St. John's University Athletics
Red Storm Men's Basketball Season Preview
11/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 15, 2005
QUEENS, N.Y. - Norm Roberts and his staff know that change does not happen overnight, even in the city that never sleeps.
A season ago, Roberts and his staff took the first steps in revitalizing the St. John's basketball program and restoring city-wide and national respect to the Red Storm. St. John's played an intense brand of basketball and brought a competitive spirit to the floor night in and night out. Though sometimes outmanned and other times outlasted, Roberts and the Red Storm showed fans, alumni and critics that change is indeed in the air.
Headed into the upcoming season, St. John's has its sights set on taking that next step. A hard-nosed, blue-collar work ethic has been key in attempting to get one of the most storied programs in college basketball back on the winning track. Red Storm student-athletes spent their offseason getting bigger, stronger, faster and better.
The Red Storm will once again bring a young team to the floor in 2005-06, but the then-freshman and sophomores gained a world of experience a season ago, playing plenty of minutes against elite opponents in one of the nation's top conferences. Though the expanded BIG EAST brings a whole new set of challenges, the 2005-06 Red Storm features Roberts' second wave of recruits - a group that gives the Red Storm much-needed depth and a major shot of athleticism. Combining the influx of new talent with a core group of continually-improving returnees, a buzz about St. John's basketball has returned to New York.
The entire St. John's basketball family is eager for the Red Storm to take the floor in 2005-06, knowing that the pieces are in place as the program looks to get back to its traditional winning ways. Roberts knows that while a turnaround will not necessarily be immediate, a daily focused effort will take the Red Storm down the right path.
"We expect to compete every day and try to get better every single day. If we do those things then the wins and losses will take care of themselves," said the Red Storm head coach. "I think all of our guys have done a good job of having good summers and hopefully elevating their games and their skill level. The returning guys are going to bring so much more experience having played so many minutes last year. I think that's really going to help us."
 Daryll Hill, the BIG EAST's top returning scorer at 20.7 ppg, is one of the elite guards in the country.  | |
In addition to a year's worth of experience and effort, and the infusion of fresh talent to round out the squad, major facility improvements have impacted the Red Storm program. Construction of a state-of-the-art practice facility, Taffner Field House, was completed before the start of fall practice. The building serves as a new home for the basketball program, with courts, locker rooms, office and meeting space and weight training and athletic training rooms dedicated exclusively to the Red Storm. Named for longtime University benefactors Eleanor and Donald Taffner, the field house is the latest of many major facility improvements springing up on the St. John's campus.
"Taffner Field House is going to be tremendous for us. One of the great things here, having this practice facility, is it is a place for us to call home. Our offices are here, the weight room for men's and women's basketball is here and the whole complex here shows people that St. John's is taking huge steps to make sure our facilities are on par with everyone else," said Roberts.
BREAKDOWN: Backcourt
A much deeper backcourt will take the floor for St. John's, led by talented returnees Daryll Hill, Eugene Lawrence and Cedric Jackson, and enhanced by the addition of New York freshman sharpshooter Ricky Torres.
Hill, a preseason all-conference selection, is the top returning scorer in the BIG EAST after averaging 20.7 points per game as a sophomore. The junior guard has been the Red Storm's chief offensive threat, top playmaker and best on-ball defender in each of the last two seasons, and will certainly be a key component to St. John's success on both ends of the floor in 2005-06. With an improved supporting cast, however, Hill will likely not have to average 38.0 minutes per game as he did last season, and will be able to take his game and the Red Storm to new heights.
"Daryll did so many things for us last year and he'll be one of the top performers in the BIG EAST again this year," said Hill. "This year we expect big things out of Daryll. We're going to go as Daryll takes us."
Lawrence led all BIG EAST freshman in assists in 2004-05 with 3.9 per game. With a bulked up frame and improved range on his jumpshot, Lawrence will be an even greater offensive threat after averaging 7.3 ppg as a rookie.
 Cedric Jackson played in 27 games last season and gives the Red Storm a burst of enegery whenever on the floor. | |
One of the quickest athletes and stingiest defenders on the Red Storm squad, Jackson will play a key role whether in the St. John's starting lineup or coming off the bench. Jackson's intensity ignites St. John's on offense and forces key plays on the defensive end.
