St. John's University Athletics
2006-07 St. John's Men's Basketball Season Outlook
11/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
As the final buzzer sounded and hundreds of fans poured onto the court of the World???s Most Famous Arena last January 21, those who know and love St. John???s found themselves back in a familiar position ??? on top of the college basketball world.
Maybe that feeling lasted only for a few hours, or maybe for a few days, but for those that have long supported Red Storm basketball through thick and thin, that moment ??? and all the moments in 2005-06 that indicated St. John???s basketball is back on its way toward the top ??? was perhaps a sign of things to come.
The lights of Broadway shone brightly on head coach Norm Roberts and the St. John???s basketball program many times last season, as his steadily improving program gave several indications that it is indeed on the upswing: an improved overall and conference record, a pair of victories over Top 25 teams, a second-consecutive championship in the Holiday Festival and the first two road victories for a Red Storm team since 2003. The back-to-back upsets over No. 17/15 Louisville and then-undefeated and ninth-ranked Pittsburgh took place at Madison Square Garden in January, and the win over the Panthers came on a day where some of the most legendary figures in St. John???s basketball history were in attendance. These achievements made headlines all over the country, thrusting St. John???s basketball back into its rightful place in the national spotlight.
For the Red Storm players and coaching staff, the brief tastes of success over the last two seasons have done nothing but keep all involved dedicated to the goal of turning St. John???s basketball into a consistent winner once again. The Red Storm returns 11 letterwinners from a season ago, is the only team in the BIG EAST with all five starters returning and will be in somewhat unfamiliar territory this season with experienced upperclassmen. Honors candidates like Lamont Hamilton, Eugene Lawrence, Daryll Hill, Aaron Spears and Anthony Mason Jr. put in offseasons bettering their games and helping the Red Storm???s influx of talented newcomers adapt to college basketball with intense summer workouts.
The Red Storm coaching staff has translated the accomplishments of the last two seasons into recruiting successes, and landed a class rated among the best in the nation according to scouting services. After a 2005-06 season as one of the top defensive and rebounding teams in the BIG EAST, the coaching staff hit the recruiting trail with the idea of bolstering the Red Storm???s perimeter offense and bringing in versatile and dynamic athletes who can flat-out score the basketball.
???Two huge needs for our team were perimeter shooting and some skilled four-men that can spread people out away from the basket,??? said Roberts, regarding this year???s group of newcomers. ???We played against a lot of zone last year, and against a lot of teams that packed it in, trying to limit our ability to get the ball inside or drive it. Hopefully we???ve addressed that situation by bringing in some guys that have a scorer???s mentality. Hopefully the newcomers will bring that to our team, as well as the guys who have improved over the summer in their offensive games.???
Headed into the 2006-07 season, the Red Storm has enhanced its overall talent level and looks forward to a more up-tempo, high-octane offense. It is Roberts??? hope that offensive firepower will come from all five positions on the floor, and that his current mix of players will enable St. John???s to challenge defenses with different looks on the offensive end. If the Red Storm can boost its scoring punch while maintaining its defensive intensity and established prowess on the glass, St. John???s will enjoy many more moments in the spotlight as the program continues down its current path toward success.
???This year we???ll have the ability to play in different ways,??? said Roberts. ???We???ll be able to play small and quick, and hopefully be able to play with power. We???re going to be able to adjust in games where last year we weren???t able to make a whole lot of adjustments. The pieces all finally look to be in place. Now we???ll see how they fit.???
Backcourt
St. John???s returns the most experienced backcourt of the Roberts Era, but also welcomes several new faces at the guard position that bring athleticism and a sharpshooter???s touch. The Red Storm???s backcourt runs deep, giving Roberts the ability to keep the guards fresh and also keep those with the hottest hands on the court.
One of the extremely pleasant surprises of the last two seasons has been the emergence of Eugene Lawrence, a stalwart physical athlete and an adept passer at the point guard spot. Lawrence finished fourth in the BIG EAST with 4.9 assists per game last season, a mark that ranks second among all returning passers in the conference. He scored 9.3 points per game a season ago and averaged 9.9 ppg in league contests. His affinity for stepping up in big games earned him the 2005 Holiday Festival MVP, and his strong leadership on and off the court earned him the squad???s captaincy for 2006-07, as voted by his teammates.
???The terrific thing about Geno is that he brings it every single day. He is unbelievably competitive, and he wants to be the best at everything he does,??? said Roberts. ???We???re going to need his leadership on the court. I look for Geno to have a very good year.???
An All-BIG EAST performer as a sophomore, senior Daryll Hill returns to the backcourt fully recovered from offseason knee surgery. Hill ranked second on the squad with a 12.3 ppg average last season, contributing heavily in 16 contests and becoming the 42nd player in St. John???s history to score more than 1,000 career points, despite being slowed by injury.
???Daryll has gone through the injury and has done a good job in rehab trying to get his legs back. He has been a guy that???s been through the league and understands the toughness of the league. It???s his senior year and I know he wants to leave on a good note,??? said Roberts.
