SAN DIEGO – Friday evening, St. John’s started what it hopes shall be a protracted NCAA Tournament run towards No. 12 Northern Iowa in an East Region opening-round sport.
The Post’s Zach Braziller takes a have a look at 4 keys for the fifth-seeded Johnnies:
Zuby needs to be Zuby
Last March, St. John’s couldn’t survive a nightmarish efficiency from its greatest participant, when RJ Luis shot 3-of-17 in a loss to Arkansas. There is even more duty driving on the broad shoulders of Zuby Ejiofor, the Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. He is the Johnnies’ chief in factors (16.1), rebounds (7.1), assists (3.5) and blocked photographs (2.1). The in style, high-character 6-foot-9 ahead is their defensive linchpin and security valve on the offensive finish. It could be onerous for St. John’s to outlive a poor evening from Ejiofor. It is price noting that in that Arkansas loss, Ejiofor was the Johnnies’ greatest participant by a big margin, tallying 23 factors and 12 rebounds.
Protect the defensive glass
St. John’s has come a great distance on this division since non-conference play, when poor defensive rebounding straight led to losses to Alabama, Kentucky, Iowa State and Auburn. They have been tops within the Big East in defensive rebounding share in convention play. An enormous a part of that was Coach Rick Pitino going to a three-forward beginning lineup with Dillon Mitchell and Bryce Hopkins flanking Ejiofor following a Jan. 3 loss to Providence. Still, no one within the Big East may actually match the Red Storm’s mixture of measurement and athleticism up entrance. That shall be completely different on this match, granted St. John’s will get previous Northern Iowa.
Can Bryce Hopkins’ ascension proceed?
Ejiofor was the Most Outstanding Player of the Big East Tournament, and deservedly so after his sensible play throughout three video games, however an argument could be made that Hopkins’ efficiency was the most important growth for St. John’s. He was environment friendly offensively, terrific defensively and constant. In the match, he averaged 15 factors, 8.3 rebounds and a couple of.3 steals. He additionally shot 50 p.c from 3-point vary. He hit the most important shot of the three video games, a left-elbow jumper that modified the momentum of the championship sport after Connecticut had gotten inside seven within the second half. When Hopkins is an offensive pressure, it modifications St. John’s dynamic, as a result of it doesn’t need to rely a lot on Ejiofor.
3-point taking pictures
St. John’s improved on this space this season, however it nonetheless entered the match 217th within the nation in 3-point share at 33.2, a determine that was solely barely higher in convention motion (33.9). It does have more consistent options than a 12 months in the past in Oziyah Sellers, Joson Sanon and Ian Jackson. To go far, the Red Storm should make photographs from deep, as a result of scoring inside shall be tough the additional they advance. There are causes for optimism. Sellers and Sanon have been more productive of late, and Dylan Darling has made plenty of clutch 3s this season. The guards shall be wanted to come back by means of. Remember, within the dismal end a 12 months in the past to Arkansas, the Red Storm shot a dreadful 2-of-22 from distance.
