lavin, but this squad still lacks the depth and size to win at Notre Dame or upset No.4 Syracuse at home.
Consider this: Freshman Dwayne Polee, a very good recruit for Lavin, now starts and is logging starter’s minutes. Syracuse’s Fab Melo, one the nation’s most coveted recruits, is a ceremonial starter who saw just five minutes against the Red Storm.
Syracuse is a legitimate Top 5 team and consistently a top 10 program.
St. John’s, hopefully, is on the road back to that exclusive neighborhood.
For now, St. John’s is an experienced and dogged team that leaves it all on the court. That should get them to the NIT and, if all the stars align, maybe the Big Dance.
That means the Red Storm shouldn’t have to plead for their fans to give them another shot. They have earned it.
Consider the nine seniors that play and one that doesn’t — Rob Thomas.
Thomas, who has struggled with dyslexia and knee injuries, is on track to graduate. Burrell, Paris Horne, D.J. Kennedy, Malik Boothe, Sean Evans and Dele Coker have been here four years and you haven’t seen their names in the police blotter.
They opted to don a St. John’s jersey when the program was known for an NCAA investigation, not a possible NCAA Tournament appearance.
Junior college transfers Dwight Hardy and Justin Brownlee came in last season and have emerged as vital cogs this season.
St. John’s certainly can upset No. 9 Notre Dame (14-3, 3-2) again. The Irish play hard, but the lineup isn’t stacked with hamburger All-Americans.
This should be a gut check and St. John’s deserves a home court advantage. They had it in the first eight minutes against Syracuse before the bottom fell out.
“The atmosphere was great,” said Burrell. “When we came out, we heard a lot of our fans cheering for us. I hope they stick with us. They were there for a long time.”
These seniors deserve to hear a few more cheers.