"Cedric can change the game with his athletic ability and I think he's really improved his offensive game. I think he can be a tremendous creator for our team," said Roberts.
Torres, a highly recruited guard out of St. Raymond's high school in the Bronx, is one of 10 New Yorkers on the Red Storm squad. Torres is much more than a "shooter" as an athlete that does many things well on the offensive end. As he continues to develop, Torres will become a serious deep threat in the BIG EAST conference.
Walk-ons Devin Mayo, Nygel Roach, Adam Laitsas and Liam Biesty add depth for St. John's at the guard position, bringing energy and intensity to practice and game situations.
BREAKDOWN: Wing
One of Roberts' key offseason goals was to enhance the athleticism and size for the Red Storm wing positions. In adding highly-touted freshman Anthony Mason Jr. and returning redshirt junior Jermaine Maybank and dynamic southpaw senior Ryan Williams, the Red Storm now has several versatile options to use in different situations.
 Senior Ryan Williams is a high-flying finisher and skilled offensive rebounder. | |
Williams, a second year player after transferring from Monroe College in the Bronx, averaged 5.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in his first season with the Red Storm. An athletic finisher and a key offensive rebounder, he gives the St. John's improved athleticism whenever he takes the floor.
Maybank returns after sitting out last season with a torn patellar tendon, giving Roberts and the Red Storm a dynamic slashing scorer. His toughness, size and athleticism make him one of St. John's most versatile defenders as well.
"Jermaine is a kid who got hurt last year and he's very excited about having the chance to play this year. He's going to give us a lot of versatility because he can play all three wing positions," Roberts said. "He's a guy that brings tremendous energy to everything that he does."
Mason Jr. is a long, lean athlete who can score in a variety of ways, and his length makes him a difficult matchup on both ends of the floor. A top 20 prospect out of Memphis, Tenn., Mason boasts a high aptitude for the game and his versatility enables him to play on the wing or in the post.
"Mason is going to be a tremendous talent," said Roberts. "He is one of the best athletes on our team. He is very long and can play multiple positions inside and out. He is going to give us the ability to change defenses as well as do some different things on offense. We expect big things out of Anthony."
BREAKDOWN: Frontcourt
 Lamont Hamilton averaged 7.5 rebounds per game last season, leading the Red Storm and finishing eighth in the BIG EAST. | |
A third team All-Met selection by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association, Hamilton is St. John's No. 2 returning scorer after averaging 13.3 ppg as a sophomore. His 7.5 rebounds per game led the squad a season ago and placed him eighth among all BIG EAST players.
Gray, who held his own against some of the nation's top big men a year ago, increased his strength in the offseason and returns as one of St. John's most improved players. The determined, gritty competitor played in all 27 games in 2004-05 and averaged 6.0 points and 4.7 rebounds.
Keeping consistent with the Red Storm's "blue collar" mentality in the post, the hard-working Missere rose to the challenge last season and played himself from walk-on to scholarship status. Missere saw time in 26 games a season ago and registered a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double against Georgetown.
Spears is a massive, imposing inside presence coming to St. John's from the Windy City. A JUCO transfer from Highland Community College in Chicago, Spears averaged a double-double last season and adds great size and depth to the frontcourt.
 Dexter Gray's hustle and increased muscle will help the Red Storm on both ends of the floor in 2005-06. | |
"Aaron brings a lot of strength and is a major physical presence for us," said Roberts. "We felt that we definitely needed to have a physical presence inside and Aaron will fill that role nicely. He has the ability to score in the paint and also defend other big people in the BIG EAST."
A native of Lithuania by way of Richmond, Va., Jasiulionis is the tallest St. John's player at 6-11. A talented athlete with a variety of post moves, Jasiulionis' continued development will give the Red Storm another outstanding option inside.
Heady walk-on Otoja Abit adds depth and an excellent shot-blocking presence at practice for the Red Storm. Abit is sidelined with an injury but is expected to be back in action at the semester break.
The Schedule
The St. John's University men's basketball team opens its 2005-06 schedule when the Red Storm plays host to the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore on Saturday, Nov. 19 at Carnesecca Arena. The second year of the Roberts Era at St. John's features 18 home games - including eight at Carnesecca and 10 at Madison Square Garden - and is marked by several marquee non-conference matchups before play begins in the newly-expanded BIG EAST.
