‘We’re both in the metropolitan area, and they’re getting a lot of publicity because they’ve been winning. We want to try to spoil that just so we could be the talk of the town and the metropolitan area.’ Seton Hall guard Jeremy Hazell
Motivation comes in all forms this time of the season.
For St. John’s, the motivation to take out Seton Hall tonight in the Prudential Center is obvious. If the Red Storm wins tonight and beats South Florida Saturday at home in its final regular-season game, it will have a double-bye in the upcoming Big East Conference Tournament.
That’s two less games to play as St. John’s searches for its first league tournament title since 2000.
For Seton Hall, the motivation is a little more devious: Derail the Red Storm Express.
“That will be spread around the locker room from now until we play,” Seton Hall guard Jeremy Hazell told The Post. “We know it’s going to be a great game. And we got to spoil them.
“We’re both in the metropolitan area and they’re getting a lot of publicity because they’ve been winning,” Hazell said. “We want to try to spoil that just so we could be the talk of the town and the metropolitan area.”
Seton Hall (11-17 overall, 5-11 Big East) has lost three straight. The great expectations the Pirates had going into the season quickly were squelched when Hazell broke his wrist in the third game.
“The team was doing good,” Hazell said. “I was doing good. Everything was looking great for the season. Then I get hurt and it started going downhill from there.”
It could have been horrifically worse for Hazell, who miraculously survived a Christmas-break shooting near his home when thugs attempted to rob him, his brother and a friend.
Seton Hall has had other off-the-court problems as first-year coach Kevin Willard was forced to dismiss guard Keon Lawrence and forward Jamel Jackson because of their repeated violations of team rules.
The latest bombshell dropped on the Pirates was yesterday when a New Jersey judge said there was enough evidence to refer a criminal complaint against guard Jordan Theodore of a weapons offense to the Essex County prosecutor’s office.
Theodore has yet to be charged with a crime, and school spokesman Matt Sweeney told The Post Theodore “absolutely would play.”
With postseason play not an option, the Pirates had to redefine their goals and find motivation. Their goals tonight are:
* Snap the Johnnies’ six-game win streak, the longest in the conference.
* Prevent the Red Storm from getting its 20th win in The Hall’s house.
* Deny St. John’s the double bye.
“That will make the season very good, if we beat St. John’s,” Hazell said. “Just knowing that we’re the best team in the metropolitan area. Just getting that game, that’s a rivalry game.
“We’re just across the water,” he said. “So getting that win in our house, that will be a great win for us.”
A loss would not be devastating for St. John’s (19-9, 11-5), which is assured of a NCAA Tournament berth, but coach Steve Lavin said he believes in having his teams peak in March. Seton Hall could spoil that as well.