Local two-guard Ricky Torres is back for his sophomore season after showing flashes of potential as a rookie. Torres??? greatest contribution as a freshman came with a 12-point effort vs. DePaul at Madison Square Garden late in the year. With a strong offseason of conditioning behind him, there may be more efforts like it in the future.
Three newcomers suit up in the Red Storm backcourt in 2006-07, each bringing different perimeter skills and each looking to make an immediate impact.
A runner-up for Mr. Basketball in the state of Florida, Derwin Kitchen is an explosive athlete that can fill both guard positions. A member of two state championship teams, Kitchen is a proven winner who can hit from long or mid-range. He will be an immediate contributor on both ends of the floor and could be an exceptional player for St. John???s.
???Derwin can create plays for others as well as himself, and he gives us size and creativity on the perimeter,??? said Roberts. ???I think Derwin can really add a lot to our team.???
Another new face in the backcourt, junior Avery Patterson is a sharpshooter who earned second team National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-America honors last season. Patterson averaged more than 20 ppg a season ago in leading Iowa Western Community College to the NJCAA national semifinals, and his superior work ethic should allow him to see immediate playing time.
A quick and wiry combination guard, Larry Wright was a finalist for Mr. Basketball in the state of Michigan as a senior last season. Wright is a defender with tremendous length and a scorer with proven proficiency from the outside and the free throw line. He led his Saginaw High School squad to a No. 1 AP ranking in Michigan last year.
Senior walk-on Devin Mayo and junior Liam Biesty look to compete for playing time after earning their way into several games last season. Walk-on Adam Laitsas, playing in his final season before taking a job in finance on Wall Street, will provide depth at the guard spot as well.
Small Forward
Inside-outside play will be key for the 2006-07 Red Storm squad, and Roberts has two outstanding athletes with inside-outside games at the wing/small forward position.
One of the top returning sophomores in the BIG EAST, Anthony Mason Jr. averaged 8.4 ppg as a freshman and looks to take his game to the next level this season. After an exceptional offseason during which he averaged 18.3 ppg and led a group of Northeastern NCAA All-Stars to a 7-0 record during a tour of the Bahamas, Mason Jr. returns looking to play a major role on both ends of the floor in 2006-07.
???Anthony Mason had a terrific summer,??? said Roberts. ???He is much more aggressive than he was the year before, and his perimeter shot will be much better this year as a result. I think he has also worked very hard at putting the ball on the floor and attacking the basket, which is something that he really needed to do.???
Dynamic freshman Qa???rraan Calhoun should see time at both the small and power forward positions. A two-time all-state selection from northern New Jersey, Calhoun spent a year in prep school at Bridgton Academy in Maine, where he led his squad to the 2006 New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) championship.
Frontcourt
The Red Storm frontcourt has proven to be a formidable unit, and with improved scoring from the outside, the big men of St. John???s should be even more effective this season.
One of the nation???s most versatile post players, preseason honors candidate Lamont Hamilton is coming off a season in which he led the Red Storm in scoring (12.6 ppg), rebounding (7.6 rpg) and blocked shots (1.2 per game). The honorable mention All-BIG EAST selection and second team All-Met honoree returns for his senior year as the conference???s third-leading rebounder. Hamilton is bulked up after an impressive offseason and looks to be a consistent inside presence for St. John???s.
???Lamont has done a great job of gaining weight and improving his upper body strength,??? Roberts said. ???He has increased his range on the perimeter and is shooting the ball with confidence. I think he is primed to have a very, very good year.???
Fellow senior Aaron Spears also returns inside after making a major impact as a junior college transfer last season. Spears averaged 7.2 ppg overall while scoring at an 8.0 ppg clip in league contests. A bruiser on the blocks, Spears muscled his way to a team-leading .567 field goal percentage, and with a stronger, leaner physique for 2006-07, he should continue to be an imposing force on the interior.
Sophomore Tomas Jasiulionis contributes to St. John???s frontcourt depth after seeing time in 21 games as a freshman. The ???Big Lithuanian??? with the tremendous wingspan continues to develop his game and was awarded with the Lawrence R. Thomsen Memorial Award at last season???s banquet, noting his marked improvement.
The versatile Calhoun should see time in the post as well, while inside-outside presence Rob Thomas waits in the wings. Thomas received partial qualifier status from the NCAA and begins classes in January of 2007. He will spend a year in residence and will not be able to suit up for the Red Storm until January of 2008, but should provide an added scoring punch on the interior when he does.
In addition, intelligent, hard-working walk-on Otoja Abit provides depth at all post positions and brings another shot-blocking presence to St. John???s practices.
The Schedule
Nationally televised BIG EAST matchups, an appearance in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer and a late-season showdown with perennial powerhouse Duke at Madison Square Garden highlight what will be an exciting season on the hardwood for St. John???s basketball. Roberts??? ever-improving squad could play as many as 21 contests on its home floor ??? including 10 at Carnesecca Arena and 11 at The Garden ??? and will hit the road for several key conference road games in the second season of the expanded BIG EAST Conference.
