St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Ranked No. 24 in Associated Press Poll
12/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
· USA Today Coaches Poll
QUEENS, N.Y. - The St. John's men's basketball team checked in at No. 24 in the Associated Press Poll to mark the program's first national ranking since 2011. The Red Storm was on the fringe of entering the USA Today Coaches Poll with 62 votes, the second highest total among teams outside the Top-25. After receiving votes last week in both polls, the Red Storm improved to 6-1 with a pair of victories over Syracuse and Niagara.
St. John's has matched its best start in the last seven seasons, recording five of its six wins by double-digit margins. The Red Storm snapped Syracuse's 55-game non-conference win streak at the Carrier Dome on Saturday earning a 69-57 victory before 24,884 fans, the largest crowd for a college basketball game this season. St. John's opened the year with a four-game win streak to advance to the NIT Season Tip-Off Championship Game after knocking off Minnesota 70-61 in a semifinal matchup.
"To receive a national ranking is certainly a benchmark for this team and program. This is evidence that the hard work is paying off," said Head Coach Steve Lavin. "This group of seniors has made steady and measurable progress each year, both on the court and in the classroom. Our senior leaders have an outstanding work ethic and are determined to take the next step with a deserving finish in the postseason. We have a daunting remaining schedule and realize improvement in all facets of the game is necessary, but I sense the team is looking forward to the challenges ahead."
Lavin guided St. John's to its first national ranking in 11 years in his first season at the helm. The Red Storm climbed as high as No. 15 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls in 2010-11. The Red Storm's last national ranking was on March 14, 2011 holding the No. 18 position in the Associated Press Poll prior to the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002.
The Red Storm's veteran-laden roster features a senior class that has that has incrementally elevated the program since their arrival in Queens. Coming off back-to-back postseason appearances, St. John's has increased its win total in each of the last three years, including a 20-win campaign in 2013-14.
The national ranking comes hours after senior guard D'Angelo Harrison was named BIG EAST Player of the Week. Harrison averaged 20.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in St. John's two wins last week. He scored a game-high 24 points and hit 4-of-6 3-pointers to help lead St. John's to its first win at the Carrier Dome in over 15 years. Harrison also moved into eighth place on the program's career scoring list with 1,730 points. It was the 16th BIG EAST Weekly Honor Harrison has received over his four-year career and the third time he was selected Player of the Week.
No. 24/RV St. John's returns to action Wednesday at 8 p.m. when the Red Storm hosts Fairleigh Dickinson. The contest will air live on CBS Sports Network and 970-AM WNYM.
