It may be time to start thinking bigger than the NIT. It may be time for St. John’s and its fans to think about more than just finishing up this season strong. It may, in fact, be time for them to dream about the NCAA Tournament.
Mike Anderson and the Johnnies are fast becoming one of the hottest teams in the country. They are, in the least, the hottest team in the Big East.
Just ask third-ranked Villanova, which was overwhelmed by the surging Red Storm, the Wildcats’ efficient offense chewed up and spit out by Anderson’s relentless pressure defense.
St. John’s pulled off the upset, and it was never really in doubt. The Red Storm imposed their will and dominated the Wildcats, 70-59, winning their fifth straight game and claiming their sixth victory in seven contests.
“This right here is what we needed to give us a feeling we’re a legit team,” sophomore forward Julian Champagnie said. “We came into this season thinking that we’ll be an NCAA Tournament. But it gives us that extra push that, yeah, it’s around the corner and we’re legit contenders [to get there].”
The Red Storm (12-7, 6-6 Big East) moved into sixth place in the conference, just a game behind fifth-place Seton Hall, after forcing Villanova (11-2, 6-1) into a season-high 17 turnovers and holding the Wildcats to 8-for-30 shooting from 3-point range, 32 percent shooting from the field and a season-low point total.
Freshman point guard Posh Alexander was the best player on the floor, notching 16 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals, while locking down Villanova star Collin Gillespie. He helped force Gillespie into six turnovers and held the senior to four points on 2-for-12 shooting.
Anderson credited Alexander with keeping Champagnie’s spirits up after a shaky start on offense, and the sophomore responded by finishing strong with 14 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks.
“Little leader — that’s what he is,” Anderson said of Alexander, the clear frontrunner for Big East Freshman of the Year, who posted a team-high, plus-20 rating. “He had a phenomenal night.”
It was far from a two-man show.
Isaih Moore and Vince Cole continued to show progress, combining for 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting. Dylan Addae-Wusu, Alexander’s high-school teammate, was again a two-way factor, producing nine points, four rebounds and two assists. The St. John’s bench notched 21 points.
There were some early nerves for St. John’s, which trailed 10-3 just 4:12 in and missed eight of its first nine shots. Those jitters didn’t last.
From there, the Red Storm were the superior team. They rattled the Wildcats, creating two 10-second violations and countless uncharacteristic quick possessions. They took the lead late in the first half and never gave it up. Whenever Villanova tried to put together one of its patented runs, St. John’s short-circuited it with momentum-turning plays. The Johnnies’ lead never fell below nine over the final 15 minutes.
“They just played better than us on both ends of the floor,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said. “Our turnovers, our poor shooting, was just a credit to their defense and their physicality.”
After the game, the entire team doused Anderson with water in the joyous locker room. A St. John’s staffer said you could hear students screaming about the victory from their dorm rooms by the entrance of Carnesecca Arena. It was a celebratory evening on the Queens campus, and yet Anderson said he believes there is so much more this team can do. He didn’t seem surprised by the game’s outcome.
“I think,” Anderson said, “we can play better.”
Junior Greg Williams Jr. (back) returned after missing the last three-plus games, but only played four first-half minutes. Anderson said he may have tweaked his back.