???We are looking forward to another exciting year, where we will be playing an extremely competitive schedule against some of the top teams in America,??? said Roberts. ???We feel good about having at least four of our games on national television ??? that shows how much our program is continuing to improve each year.???
St. John???s opens the regular season by hosting the New York Regional Round of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic at Carnesecca Arena in Queens, Nov. 10-11. The Red Storm faces North Florida in the first round on Friday, and would advance to meet Loyola (Md.) or Navy on Saturday with a win. The regional winner earns a trip to The Garden for the semifinal and championship rounds, which will be aired nationally on ESPN2 Nov. 16-17.
Following the season-opening event, the Red Storm returns home for four non-conference contests at Carnesecca Arena. St. John???s plays host to Illinois State (Nov. 25, 7:30 p.m.), LIU (Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m.), UMBC (Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m.) and St. Francis (N.Y.) (Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m.) before traveling to Niagara for a Dec. 9 tilt at Gallagher Arena at 4 p.m. Local squads NJIT (Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m.) and Columbia (Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m.) visit Queens before the Red Storm takes a brief respite for the Christmas Holiday.
Winners of the 2004 and 2005 Holiday Festivals, St. John???s looks to defend its crown in the 2006 version of the classic event at Madison Square Garden, presented by Aeropostale. The Red Storm meets Boston University on Dec. 28 (8:30 p.m., MSG Network), following a matchup between St. Joseph???s and Hofstra. The winners meet for the championship on Dec. 29 (8:30 p.m., Fox Sports New York).
BIG EAST conference play gets underway after the New Year, and opens when the Red Storm faces DePaul (Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m., MSG Network) at The Garden. St. John???s then hits the road to take on West Virginia (Jan. 6, 4 p.m., SportsNet New York) before a nationally televised game against Seton Hall (Jan. 11, 7 p.m., ESPN2) at Continental Airlines Arena.
Three of the next four games take place at the World???s Most Famous Arena. Following a matchup against UConn at The Garden on Jan. 13 (9:30 p.m., MSG Network), the Red Storm travels to DePaul (Jan. 16, 8:30 p.m.) before playing host to Syracuse (Jan. 21, 2 p.m., MSG Network) and Notre Dame (Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m., MSG Network).
St. John???s meets Pittsburgh (Jan. 27, 4 p.m., MSG Network) on the road, and a nationally televised contest at The Garden against Georgetown (Feb. 1, 7 p.m., ESPN) awaits as the calendar turns to February. St. John???s visits Cincinnati???s Fifth Third Arena on Feb. 4 (noon, MSG Network) before playing host to South Florida at Carnesecca Arena on Feb. 7 (7:30 p.m., MSG Network). The Red Storm heads upstate to meet Syracuse at the Carrier Dome on Feb. 11 (2 p.m., MSG Network), and returns to its home campus for a matchup with Rutgers on Feb. 15 (7:30 p.m., YES Network).
The Red Storm begins its home-and-away series with Providence at the Dunkin??? Donuts Center on Feb. 17 (noon, Fox Sports New York), and plays another road contest on national television when St. John???s visits Louisville???s Freedom Hall on Feb. 21 (7 p.m., ESPN2).
The Duke Blue Devils come to The Garden on Feb. 25 for a 2 p.m. nationally-televised game on CBS. This will be the ninth-straight season in which the two squads have met.
St. John???s will honor the careers of its seniors in a celebration at The Garden on Sunday, March 4 at 2 p.m., when the Red Storm takes on Providence in the final game of the regular season.
The BIG EAST Championship Tournament will take place at the Garden from March 7-10, marking the 25th consecutive year for the event at The World???s Most Famous Arena.
In all, St. John???s could play 15 regular-season games against teams that participated in postseason tournaments in 2005-06 (NCAA ??? Duke, Syracuse, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Texas, Michigan State, Seton Hall and Georgetown; NIT ??? Maryland, Rutgers, Notre Dame, Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Joseph???s, Hofstra).
Back In The Spotlight
St. John???s finished the 2005-06 season second among all BIG EAST squads in team defense (60.4 ppg), field goal percentage defense (.394) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.322), while also ranking eighth in the nation and third in the league in rebounding margin (+6.9 rebounds per game). Roberts looks for the Red Storm to stay consistent in those areas, while using a more dynamic offense to put more points on the scoreboard.
???We should be much improved from last year as far as our strength and ability to score the basketball. We???ll probably be able to play at a much faster pace than we???ve played in recent years,??? said Roberts. ???Our objective is to be able to score from all five positions on the floor. That is very important to us, and we should be able to spread people out and do some things that we haven???t been able to do in the past. Hopefully we???ll be able to do those things, all while keeping our defensive intensity and our defensive passion.???