"Our schedule allows us to play our traditional local rivals, as well as some national powers, before we get into the conference schedule," said Roberts. "We travel to Duke and Virginia Tech, play a full slate at the Garden and play in the Holiday Festival. This will give St. John's fans a great opportunity to follow our team, which features a lot of new faces this year."
The Red Storm opens the regular-season slate with six consecutive home games at Carnesecca, including matchups with Maryland-Eastern Shore (Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m.), St. Francis, N.Y. (Nov. 22, 7:30 p.m.), Niagara (Nov. 26, 3 p.m.), Hofstra (Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m.), Charleston Southern (Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m.) and Stony Brook (Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m.).
St. John's hits the road on Saturday, Dec. 10, and visits Blacksburg, Va., to take on former BIG EAST opponent Virginia Tech. The Red Storm clashes with the Hokies at Cassell Coliseum in the first away contest of the season, which will be televised nationally at 4 p.m. on FOX Sports Net.
 Eugene Lawrence led all BIG EAST freshmen in assists last season. | |
The Red Storm makes its New York return and plays host to the Marist Red Foxes in the season debut at Madison Square Garden - The World's Most Famous Arena - on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. In the final contest before the Christmas holiday, the Red Storm travels to Duke's storied Cameron Indoor Stadium on Dec. 21 for a nationally televised matchup on ESPN2 at 6 p.m.
St. John's defends its 2004 title when it opens the Panasonic Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden by facing Columbia on Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 8:30 p.m. on the MSG Network. A second round matchup with Massachusetts or St. Peter's awaits on Wednesday, Dec. 28.
The challenges of the new BIG EAST begin on the road. The Red Storm takes on local conference rival Seton Hall at Continental Airlines Arena just after the New Year, on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. on MSG, before returning home and playing host to Georgetown at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. on MSG.
The following weekend, St. John's heads to the Sunshine State for a meeting with new BIG EAST opponent South Florida. The Storm breezes into USF's Sun Dome on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. on MSG.
The Red Storm returns to New York next, opening a two-game homestand by taking on new BIG EAST opponent and 2005 Final Four participant Louisville. Former New York Knicks head coach Rick Pitino makes his return to the Garden on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 9 p.m. on ESPN2. The Pittsburgh Panthers, who Roberts and the Red Storm upset in 2005, visit MSG on Saturday, Jan. 21, at noon on MSG.
St. John's lone matchup of the season with Connecticut will be played on the road on Wednesday, Jan. 25 (7:30 p.m., FOX Sports New York), before the Red Storm returns home to meet 2005 Elite Eight participant West Virginia at the Garden on Jan. 29 at 2:30 p.m. on MSG. The squad then plays three-straight road conference games: at new league foe Marquette on Feb. 1 at 8 p.m., at Providence on Feb. 4 on 7:30 p.m. and a nationally-televised tilt on ESPN2 at Georgetown's MCI Center on Feb. 9.
 Hard-working Phil Missere returns to play key minutes inside for the Red Storm. | |
St. John's faces Syracuse once in 2005-06, as the Storm plays host to the Orange on Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Garden (2 p.m., MSG). The squad takes a short trip to "The RAC" to face Rutgers on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m on FOX Sports New York.
The Red Storm's final pair of regular-season contests at the Garden are against new conference opponent DePaul on Saturday, Feb. 18 (noon, MSG), and Seton Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 21 (7 p.m., MSG), respectively.
The Red Storm takes on 2005 Sweet Sixteen squad Villanova on the road on Wednesday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m., before playing host to Rutgers on "Senior Day" at Carnesecca Arena on Sunday, March 5 at 2 p.m. on MSG.
In all, St. John's will play 12 regular season games against teams that participated in postseason tournaments in 2004-05 (NCAA - Louisville, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Villanova, Duke, Connecticut, Syracuse; NIT - Georgetown, Marquette, Virginia Tech, DePaul).
The Next Step
Summing up the upcoming Red Storm basketball season, Roberts observed, "We are going to be stronger. We are going to be bigger. We are going to be much more athletic. I think that we will have many more options to score and more versatility than we had last year. We have guys that can play multiple positions. We have got guys that can score inside. We have guys that can score on the perimeter. So it should give us, hopefully, if we don't have any injuries, a little bit of flexibility in how we can play."
