ROLL CALL:Winners of six in a row, Malik Boothe and the Red Storm have improved their postseason standing and yesterday surged to No. 15 in both major polls. (CSM /Landov)
St. John’s coach Steve Lavin received an unexpected phone call after his Red Storm rolled over Villanova on Saturday. Lakers forward Matt Barnes, one of the stars on Lavin’s 2000-01 UCLA team, had seen St. John’s press, trap and roll its way to an 81-68 win — and he had a flashback.
The way these Johnnies play sure looks familiar.
Lavin’s Bruins struggled early in that 2000-01 season, losing to Cal State-Northridge. His first season at St. John’s had similar early-season setbacks against St. Bonaventure and at Fordham.
After getting blown out 92-63 at Arizona on Feb. 1, 2001, UCLA won eight straight games. They rose to No. 13 in the rankings.
Since losing 77-52 at Georgetown on Jan. 26, the Red Storm have won eight of nine, including six straight. Yesterday they rose to 15th in both polls, their highest ranking since March 13, 2000, when they finished the season ranked ninth in the AP poll and 12th in the coaches’ poll.
“We have been pleased with the steady progress our senior-laden team has made throughout the course of the season,” Lavin said.
Media members and coaches are quickly catching sight of the Red Storm Express. At 19-9, tied for third in the Big East at 11-5, St. John’s is the only team with more than eight losses ranked in the Top 25.
After breaking into the polls last week at 23rd in the AP and 25th in the coaches’ poll, the Red Storm, who beat DePaul on Wednesday before taming the Wildcats, made the biggest jump in the polls this week — eight spots in AP and 10 in the coaches’ poll. (Syracuse also gained eight spots in the coaches’ poll, leaping from 20th to 12th.)
“A leap in the polls this late in the year provides further evidence that our group is truly galvanized in their purpose to finishing the regular season with momentum,” Lavin said. “Our seniors are looking forward to completing their final campaign with a postseason run.”
St. John’s plays at Seton Hall on Thursday and home against South Florida on Saturday in the final regular-season game for the nine seniors who put the Red Storm back on the map. The game, at Carnesecca Arena, will be an emotional affair.
If the Red Storm win out, they are assured of one of the four double-byes in the Big East Conference tournament. They already have secured a first-round bye.
Lavin’s 2000-01 UCLA squad lost in the final of the Pac-10 tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament, losing to eventual national champion Duke.
Lavin’s 2010-11 St. John’s squad? One website projects the Red Storm as a No. 5 seed in the East region facing Alabama-Birmingham in a first-round game. Another has the Red Storm as a No. 4 seed in the West, opening against Belmont.
Until the Red Storm’s seed and opponent are announced on Selection Sunday, there will be plenty of speculation. One thing is certain: the Red Storm Express is rolling.